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Stonebridge STEAM teacher credits 3-mill tax for hands-on classroom programs
Summary
Mary, a STEAM teacher at Stonebridge Elementary, told the Spanish Fort City Council that 3-mill tax funds support Tower Garden, coding and other hands-on projects across the district and invited the public to a club meeting and budget discussion.
Mary, STEAM teacher at Stonebridge Elementary, told the Spanish Fort City Council during the public participation period that local 3-mill tax funds have enabled hands-on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) activities at her school.
Mary described a Tower Garden program, a student club that meets twice weekly, and classroom activities including pH monitoring, plant measurement, Lego challenges, Bee Bot coding mats and aluminum-foil flight challenges. “The kids really love it. It’s a lot of hands on learning experience for the kids,” she said.
The teacher said the tower garden work gives students “a really good sense of ownership and responsibility” and that the STEAM lab helps students build bravery, creativity and collaboration. She noted the program spans pre-K through sixth grade and that fourth graders are acting as the Tower Garden Club’s initial leaders.
Mary also told the council that schools in the Spanish Fort feeder pattern are achieving A-level grades and attributed some of that success to programs supported by the 3-mill tax, which she said “was voted in several years ago.” She invited the public to the Tower Garden Club meeting and a budget meeting on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at Spanish Fort Elementary.
Her remarks occurred during the council’s public participation period; Mayor Michael M. McMillan responded after the presentation, thanking her and praising the student videos that were shown.
Why it matters: The 3-mill tax is a local funding source the speaker said supports classroom technology and enrichment activities that teachers say contribute to student engagement and learning outcomes. The teacher’s comments put a local example of how that tax is being used in front of elected officials as the council considers city budgeting and capital purchases in upcoming meetings.
