Middle‑school greenhouse could gain aquaponics system under grant plan, administrators say

Committee members heard a presentation on possible aquaponics systems for the middle‑school greenhouse and agreed to next steps including a site assessment and grant research.

Mister Hoser described a meeting he and Mister Weber attended with Intag Aquaponics and showed two classroom‑scale models (the E100 and a classroom 'stack'). "This is the system we're potentially looking at being grant funded at the middle school back in our greenhouse," he said, and added that Intag indicated various funding options could be located to assist with infrastructure and equipment.

Presenters and board members discussed practical concerns such as greenhouse ventilation, maintenance, classroom scale, and how fish would be handled. Mr. Weber noted the current greenhouse lacks ventilation and Intag representatives said they could help identify funding. Committee members asked whether the district would buy one system or multiple units to broaden student access; presenters suggested starting with a single classroom‑scale system sized to fit the existing cafeteria greenhouse with the option to expand.

Administration suggested Penn State Lehigh Valley Extension as another resource and said a site assessment would be the likely next step. The presenters emphasized the educational value — hands‑on STEM, life sciences connections to standards and potential classroom‑to‑table lessons — and said they would return with questionnaire results and feasibility details once the assessment and grant exploration are complete.

The committee did not take formal action but encouraged the presenters to pursue site assessment and grant opportunities and bring findings back to the curriculum council and education committee.