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Beech Grove aims to expand Lego-based robotics program to high school with grant support
Summary
District presenters explained a growing First Indiana (Lego) robotics program spanning elementary to middle grades, delineated past K–12 grant awards ($2,680; $10,500; $12,000), noted a 25% community match requirement and said the district will seek roughly $30K–$35K to launch a high-school team.
A district presenter asked by Superintendent Lori Hammock outlined the Beech Grove City Schools robotics program and a plan to extend it to the high-school level if additional grant and match funding can be secured. The presenter described the district's use of First Indiana Robotics (a Lego-based platform), which they said is more affordable than VEX and suitable for volunteers and coaches with limited prior robotics experience.
The presenter introduced coaches working across grade levels (Brian Oliver; Anthony Hammock; Nikki Noah; Tyler Warren; Chelsea Nuller; Alex Bowden) and described the program rollout: younger students participate in an "explore" showcase while fourth–eighth graders compete in timed, judged challenges (this year's theme was "Unearthed"). The presenter noted that the district has run the program with K–12 robotics grant awards in prior years: $2,680 in the first round, then $10,500 and $12,000 in subsequent years, and that the state grant requires a 25% community match.
To launch a high-school team, presenters estimated a grant application in the $30,000–$35,000 range and reported new local commitments (facilities/custodial pledged $5,000 today) and ongoing support from Crossroad Engineers and the promoters club. The presenter said the program will need sustained annual fundraising and volunteers if it is to remain viable at the high-school level.
"It's been a great experience," the presenter said of the Lego-based program, adding that the goal is to write another grant and slowly scale up to a competitive high-school team. Board members asked about sustainability; presenters said they would convene coaches to plan fundraising and long-term support.
