School Districts receive donation from Amazon
BY TIA CAROL JONES
Amazon has donated $1 million to two school districts in the South Suburbs to foster STEM careers. Matteson Elementary School District 159 and Rich Township High School District 227 received the donation on Tuesday, Feb. 22.
Matteson Elementary School District 159 received $500,000 from Amazon. The district is building a STEM Center and with the funds from Amazon it will buy additional resources to place in the center. Before the district received the money, it was going to purchase general aircraft simulators. Now, with the money, it will be able to purchase age-specific aircraft simulator. It also will be able to purchase engineering and robotics supplies.
“Amazon has just opened that window for us to provide better resources for our students and our families,” said Dr. Mable Alfred, Superintendent of Matteson Elementary School District 159. “This donation, it will help us to provide a more robust STEM education, as we will eventually open up our foundational lab to build the knowledge of our preschool and primary aged children. Also, it will allow us to have the resources necessary to be 21st century learners and
prepare our children for college and careers.”
The Matteson Elementary School District 159 STEM Center will also be utilized by the community during after school hours and on weekends.
Alfred believes that in order to encourage the community to embrace a STEM culture, the students as well as their families have to be included. Estimated completion of the STEM Center is April 2022. However, it will not be available for use until the start of the
2022-2023 school year.
“I believe the donation will allow us to open up a world of possibilities,
not just for our students and staff, but for the entire community,” Alfred said.
Rich Township High School District 227 has been working in partnership with Amazon for about the last year. Dr. Johnnie Thomas, superintendent of Rich Township High School District 227, has been having discussions with Amazon about what is needed to support the district’s educational programs. Those conversations have included discussions about STEM education and arts education. Amazon has been a holistic partner for the district.
“We’re extremely excited about the new possibilities that are going to be afforded, not only to the high school students, but to K-12, working with District 159. We’re really excited about the donation,” Thomas said.
Rich Township High School District 227 is broken into two campuses: One focuses on the Fine Arts, Business and International Baccalaureate, the other campus focuses STEM. The funding from Amazon will support all of the district’s
new programs.
In the fall, District 227 will open its agricultural program, which will include a greenhouse. Some of the funds will go toward the completion of the greenhouse. The district also will have a radio and TV broadcasting lab.
“It’s really going to help accelerate our vision for giving students the ability to practice real life skills before they leave the high school, which we’re really excited about,” Thomas said. “This donation, I believe, is just the start in terms of a deep and more meaningful partnership in working with Amazon to really provide that educational support to our students.”
