$1-Million Awards to Benefit 2 School Science Programs

Science and technology education got a huge boost Friday in the Saddleback Valley Unified School District and Westminster Community Alliance for Student Success, each of which was awarded about $1 million in cash, equipment and services for high-tech programs.

The awards were handed out by Project Tomorrow, a nonprofit education coalition, at an Orange County Department of Education board meeting.

“We’re thrilled,” said Beverlee Watson, project coordinator for the Westminster School District, which is part of the community alliance.

“It’s going to add excitement in the community,” said Trabuco Hills High School science teacher Jon Johnson in Saddleback Valley. “People are going to be excited about science.”

Saddleback Unified and Westminster Alliance’s proposals beat out proposals from 16 other Orange County public school groups for the “Renaissance Program” awards, which were granted for the first time this year.

Formed two years ago, Project Tomorrow is made up of more than 35 Orange County businesses, educators and individuals. The group’s goal is to raise $50 million in education funds to help local public schools improve science and technology literacy and better educate the future work force.

Both school groups said they will use the grant to purchase high-tech equipment.

The Westminster group, which is an alliance of educators from the Westminster School District, Westminster High School and the local business community, also plans to use the money to train educators in technology and develop a science and technology mentoring program between high school and elementary students.

In Saddleback, funds will be used for video conferencing equipment. The district will also use the grant for the Trabuco Hills High School Field Study science program, which pairs elementary children with high school students for experiments, field trips and discussions.