USD 475 was awarded a $1.25 million STEM grant at the end of September.

Greg Lumb, Executive Director of Innovation and Technology for the school district, said it will allow work to continue to offer STEM related opportunities for students in science, technology, engineering and math. “Some of the key features include a product called Learning.com which will give us digital curriculum for K-8, kind of defining what we want students to be able to do with technology. It’s been kind of random up to the current date so this will give us definition for that.”

New STEM-heavy hands-on courses have been added, and the district will be able to purchase some virtual reality equipment for the Health Science department, automotive and welding.

Since 2009 USD 475 has received more than $13 million in STEM grant funding.