Columbiana County ESC receives STEM grant

Staff report

LISBON

The Columbiana County Educational Service Center was awarded an Ohio Straight A Fund Grant to provide increased science, technology, engineering and mathematics resources to eight school districts including the Columbiana County Career and Technical Center.

The CCESC is one of 37 schools and educational service agencies across the state to receive Straight A funding. The funds were created to encourage innovative classroom practices and support collaboration between education and community leaders. The CCESC formed a consortium with local school districts and area businesses to apply for the award.

The $975,000 grant will fund Project Inspire, a STEM program that will introduce real world, problem-based curriculum for children in kindergarten through eighth grade. For county high-school students, Project Inspire will increase STEM classroom resources. The project aims to serve more than 7,000 students within Columbiana County.

“Only through the shared services and resources of the consortium can rural district students access this innovative and engaging STEM K-12 program. The program will provide students with the skills needed for college and career readiness in today’s world,” said Carol Straub, CCESC consultant and co-author of the grant proposal.

Project Inspire emphasizes 21st-century skills, including critical thinking and analysis, research, teamwork and effective communication. The project uses INVENTORcloud curriculum, developed by Applied Systems and Technology Transfer, which enables students to use digital technology to create virtual designs and produce prototypes with rapid prototyping equipment.

Participating Project Inspire school districts are Columbiana Exempted Village, Crestview Local, East Palestine, Leetonia Exempted Village, Lisbon Exempted Village, Southern Local, Wellsville Local and the Columbiana County Career and Technical Center.

Project Inspire business and community partners are: AST2, Eastern Gateway Community College, Kent State University, Mahoning Valley Manufacturers Coalition, Salem Regional Medical Center and Youngstown State University STEM College.