School works toward engineering program
Thursday, January 18, 2007
What's going on: Knoxville High School is one step closer to offering engineering curriculum through Project Lead the Way, a national program that partners with schools to build stronger science skills and promote careers in engineering and technology.The board of education on Tuesday approved signing a contract to bring the program to the high school beginning next school year, contingent on receiving a $35,000 grant from the Kern Foundation for start-up costs.
What's next: Knoxville High School Principal Pat Callahan, who has been working to bring the program to the school since October, said he expects to know by mid-February whether the school will receive the grant. Funds will be used to train teachers and buy equipment, textbooks, supplies and software.
What will be offered: In the first year, an Introduction to Engineering Design course will be taught at the high school by Bryan Murray, Callahan said. The school will add courses in future years as well as partner with Carl Sandburg College for dual-credit courses in the Project Lead the Way curriculum.
Other participants: If Knoxville gets the grant, the school will join area schools ROWVA High School and Abingdon High School in offering the Project Lead the Way Curriculum. About 50 middle and high schools in Illinois are participating in the program, which also is affiliated with Bradley University and the University of Illinois.
In other business: Rob Benedict of Mechanical Service Inc. addressed the board for more than 20 minutes regarding concerns about the contract awarded to a Davenport, Iowa, company to update heating and cooling systems. Benedict received permission from the board to speak for longer than the standard five minutes generally allowed for public comments.
