43
Canfield schools look to add to STEM initiatives
By Robert Connelly
CANFIELD
Canfield School District continues to add to its Science, Technology, Engineering and Math classes within its schools for next school year.
Canfield elementary schools are awaiting word on a $150,000 grant through the state’s “Straight A Fund,” C.H. Campbell Principal Travis Lavery said.
The district will find out by the end of July if that funding comes through to bring STEM initiatives into both C.H. Campbell and Hilltop elementary schools.
Meanwhile, Canfield schools will be part of a STEM academy planned for the 2015-16 school year.
Superintendent Alex Geordan said last month the district was in talks with school districts of Poland, Struthers, and Austintown to form a collaborative STEM class. Those talks have been facilitated by the Mahoning County Educational Service Center.
Ron Iarussi, the MCESC superintendent, said Jackson-Milton Schools were added as another partner of the STEM Plus ME2 STEM academy that will be in place for the 2015-16 school year. It will focus on students in ninth and 10th grades.
The “9-10 Initiative” is what Geordan called it. It would be a classroom designated for STEM learning involving students from the school districts all learning the same material.
While Geordan admitted transportation is always a concern and they haven’t picked a classroom yet, he was excited about the opportunity.
“This is something we envision really taking off, not stopping at nine and ten,” Geordan said. He added the students would come back to Canfield High School after receiving 9-10 instruction.
Iarussi said the 2014-15 school year will be used as a “transitional year” for the STEM academy. “We want to give [students] as much exposure and background so they can ... make an informed decision,” on applying to the academy, he said.
Iarussi said the cost will be for the districts to pay for their students, about $5,700 per student based on state numbers.
Iarussi said this is something the MCESC has been looking at for awhile and its has reached out to districts throughout the county as well as Trumbull and Columbiana counties and Youngstown city schools.
Iarussi said the STEM focus on ninth and 10th grade is a part of a greater concentration beginning as early as kindergarten. He gave examples of some of the work, such as using Legos for kindergarten through sixth grade to not only snap the blocks together, but also learn how to build structures.