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Hartland-Lakeside board approves K–8 STEM teacher and curriculum costs to expand robotics and hydroponics
Summary
Trustees approved hiring a full‑time K–8 STEM teacher (budgeted at about $100,000 including benefits) and modest one‑time equipment purchases to expand robotics and a hydroponics life‑science program, with staff pursuing a matching Fab Lab grant.
The Hartland-Lakeside J3 School District board approved a K–8 STEM programming position and associated curriculum and equipment costs after a presentation from district administrators describing a strategic K–8 coherence plan.
Administrators said the STEM position would serve as an integration point, working with classroom teachers to connect literacy, math and science with robotics, coding and hydroponics. The district budget memo presented a placeholder of about $100,000 for salary and benefits (rough breakdown 65% salary / 35% benefits). One‑time equipment needs were described as roughly $5,000 at North, $10,000 at South and a notional $60,000 price point for a full tower implementation at the middle school; administrators also noted existing equipment and potential to catalog reusable items.
The presenter emphasized the district's strong literacy and math foundation and framed STEM as an application layer to reinforce core academics: "We're looking to hire a new K8 STEM teacher who builds and leads this K8 program..." the presenter said. Trustees discussed grant opportunities; administration said it would pursue a Fab Lab/state matching grant (50/50) and continue to refine costs before full implementation.
The board moved and seconded a motion to approve the position and curriculum costs and voted in favor.
