Central SD 13J honors youth coding-league national champions; Independence Library seeks new coding program

Central School District 13J recognized three students from the Independence Library youth coding program who won the national Youth Coding League title for technical merit.

Marshall, Jake and David — identifying themselves on the record as members of Team Operation Donut — described competing in the Youth Coding League using Scratch and a season of sprint assignments culminating in a postseason judged on technical merit and a community-favorite category. The students said the playoff prompt asked teams to simulate life on a space station using short animated pieces or games; they said judges for technical merit were professionals in computer science and that Operation Donut won the technical-merit award in the finals.

Patrick Bridal, identified in the meeting as Independence Library director, told the board the library was the only library in the country to host a Youth Coding League team this season and that the partnership drew strong community interest. Bridal announced the Youth Coding League organization had decided to discontinue the program two weeks earlier and said the library is seeking alternatives — including Experience Computer Science programs offered by the Raspberry Pi Foundation — to continue offering coding opportunities for elementary and middle-grade students. Bridal said the library intends to expand any replacement program and to work with district schools on outreach and flyers to recruit students.

Superintendent and board members presented student-growth and community-partnership certificates to the three students and to Bridal for supporting the club. Board members and district leaders praised the students’ achievement and the library’s partnership during the recognition segment.

Meeting context: the recognition occurred early in the meeting during the recognitions portion and included student remarks and a short staff presentation about program continuity and planning.