Quasics — Gateway High School’s robotics club — is hoping the school board approves $10,000 in annual funding to cover the registration fees for the group’s competitions.
Team members Salma Mukhtar, Emma Parrish and Vivian Rader made a presentation and thanked the board at a recent meeting for previous funding, which has helped with travel expenses and acquiring a workspace for the team.
The robotics club, which has 33 members, receives funding from sponsors, but members’ participation in VEX World Competition a few years ago necessitated the group use a lot of its savings.
Mukhtar stated having registration fees covered by the district would give the group peace of mind. The First Robotics Competition registration and regional tournament entry fees alone total $6,000.
The club, led by district technology assistant Sean McMahon, has had a positive impact on the school and community, members said. Students in the group participate in hands-on STEM learning, development career readiness skills and receive college scholarships.
The club also participates in Fun Fest and Reading Night at the library, and with Recreation and Parks for Clean Up Day, Trail of Treats and Monroeville Night Out. Quasics also participates in the Girls in STEM workshop at Google and Pittsburgh Pirates STEM Day.
Quasics works with the Girl Scouts and has awarded 930 STEM badges to Scouts in Western Pennsylvania. Members have participated in 77 outreach events and volunteered 1,507 hours in the past 2½ years.
“We want to make sure Quasics is around long after we graduate,” Parrish said.
The board did not make a final descision regarding the group’s funding.
Other business
School board members voted unanimously to approve $166,937 in vestibule work at University Park Elementaryto be done by Encompass Building Group LLC. Business manager Mike Zourelias said the district received a $100,000 grant for the project. Director of Facilities and Grounds John Walsh said Encompass will bring in equipment on the last in-service day and start work the next day. He anticipates work will be finished before school begins in the fall.
The next financial meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. May 14 and the next curriculum and equity meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. June 4. Both meetings will be held in the administrative building, 9000 Gateway Campus Blvd., Monroeville, and are open to the public.