Norman Public School Foundation provides $500,000 to equip STEM 'foundation labs' in all 17 elementary schools

Alicia Lemaster, executive director of the Norman Public School Foundation, said the foundation contributed $500,000 to the district to equip STEM "foundation labs" in all 17 Norman elementary schools. "We were able to contribute half $1,000,000 to the district to equip these STEM labs in all 17 elementary schools," Lemaster said in her presentation.

The contribution, Lemaster said, was used to buy curriculum and hands-on materials that give students kits for designing, building and using code to animate projects. "The Norman Public School Foundation's gift was used to buy curriculum and materials for the students to use in the foundation labs," she said.

Foundation leaders and a presenter emphasized that the value of the labs lies in classroom instruction, not only the facilities. The presenter noted, "Building a building is one thing. It's what are you doing inside that building?" and called the foundation's contribution "an incredible gift, a historic gift, in the history of the Norman Public Schools Foundation." Lemaster described typical classroom activities as students using kits to design and build projects and apply simple coding, aimed at engaging learners so "they don't even realize they're learning."

Lemaster said the labs serve students from pre-K through fifth grade and help prepare them for secondary schooling, adding that secondary teachers are ‘‘ready’’ and planning to expand offerings to match the younger students' experience. The presenter said the investment will have long-term reach, arguing the 2023 vote and related investments will benefit students for "30, 40, 50 years."

The presentation did not include a formal vote or next procedural steps; speakers framed the announcement as reporting on a completed philanthropic contribution and describing its classroom use and anticipated long-term benefits.