Today, I have some exciting news to report. Six of our area schools will be sharing a $2.9 million grant to improve studies in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

I want to applaud the efforts of our upstate schools to keep our kids current in the STEM fields, as well as applying for and winning this important grant. The efforts of our local educators are showing the rest of the state that our upstate and North Country kids can keep up with kids in other regions like the Capital District and downstate New York, which invest heavily in science and technology programs for their public schools.

I am excited by the opportunity that will be afforded to six of our districts – Lyme, Sackets Harbor, Alexandria, Belleville Henderson, Copenhagen and LaFargeville central schools – because of this federal grant. The program, the Fort Drum Rural Initiative STEM-Excellence program (RISE), will help these public schools work collaboratively with the Jefferson-Lewis Board of Cooperative Educational Services, Syracuse University and Clarkson University.

I have no doubt the unique programs developed through the Fort Drum RISE program will help improve STEM educational programs in our region. I hope that while these schools are implementing the new educational programs, they’ll be able to help neighboring public school districts increase or revamp their efforts to advance our kids’ learning in science, technology, engineering and math.

It is important that our kids have the tools to compete in this ever-changing and evolving economy that embraces and, in fact, is spurred by the new discoveries and inventions developed out of the STEM fields. Our kids deserve this opportunity.

I applaud the efforts of our educators, parents, industries, military and university partners for always seeking ways to broaden access to the sciences within our rural communities. This is exciting news for our students, and I, for one, cannot wait to hear about their progress.

I would love to hear about other unique learning opportunities happening in our region. Please share your experiences or ideas with me at blankenbushk@assembly.state.ny.us or call my district office at (315) 493-3909.