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STARBASE Charlotte spotlights STEM week for Cleveland County fifth graders; program's federal funding at risk
Summary
STARBASE Charlotte staff described hands-on STEM instruction for fifth graders from multiple Cleveland County Schools and warned the program's federal funding was cut in current budget proposals; a board member asked the superintendent to draft a resolution in support for the next meeting.
Dr. Jason Parker presented members of STARBASE Charlotte and described a multi-day, hands-on STEM experience that brought fifth graders from several Cleveland County Schools to a military base for classroom work, computer-aided design, and a chance to board a C-17.
STARBASE Charlotte, a Department of Defense STEM outreach program, provided weeklong sessions this year to students from Bowling Springs, Fallston, Kayser (Kaser in some materials), Jefferson, Elizabeth, James Love, Union and Washington elementary schools, Dr. Parker said. He and DAN CLONINGER introduced staff from STARBASE Charlotte and displayed photos of students working in teams and sitting in an aircraft cockpit.
STARBASE director Dan Cloninger said the curriculum “is not inclusive” of every possible topic but aims to “spark an interest in STEM” and to expose 10-year-olds to technical skills such as computer-aided design and teamwork. He said military volunteers help link classroom lessons to real-world careers.
Cloninger told the board that STARBASE programs nationwide have lost federal funding in recent appropriations negotiations: “The House approved full funding for STARBASE, but the Senate did not,” he said, and added that several STARBASE centers had already closed. He said North Carolina currently covers STARBASE Charlotte through state payroll and that the state faces financial risk until Congress resolves the budget.
After the presentation, a board member requested that Superintendent Dr. Steven Fisher prepare a resolution supporting STARBASE funding and bring it to the board at the next meeting for consideration. Dr. Fisher acknowledged the request and said staff would follow the board’s direction.
The presentation included distribution of small mementos used in STARBASE classrooms, and STARBASE staff present included retired Major Dan Cloninger (director), Neely Horridge (deputy director), Theresa Sheehan (office manager/instructor), Tammy Richardson (instructor), Amy Jeffries (instructor), Staff Sergeant Josh Krutzig (military instructor assistant) and Senior Airman Cody Matthews (military instructor assistant).
