November 25, 2016 at 4:00 p.m.
Eagle River Fab Lab slated to open in January
Eagle River Fab Lab slated to open in January
At the a recent economic development summit hosted by Gov. Scott Walker, principal Dan Marien explained the application process and Fab Lab benefits to a panel audience. He said the application process started with a lot of work and a small window of time.
"Our superintendent, Dr. Ritchie, said this is something we should do and we got on it," Marien said. "The window wasn't that long so there was quite a bit of work to do - it was a lot of time but well worth it. We were fortunate enough to be awarded the grant."
One of the key factors in the school receiving the grant is the involvement of the Vilas County Economic Development Corporation, which took on the responsibility of acquiring additional funds to match the state's portion of the grant.
"One of the big reasons I believe - and we as a district believe - we were awarded the grant is because VCEDC said they would front the matching portion for the three years of the grant," Marien said. "Which was just shy of $40,000. So that was an unbelievable gift and they've worked very closely with us through this process."
Equipment for the lab has already been ordered and added to the middle school curriculum. The lab will be housed in the middle school but students ranging from kindergarten to 12th grade will use the room.
"The Fab Lab itself is going to be a lot of STEM, which you hear a lot about now," Marien said. "That's science, technology, engineering and mathematics. We have 3D printers going in. We've purchased a CNC plasma cart, which is actually going to go in the metals room, which is just down the hallway."
One of the biggest benefits the lab offers students is a boost in their creativity.
"We think this is going to be really valuable to keep their creativity up," Marien said. "They're so creative when they're in kindergarten and first grade and they're doing all of these really bizarre things that's just full of creativity. Then by the time they're in 11th grade, they've dropped a ton of motivation and their creativity is within a really small box."
The lab will also benefit the public as one of the state requirements is for the lab to be open for use by the community several nights a month.
"There's a community component so we'll be open - it has to be open - to the public a few nights a month," Marien said. "So we have tech education teachers that will staff that and they already have it built into their schedules. They'll be there to train the people from the public that come in."
Marien said the school is excited and fortunate to receive the grant as well as have the assistance of VCEDC. The lab is expected to open in January and students will begin to use the equipment right away.
"We have a lot of great goals we really want to accomplish," Marien said. "We'll start to get some students through there and as a district, I think it's just a new frontier. Now we're just looking to take it to the next level and get more community involvement."
Jessica Leighty may be reached via email at [email protected].
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