- By Robin Tobin and Douglas Firth
- Opinions
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Superintendent Stephen Grimm accepts a $50,500 check from CDC President Doug FirthThe Corporate Development Committee of Lansing Central Schools, Inc. announced that it has raised the funds for implementing Project Lead the Way (PLTW) in the Middle School this fall. In addition to a $20,000 contribution made by the CDC, donations from businesses in the greater Lansing community --- including Kionix, Borg Warner, Incodema, Merrill Lynch, Precision Filters, Sciarabba Walker plus grants from the Legacy Foundation and Triad Foundation ---- helped raise the funds needed to launch this program. 
(left to right) Superintendent Stephen Grimm, Middle School Principal Jamie Thomas, and Middle School Technology teacher Nicole Lamie cut the ribbon to open the new tech labYesterday, in celebration of this program, the Lansing Central School District held a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, honored the community sponsors, and spoke about its vision for the future of the school district. Project Lead the Way's hands-on, project-based curriculum shows students how what they are learning in math and science class applies to real-world problems. The courses emphasize critical thinking, creativity and innovation, while providing students with a foundation and a proven pathway to college and career success in science, technology, engineering, and math related fields.
Nicole Lamie demonstrates the tech lab
Sponsors and guests tour the lab. Foreground School Board member Glenn Swanson, who also represented donor Borg WarnerThe Lansing program commenced in the Middle School this calendar year and is being taught to all 6th, 7th and 8th grade students. “The school and our sponsors have a strong interest in seeing that the program has funding over a multi-year period to insure a successful implementation and reaches more students each year” said Doug Firth, president of the CDC. “Two of our current sponsors, Kionix and Incodema, have committed funds for the next four years”.
According to a recent study, a National Business Roundtable report states that to remain competitive in the global marketplace, America needs to graduate 400,000 science, engineering, mathematics and technical four-year degrees annually. PLTW is providing students with a foundation and proven path to college and career success in these areas, the statement said.
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