Solano supervisors seed science, math program after grant is rejected

Monday, August 31, 2009, 3:04 am

By Jenna V. Loceff, Business Journal Staff Reporter

Although a Solano County Office of Education proposal to the Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics Bay Area Council for a several million dollar grant to up its student offerings in the subjects was denied, it hasn’t given up.

The Solano County Board of Supervisors stepped in and is giving the office of education $14,000 for seed money to help start the STEM program, which represents coursework in science, technology, engineering and math.

Dee Alarcon, the Solano County superintendent of schools, said it will continue submitting proposals until funds come forward.

The Board of Supervisors has developed an economic index that showed science and technology as major areas of growth.

“You want to match up the work force with what is out there,” Ms. Alarcon said.

Though she is not pleased the original proposal was denied, she said she thinks it is a wonderful opportunity to bring together the supervisors and the office of education to work on the program.

The Solano County Office of Education serves 84,000 students in kindergarten through grade 14 in six districts.

The STEM program it is trying to shore up would include getting several teachers in each subject for each district. Some of the funds would go to train existing staff to make sure everyone is highly qualified and has the right credentials.

Alongside the economic summit the county put on this year, Solano Community College had a youth summit.

Students from all over the county representing all the high schools were brought in to see what kind of careers are available. It is through programs like this that Ms. Alarcon hopes to continue getting feedback and match education with the needs of the community.