On June 16, Austin ISD's board of trustees approved accepting an anonymous donation so that the district can begin planning for a 14,500-square-foot applied technology center to be constructed on the east side of the Anderson High School campus at 8403 Mesa Drive.
An anonymous donor offered to give Austin ISD $59,000 for work on the center. The same donor plans to later make a second gift through the Boy Scouts for America National Foundation for construction and other costs.
AISD Interim Superintendent Paul Cruz said the initial funds will be used for planning, surveying land, determining if there's enough space and reviewing architectural design concepts that have been developed.
Students from campuses throughout the district would be able to visit the applied technology center and work on projects there, though Cruz said the list of schools that would be able to use the center has not been set in stone yet.
"It does open up the conversation of exploring different opportunities for a 'student shared' project," Cruz said, explaining the center and similar student sharing models could help support the district's efforts to meet new graduation requirements of House Bill 5.
AISD staff says the new center could help solve problems for students who want to participate in programs that are not available at their home campuses.
Board President Vincent Torres said solutions like this are a way to help AISD meet career and technical education requirements despite a lack of existing funds.
During citizens communication, a few attendees spoke in favor of the new center including Lolis Garcia-Baab, director of marketing and communications for Girl Scouts of Central Texas.
"We strongly agree with the philosophy that pre-engineering education has an invaluable role in connecting math and science concepts to the real world, fostering 21st century skills and preparing students for future careers in technology and engineering," she said.
Garcia-Baab cited statistics showing that women make up about half of the total U.S. workforce, but only about a quarter of the workforce in science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, fields.
"We are excited about the opportunity to collaborate with Anderson High School and the Boy Scouts in this effort. We intend to be an active partner in the discussions dedicated to creating a curriculum for the summer camps at the applied technology center and other related facility programs."
Northwest Austin resident Susan Rich said the center would help boost STEM education for both boys and girls in AISD.
"Girl Scouts has done the research and they know what it takes to keep girls interested and active in the STEM field and there is a difference between how girls and boys learn," Rich told the board. "You guys know it; you now have single-gender schools. This STEM center is an incredible opportunity for all students young and old."
