Knox Middle School will be getting a new “maker space,” thanks to a $25,000 grant from the 1st Source Foundation. 1st Source representatives formally presented a check to Principal Jake Skelly during Tuesday’s school board meeting.
Skelly said the maker space will let the school incorporate science, technology, engineering, and math projects into their existing class schedule. “All of these things that this grant will provide will create engineering opportunities, robotics, coding, gaming design, 3-D printing, electrical systems, designing, building, using, problem- solving, and inventing,” he said. With the $25,000 grant, the school will be able to buy various types of kits and other equipment for students to use.
Skelly said the new maker space will have a huge educational impact on all 584 middle school students. He thinks it will appeal especially to the many students who prefer hands-on learning. “We plan to put this into our library and make our library, at least half of it – of course there will still be books and there will traditional reading, of course – but we will implement these types of activities into our library, as well, and into the classroom, as well,” he said, “so that students can apply math, science, all of those types of skills with hands-on activities into their classroom.”
Superintendent Dr. William Reichhart added that it will enhance the educational opportunities for fifth-through-eighth-grade students. “It’s an ideal age,” he commented. “We talked about coding. . . . These kids will be involved in some simple coding going on with this. So it will be a great opportunity, and thanks to 1st Source for a $25,000 check. I mean, that’s not $1,000. It’s $25,000. So it’s awesome.”
Skelly applied for the grant with help from Reichhart and Director of Curriculum and Instruction Peggy Shidaker.
