Southington Science & Math Initiative Announced
Innovative Collaboration Means New Opportunities in Science and Math for Southington School Children
Southington Science & Mathematics Initiative (SSMI) Gets Jumpstart with Calvanese Foundation Grant
For years, the development of new educational opportunities for public school children has been dependent upon the increasingly limited capacity of overburdened taxpayers. In Southington, an innovative collaboration of parents and educators – with the assistance of the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain – is trailblazing new opportunities in science and math without a single penny of public financing.
The Southington Science & Mathematics Initiative (SSMI), a collaboration of the Southington Board of Education, motivated parents and the Foundation, has been formed to help Southington schools respond to the national deficit of students pursuing science- and math-related careers by funding programs above and beyond what the school district can provide through conventional means. The initiative was given a recent jumpstart with a $3,500 grant from the Joe & Kay Calvanese Foundation of Southington.
“In response to the shrinking pipeline of talented students in this country seeking careers in science, SSMI aims to encourage the next generation of scientists, mathematics and engineers,” said Peggy Snyder of Southington, a parent of Southington school children and one of several parents who helped create the initiative. “SSMI is grateful for the generosity of the Calvanese Foundation, and will be seeking additional funding in the coming months and years through additional grants and contributions from business, industry and individuals with an interest in enhancing science and math education for Southington youth.”
SSMI will function through the establishment of a donor advised fund at the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain. A donor advised fund allows a donor – in this case SSMI – to actively participate in an annual grant-awarding process. As the SSMI fund grows, distributions will be made to increase the enrollment and participation of Southington High School students at the Greater Hartford Academy of Mathematics and Science, Talcott Mountain Science Center, C.A.M.P.Y. on Campus and other similar programs.
A panel of Southington-based advisors will work with the Foundation to award future grants. The panel will consist of Dr. Harvey Polansky, Southington Superintendent of Schools; a member of the Southington Board of Education to be named; and a parent representative, Jill Notar-Francesco.
“We at the Foundation applaud the efforts of Southington parents, Superintendent Polansky and the Southington Board of Education to establish this groundbreaking collaborative,” said Community Foundation President Jim Williamson. “This fund is a perfect example of how a small group of concerned citizens can chart the future course of their children and their entire community by taking advantage of the expertise and resources of the Community Foundation.”
SSMI, said Snyder, hopes to give Southington school children exposure to more enrichment opportunities. “Providing a way for individuals, companies and others to make tax-deductible contributions to support this vision, while helping the district add new resources, just makes sense,” she said. “The more resources we can bring to the table, the brighter our children’s future can be.”
Others actively involved in the development of SSMI include Elise Sowa, co-president of the Southington High School PTO, and her husband, Dr. David Sowa; and Dr. Linda Vasile.
America has been steadily losing ground to the rest of the world in the fields of science and math. In a recent State of the Union address, President George W. Bush addressed the vital importance of science and math education and said a new initiative for American competitiveness will encourage innovation and promote opportunities in math and science for our students.
Last October, Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell hosted a statewide summit entitled CONNvene: A Platform to Advance a Statewide STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) Dialogue and Strategy. More than 140 business, industry, government, education and other leaders attended the day-long session. As a result, Connecticut is working on the development of a coordinated and comprehensive plan to measurably improve student interest and achievement in STEM to better meet Connecticut’s 21st century economic development, quality of life and workforce needs.
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