By KAITLYN MCGARVEY / Reporter at www.mytownneo.com
The Aurora Board of Education accepted a $31,000 donation in order to fund a new class focused on educating students about designing and creating.
Michael Roberto, assistant superintendent, gave a small history of the concept, explaining the course was conceived, researched and designed by Director of Technology Andrew Sams and Dmetri Kourennyi, a science teacher at Aurora High School. Roberto said they modeled the coursework after the think[box] center of innovation and entrepreneurship at Case Western Reserve University.
Innovative Design and Progressive Manufacturing is a two semester course that will be offered to 10th, 11th and 12th graders. Students will use 3D printing, laser cutting, 3D modeling and electronics to create products that will solve real-world problems beyond the school and community. Students will receive half a credit each semester they take the course.
The course has a need for high-tech equipment because students not only design, they create. Roberto said Sams and Kourennyi had been researching grants and reaching out to local businesses to fund the class. One grant application was submitted to the Aurora Schools Foundation, which elected to support the project.
Rob Bates, an Aurora Schools Foundation trustee, presented the check at the board’s March 18 meeting. He said a typical grant from the foundation ranges from $600 to $3,000 but that ASF wanted to make a larger contribution.
“The curriculum for this course is a very, very impressive,” Board of Education President Gerald Kohanski said. “I think it’s an outstanding way for the foundation to support not only excellent academics but also to support career development for our students.”
Innovative Design and Progressive Manufacturing will be available in the 2019-20 academic year.
Reporter Kaitlyn McGarvey can be reached at kmcgarvey@recordpub.com or 330-298-1127