Senator Thompson Delivers $40,000 To Grand Island Schools. "Funding will be used for the Project Lead the Way - Engineering Curriculum."

For Immediate Release
Contact:   Heather Zeisz | zeisz@senate.state.ny.us | 716.854.8705

Grand Island, NY – Today, Friday, August 7, 2009, New York State Senator Antoine M. Thompson (D-Parts of Erie & Niagara Counties) presented a check to the Grand Island Central School District for $40,000.   The check presentation took place at 1100 Ransom Road in Grand Island at 2:00 pm.

“I’m happy to be able to secure funding for the Grand Island Central School District,” said Senator Thompson.   “This funding will provide students with an enriched educational experience.”

Senator Thompson delivered the check in the amount of $40,000 to Superintendent Robert Chrismann.   $35,000 will be used for Project Lead the Way and the remaining $5,000 will go to enhancements to the High School’s athletic facilities.

“Two years ago, the Grand Island School District began a very challenging math and science based pre-engineering program through the Rochester Institute of Technology.   Our student enrollments in this program saw far beyond our expectations and with our limited financial resources, we would have had to tell a good number of our students that they couldn’t begin the coursework.   Through a grant arranged by Senator Thompson, every student interested in pre-engineering was able to take the courses they needed.   Our Board of Education, technology teachers, parents, and most importantly, our students are deeply appreciative of Senator Thompson’s efforts to allow us to continue a very high level academic program in which our students are very interested for their future” said Robert Chrismann, Grand Island Superintendent of Schools.

For students interested in engineering, biomechanics, aeronautics, and other applie d math and science arenas, Project Lead the Way is an exciting portal into these industries.

All Project Lead the Way high school courses have several underlying content areas in common. As students progress through the sequence they will become proficient in:   working as a team, leading a team, public speaking, thinking, problem solving, managing time, researching, data collection and analysis, and preparing for two and four year college programs.

Project Lead the Way's curriculum makes math and science relevant for students. By engaging in hands-on, real-world projects, students understand how the skills they are learning in the classroom can be applied in everyday life.   Project-based learning is a comprehensive approach to instruction that presents a project or relevant activity that enables students to synthesize knowledge and to individually resolve problems in a curricular context.   When students experience a problem in context, they are more likely to make connections and thus see the value in what they are learning.

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