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John Deere and RJ Maoy Trust donate to Waterloo Comm School District LEGO and emergency funds
Summary
The board accepted a $1,741 John Deere donation to purchase LEGO Explore kits for 2nd-grade classrooms and an $8,900 gift from the RJ Maoy Trust for the district youth emergency fund; district staff outlined classroom implementation and the longstanding emergency fund distribution process.
The Waterloo Comm School District board on Sept. 23 accepted two community donations: $1,741 from John Deere to buy cargo‑connect LEGO Explore kits for second‑grade classrooms and $8,900 from the RJ Maoy Trust to support the district’s youth emergency fund.
Mindy Schmidt, community relations manager for John Deere’s Cedar Valley operations, described company priorities (community engagement, workforce development and economic development) and said the company views support for Waterloo schools as an investment in the next generation. District staff explained LEGO League Explorer has been incorporated into second‑ through fourth‑grade classroom instruction for several years; kits rotate themes annually and most classroom units run four to six weeks.
District presenters said classroom integration has expanded the pipeline to after‑school challenge teams (first LEGO League Challenge), noting growth from about five challenge teams to roughly 25 across buildings and rising interest that feeds into middle‑school FTC and high‑school robotics. The district also said coaches and volunteers remain the primary resource gap; John Deere said it will help publicize mentor opportunities to employees.
Jeff Summerfield described the RJ Maoy Trust donation as part of a roughly 25‑year partnership with the district’s youth emergency fund, which provides coats, hygiene items and other supports to students in need. He said the foundation initially provides larger annual checks and mid‑year follow‑up checks as sites draw down funds; this year’s list of buildings to receive funds was read to the board.
Both donations were presented as superintendent recommendations, moved and approved by voice vote as the board acted on consent and individual motion items.
What this means: The LEGO kits will be distributed to second‑grade classrooms, and the emergency‑fund gift will be allocated to school buildings identified as having the greatest immediate need.
