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Little Rock board approves MSAP-funded Innovationland labs for four magnet schools
Summary
The Little Rock School District board approved installation of Innovationland immersive labs at four magnet schools under a Magnet Schools Assistance Program grant; staff said funds in-hand cover two years and include curriculum and teacher professional development.
The Little Rock School District Board of Education voted to approve the installation of Innovationland learning labs at four magnet schools as part of a Magnet Schools Assistance Program (MSAP) grant.
Holly Brown, the district's MSAP project coordinator, told the board the grant covers four schools—Carver Washington STEAM Magnet, Dr. Martin Luther King Leadership and Language Academy, Dunbar Business Leadership and Entrepreneurship Magnet, and Mann Multimedia Arts and Digital Innovations—and funds the design, equipment and supporting curriculum. "One of the most exciting components of this magnet grant is the installation of these state-of-the-art, one-of-a-kind learning labs in each of these schools," Brown said.
Nathan Field, executive director of Inventionland, described the labs as immersive, project-based learning spaces intended to spark creativity and career-aligned skills. "Our goal is to create very creative, fully immersive environments that foster creativity," Field said, showing examples of makerspace furniture, light-up dry-erase boards and zones for inventing, making and storytelling.
Board members pressed staff on the grant length and sustainability. Brown said the MSAP award is structured as a five-year grant but that the district currently has funds in hand covering two years; she stated the district's current available MSAP funds totaled "about $5,000,800 and change" as presented to the board. Staff emphasized that equipment will remain in the schools and described plans for professional development to train teachers on the new spaces and equipment.
During deliberations board members asked how the district will sustain programming after federal grant funds end. Brown said the district is working to build systems and capacity so the labs will continue to be used after the grant period and that equipment and certain investments will remain in place.
A motion to approve the Innovationland labs, moved by a board member and seconded, passed by voice vote.
The board's approval covers renovations, curriculum development, teacher professional development and installation of maker-space equipment at the four named magnet schools under the MSAP application. The district said it will proceed with scheduling installations and coordinating the accompanying teacher training and curriculum rollout.
