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STEM plus M labs open at four middle schools; Brookville High construction progressing with safety caveats
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Summary
The district rolled out four new STEM plus M labs, plans a press release and possible ribbon-cutting, and board members reported substantial construction progress at Brookville High School while noting ongoing work and safety monitoring.
Superintendent and board members reported that four new STEM plus M labs at the middle schools are ready for students and that the district will publicize the program with a press release this week and a possible ribbon cutting for legislators in September.
The district described STEM plus M (a hands-on STEM and manufacturing program) as a multi-year partnership supported by DES; the superintendent said the district will have funds for the program for the next four years and that Campbell County was an early pilot of the model. Teachers and students featured in a short in-meeting video praised project-based learning and hands-on activities such as CO2-powered car design and authentic measurement tasks.
Board members praised the program and urged officials to plan capacity increases if student interest exceeds lab space. One board member noted that Reasor Middle (transcript reference) had particularly high enrollment in STEM plus M and asked that the district monitor demand and expand access where feasible.
Separately, members discussed Brookville High School’s construction and cleanup. Multiple board members acknowledged a visible, at-times disruptive construction phase and reported significant progress and cleaning measures taken ahead of the school year. One board member noted that barrier walls and cleanup efforts had materially improved the facility’s condition since a recent walkthrough, but several members reminded the board that the site remains an active construction area and emphasized the need to keep safety paramount as students return.
Other operational items raised in the superintendent’s and staff reports included modular classroom delivery and hookups underway for a school (Tomahawk) and an ongoing increase in bus ridership that has required route adjustments. Transportation staff said ridership is up (division reported about 5,700 riders in one exchange), drivers remain understaffed by roughly six or seven positions, and the division is rerouting and reallocating buses to balance loads. Board members thanked transportation and custodial staff for overtime work preparing for the first day of school and cautioned parents that start-of-year bus routes may run late while staff finalize routing.
Discussion-only points: some members pressed for better communications about construction progress and timelines; others suggested pursuing participation in regional video or media contests to highlight programs such as STEM plus M.
Next steps: the district will issue a press release on STEM plus M, consider a ribbon-cutting event with legislators in September, continue to monitor enrollment demand for the labs, complete modular hookups and fencing, and continue transportation rerouting and driver recruitment efforts.
