Shallowater Independent School District recently received a $10,000 grant to build a greenhouse that staff and student-organizers anticipate using to complement lessons in multiple academic areas.
“I think it will be very beneficial to us because it’s very hands-on learning — it’s not just in the classroom,” said Kelsey Long, student council president and a junior at Shallowater High School. “It can be used for agriculture as well as science. It’s not going to be just for one purpose.”
The grant comes from Monsanto’s America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education project. Of the thousands of applicants, winners were selected based on “merit, need and community support,” according to a news release.
Rhett Brewster, a spokesman for Monsanto, presented the grant during a halftime ceremony of the Mustangs’ football game against Seminole Friday night, Oct. 11.
Shallowater is now a Texas Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (T-STEM) school, meaning its curriculum offers enhanced focus in those subject areas.
“With that and the greenhouse, we’ll be able to offer more research-based science classes,” said Jennifer McDonald, a spokeswoman for the district. “It will be to the benefit of all grade levels.”
Construction on the greenhouse will begin within the next few weeks, McDonald said. School administrators anticipate having it operational this spring semester.
McDonald added staff from a local farm or other business or a Lubbock greenhouse might share resources with management of Shallowater’s greenhouse when the project is complete.
“It could be used as a good liaison between the school and local businesses,” she said.