Stacey Langston addressed the board during public comment to urge the district to secure dedicated space for STEM extracurricular programs, including robotics and the Technology Student Association. "Students don't just learn from textbooks. They learn by doing and by experimenting," Langston said, asking what parents and community members can do to help secure space and resources.
Langston told the board that high school robotics teams and Technology Student Association teams have won local, state, regional and national awards, and she said the planned decommissioning of the current high school leaves limited interim space. She asked whether community members could help write grants, provide volunteer support or coordinate with teachers to preserve and expand STEM opportunities.
Why it matters: dedicated lab and maker spaces are central to hands-on STEM activities, extracurricular competitions and career pathways for students. Langston asked the board to identify specific ways parents and citizens can support the programs.
Board members did not take action in response to the comment; the public comment period rules read aloud at the meeting said the board will not vote on items raised during public comment unless already on the agenda and that members and staff may not engage in verbal discussion during that period because of the Open Meetings Act.
Ending: Langston said she was willing to volunteer and help write grants and urged the board to consider dedicated space for STEM programs as the district transitions facilities.