North Daviess and Washington schools land tech grants

Mike Grant, Washington Times-Herald, Ind.
·3 min read

Jan. 16—A pair of Daviess County schools have been named recipients of competitive STEM Integration Grants. North Daviess will receive $49,910 and Washington Community Schools $74,500.

While the state grants may have the same name, the school corporations are taking a very different approach to the way they use the money.

North Daviess has already started a new program with some of the money going toward the purchase of high-tech tools like lasers and robotics.

"We are starting a new program at the high school where we have brought in additional STEM tools. The grant will allow us to piggyback off of the STEM program that already exists," said Barry Stone, director of curriculum and technology at North Daviess. "We have revamped our program to offer more STEM opportunities. We are actually calling it STEAM, adding in an arts component. We have developed a cross-curriculum with business and art as well."

The program includes an in-school business operation that not only will provide STEM opportunities, but also potential new pathways to graduation.

"We have created a business called Cougar Creations inside of that program," said Stone. "The students will be able to use the tools to help created great products we can sell. On the technology and engineering side, we will use those tools to demonstrate engineering techniques, work their processes and utilize the tools in an engineering format. The art students will be adding some graphics for our Cougar Creations class. We intend to create two new pathways in business and continue to have an engineering pathway."

Meanwhile, Washington is putting together the pieces for its STEM Integration Grant and taking what appears to be a more vertical approach to improving technical opportunities.

"We are basically looking to continue and build on what we are now doing with STEM, K-12. With technology, a lot of the things that you can do with the kids evolves and expands and changes. We want to get on the cutting edge of STEM curriculum and technology and help our kids to grow in that area," said Washington Community Schools Superintendent Kevin Frank. "It will help with professional development in the STEM area. We are in the process of working toward what that will look like. We are working with Five-Star Solutions, a technology company, on this."

Washington intends to roll out details on its STEM integration plan late in the spring. The ultimate goal though is to use it to help students all the way through the system prepare for life after graduation.

"As we look at it from our preschool program all the way up to our seniors and preparing kids for college and careers, the ultimate goal is to create a system so that kids know how to problem solve, be critical thinkers, be able to communicate in different ways and be creative," said Frank. "The ultimate goal is to prepare the kids for the career pathways we have at the high school. Just to give them the best education we can and that they are prepared for whatever opportunities they have after graduation."