20 Mar Foundations Team Up to Re-Fund Kansas Starbase
Salina, Kan. – The McPherson County Community Foundation (MCCF) and the Greater Salina Community Foundation (GSCF) have committed $50,000 toward the $100,000 needed for Kansas Starbase to continue operations in Salina for the 2024-25 school year. This comes one month after the program was forced to suspend its efforts due to federal funding cuts.
Kansas Starbase is a Department of Defense initiative aimed at increasing access to early STEM education in school districts across the state. The program has five host sites, each with dedicated equipment, teachers, and classrooms for STEM education. Starbase Salina serves 14 counties, including McPherson and Saline counties, providing 25 hours of hands-on, age-appropriate STEM education to local schools.
“They get to see what a real engineer does,” said Billie Jean, director of Starbase Salina. “We do rocketry and chemistry lessons with students and focus on getting their hands on things as quickly as we can.”
When MCCF learned about the funding cuts that had forced the cancellation of local school programming, MCCF Director of Development Jim Ostlund reached out to Kansas Starbase to confirm what was needed to resume operations at the Salina site. The total cost to return to full capacity through the end of the 2024-25 school year was determined to be $100,000.
“With the volatility of the federal grant landscape, we wanted to make sure McPherson County students still have the opportunity for hands-on STEM education,” Becky Goss, MCCF President/CEO said, “These sessions set the students up for long-term success in STEM careers.”
After confirming that GSCF was also interested in supporting the program, both foundations released $25,000 from a combination of unrestricted and individual donor-advised funds. The $50,000 will allow Starbase Salina to return to a limited capacity, with the expectation that the program will welcome schools back after spring break.
“We’re excited to partner with the McPherson County Community Foundation and our donors to ensure that Saline County and surrounding-area fifth graders have the opportunity to attend STARBASE this year,” said Jessica Martin, president and executive director of the Greater Salina Community Foundation. “Connecting donors to causes they care about is a large part of what we do to serve our community.”
Starbase Salina recently hosted MCCF representatives and a local McPherson school, Lincoln Elementary, to explain the program’s role in education and how the federal budget cuts led to its suspension and cancellation in local schools.
“Our employees through the State of Kansas went on unpaid leave as of Feb. 4,” Jean said. “Today, I’m fortunate to have four out of my six staff members here. Three are on unpaid leave but volunteered their time to be here because they believe in what the program does for the state of Kansas.”
“Fifth Grade is the first year that (Students) have to take state assessments in science, so bring them to Starbase helps prepare them for that.” Lincoln Elementary teacher Laura Miller said, “It’s a gap that I don’t feel qualified to fill myself. I don’t have the materials, I don’t have the knowledge, without it, it’s hard to build the excitement that (students) get from having these opportunities.”
As for funding at its other sites, Kansas Starbase Executive Director Melissa Peat said the effort will be collective.
“If foundations, corporate sponsors, and individuals chip in, STARBASE can continue to serve students during this temporary federal funding gap,” Peat said. “These kids are our future, and programs like STARBASE help them explore future possibilities.”
Those interested in donating to Kansas Starbase sites in Topeka, Wichita, Manhattan, and Kansas City are encouraged to contact Kansas Starbase, Inc. Board President Briar Conner at president@kansasstarbase.org.
“We appreciate the support of our donors and the collaboration with the Greater Salina Community Foundation.” Ostlund said, “We hope this inspires others to give.”
See more about the Foundation’s trip to Starbase Salina here