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Parents and alumni urge Prince William schools to fund permanent robotics/STEAM facility
Summary
Two speakers at citizen comment urged the school board to create a permanent STEAM/robotics building to expand teams and free up space, citing high student participation, state-leading programs and limitations caused by lack of dedicated facilities.
Two advocates for Prince William County’s robotics programs asked the school board Jan. 8 to fund a permanent STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) facility to expand student participation and sustain competitive programs.
Jeremy Webster, a parent and coach, told the board robotics “builds confidence, resilience and the ability to learn from failure” and urged the division to “support a STEAM building here in Prince William County” so students could continue hands-on learning and competitive opportunities.
Chance Williams, a graduate and former student representative who is now a junior in computer science at Alabama A&M and a Department of Energy scholar, said the county once had near-universal school participation pre-COVID and that the program currently is leading the state in land, air and sea robotics competitions. Williams said the program is constrained by space and staff: “Two people cannot support 10 robotics platforms and thousands of students across elementary, middle and high school,” he said, calling for a permanent home for robotics teams and competitions.
Both speakers framed robotics as more than an extracurricular: they described it as an academic and career pathway that improves teamwork, public speaking and technical skills and draws students of diverse backgrounds into STEM fields. Williams provided participation stats from the program (reported during his remarks): roughly 39% female participation and multiple platforms (land, air, sea).
Board members and several trustees in the meeting thanked the speakers and said they would discuss facility options and potential budget or CIP (Capital Improvement Program) requests. The board did not vote on a new facility request at the meeting.
Ending: The board did not make a final decision; advocates asked staff to explore permanent space and budget options, and several board members signaled support for follow-up discussions and possible inclusion in CIP deliberations.
