By Matthew Sockol
Staff Writer
FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP – A donation that will provide funding to the Freehold Township K-8 School District has been accepted by the Board of Education.
On Feb. 28, the board accepted a $50,000 donation from the Freehold Township Education Foundation, which provides private funds for programs and initiatives in the district. The donation was designated for the district’s Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) 212 initiative.
The STEAM 212 initiative will transform the media centers at the Applegate, Catena, Donovan, Errickson and West Freehold elementary schools and at the Barkalow and Eisenhower middle schools into STEAM center maker spaces, according to the foundation.
Components of the STEAM centers will include 3D printers, 3D scanners, modern work spaces, multimedia tools, drafting and design stations, creation software and community partnerships.
According to the foundation, the goal of the initiative is to afford students the opportunity to learn through real-life applications in the areas of science, technology, engineering, the arts and math, and to engage students in problem solving and collaboration through hands-on activities, experiments and projects.
The total amount of funds needed for the STEAM 212 initiative is $212,000. According to foundation Chairwoman Denise Bartone, the initiative is about $40,000 away from its goal.
