Grant helps middle school robotics program continue growth

LACONIA — The robotics education at Laconia Middle School, seen as foundational for students who hope to study advanced manufacturing during their high school years, now has funding to continue thanks to the acceptance of a grant at a school board meeting Tuesday.

The grant, for $6,950, is provided by the state Department of Education and was contingent on board approval.

Robotics education occurs at LMS through STEM classes and the Real Initiative, an afterschool program. The program was initially supported through a different grant, and the funding through the state will pick up when the previous funding expires.

The grant will allow for students to prepare for and attend a competition in the spring — and to explore principles necessary for them to study engineering, coding, manufacturing or other applied sciences when they are old enough to enroll in classes at the Huot Career and Technical Center.

“It’s just a really good thing, and we feel very fortunate,” said Superintendent Bob Champlin, noting the Budget and Personnel Committee supports the acceptance of the grant. “And it also requires board approval.”

No problems there, the board voted unanimously to accept the state’s money.

The robotics program at the middle school is barely a year old. It started during the 2023-24 school year as a pilot run by Norm Gilbert, who teaches theater during the school day and oversees the extended learning opportunity program after school.

This year, the robotics program is part of the curriculum delivered by Evan Press, a newly hired STEM teacher.

“Between the students I had last year that piloted, and the students [Press] integrated through his STEM program, they make up the robotics group,” Gilbert explained in a telephone interview on Wednesday.

Last year, 14 students participated in the pilot. Eight returned to seed Press’ expanded robotics program. Gilbert said there are many more students interested who have to navigate competing interests such as sports and other afterschool opportunities already commanding their time. He said it’s their hope Press can attract as many as 14 to compete together in the spring of this school year, and that the program could continue to grow.

“Hopefully we could compete with 20 next year,” Gilbert said.

The grant will pay for supplies, such as robot kits and tools, as well as incidental costs such as team shirts, bus rides and entrance fees necessary to join regional competitions. The program is designed to operate at no cost to the participating students, Gilbert said. He said the grant was “fantastic.”

“It’s something we really have an interest [for], students are really interested in that type of program.”