Gov. Otter applauds Trump’s STEM, computer science initiative
Gov. Butch Otter welcomed Monday’s signing of a memorandum expressing President Trump’s commitment to expanding access to high-quality STEM and computer science education for more students in order to develop “a new generation of American workers.”
“This initiative championed by the President and his daughter Ivanka aligns with and supports Idaho’s own efforts to improve our focus on science, technology, engineering and math education, as well as computer science, in order to build the kind of workforce that employers want and our economy needs,” Otter said. “My higher education and workforce development task force’s both concluded that STEM education and computer science need to play bigger roles in Idaho’s K-through-Career education and training system.”
Monday’s presidential memorandum directs the U.S. Department of Education to make expanding access to those programs a priority and sets a goal of devoting at least $200 million per year in grants to that effort.
“Idaho employers are demanding a STEM-skilled workforce, and efforts such as those announced by the White House and Idaho’s CS Initiative will help prepare students for life after graduation as they transition into college or career,” said Angela Hemingway, the executive director of the Idaho STEM Action Center.
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Meridian school holding Feed the Need event on Friday
The Ambrose School of Meridian is partnering with Homestead Ministries and the Boise Rescue Mission to package 10,000 bags of chili mix and lentil taco filling mix to distribute to those in need throughout the Treasure Valley on Friday.
The entire K-12 school, nearly 500 students, will form an assembly line to produce soup bags that will be shared with 12 agencies in the Treasure Valley. The Boise Rescue Mission will use the soup mixes for families and daily meals at their shelters. Homestead Ministries began Feed the Need in 2014. The organization purchases or receives donations of locally grown grains, such as beans, peas, lentils, wheat and barley, from farmers and processors, along with spices, bags and labels.
The public is invited to come by the school, 6100 N. Locust Grove Road in Meridian, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Friday and drop off any non-perishable food items for the Boise Rescue Mission or coins for the coin drive which helps pay for all the soup mix supplies.
