National Grid Gift Recharges North Adams Robotics Program
 Superintendent James Montepare, left, Joanne DeRose of National Grid and Mayor Richard Alcombright with a big check from National Grid to fund the school district's robotics program. |
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The school district's robotics program has been recharged with funding fron National Grid and the Berkshire County Regional Employment Board.
The program was cut because of loss of funding but National Grid came through with $5,000 and BCREB with $2,000, as well as smaller donations from General Dynamics and 4-H, when word of the program's termination got out.
"We're just so thankful we have partners like National Grid and the employment board that step up to do this," said Superintendent James Montepare during the short check passing event in the mayor's office on Monday afternoon.
Montepare and Mayor Richard Alcombright called the decision to halt the program "disappointing" and "heartbreaking," particularly because of its complementing the county's (and state's) educational goals toward science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM.
"Unfortunately, it had to be cut because it's a very expensive program," said Mayor Richard Alcombright.
The problems began late this summer when the district was informed that funding for Sullivan and Greylock after-school programs had been cut. The school's programs have been funded by federal block grants on a cyclical schedule of two to three years. The district had been told it could apply for two schools, and then only for one, which missed out on the competitive round of funding.
Montepare said other schools across the state were having the same trouble. "Its been a tough year for after-school programs," he said.
Brayton is funded, so some creative transportation is getting the children from the other two schools there. On Monday, some 300 children were participating in after-school activities at Brayton.
Total funding for the after-school programs is about $100,000 — that's for some 150 program days for grades beginning in kindergarten as well as the six-week full day program in the summer. The average program costs about $1,000 to $2,000 for up around 50 kids; the robotics program is about $6,000 and serves about 10 in Grades 4 to 7.
It's based on the Lego Mindstorms kits. Each year, clubs and leagues around the nation compete in robotics challenges proposed by the company. In the Berkshires, the county competition is held in March for some 32 local clubs, with the chance to move on to the state level.
Parents weren't happy about the program stopping after three years, some of which played out on the mayor's Facebook page. Montepare put it down to miscommunication.
"It's a program we woudn't just let die on the vine without extensive conversation," he said, noting parents wanted to help with the expensive program. "But we still have to do what's in the best interest of all the students."
Alcombright said he reached out to National Grid and got an almost immediate response. Marcy Reed, National Grid president for Massachusetts, also sits on the Governor's STEM Advisory Council; with the help of Joanne DeRose, principal manager for Western Mass. for community and customer management, funding for the program was secured.
"She's a community player when it comes to that," said Alcombright of Reed. "These things don't just happen. ... with community partners, we've been able to save a really good STEM program."
Montepare spoke with the employment board, which came through with $2,000 for teacher externships. "Encouraging students to explore careers in STEM fields is crucoal and we're glad to support teachers engaged in projects such as the Robotics Challenge," said Youth Director Heather Shogry-Williams in a statement.
"This is one of the those great programs," said Montepare. "I can't tell you how appreciative the the parents are."
Tags: after school programs, donations, robotics, youth programs,
