BEAUMONT, Texas — Beaumont ISD is getting a helping hand in its Imelda recovery process thanks to ExxonMobil.
At Tuesday night's board meeting, the school received a $50,000 check to help restore Beaumont United High School and Fehl-Price Elementary after Imelda damaged the campuses.
The money will also go toward supporting STEM education initiatives throughout school in Beaumont ISD.
The contribution came from the ExxonMobil Foundation.
BISD will use the money to replace damaged technology and instructional materials, like books and classroom resources according to an ExxonMobil news release.
“ExxonMobil’s ongoing support for math and science education is driven by a desire to promote the analytical and critical thinking skills necessary for many of today’s high-demand career options,” said Ryan Bucholtz, Beaumont refinery plant manager at ExxonMobil. “We hope that our assistance will help support recovery at those schools impacted by Tropical Storm Imelda.”
From an ExxonMobil news release:
BEAUMONT, Texas – The ExxonMobil Foundation said today that it is contributing $50,000 to Beaumont Independent School District to help support district-wide programs focused on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education, as well as support for Tropical Storm Imelda recovery at Beaumont United High School and Fehl-Price Elementary School.
“ExxonMobil’s ongoing support for math and science education is driven by a desire to promote the analytical and critical thinking skills necessary for many of today’s high-demand career options,” said Ryan Bucholtz, Beaumont refinery plant manager at ExxonMobil. “We hope that our assistance will help support recovery at those schools impacted by Tropical Storm Imelda.” Beaumont United High School and Fehl-Price Elementary School sustained significant flood damage during Tropical Storm Imelda. The schools were closed for three weeks to assess damage and begin repairs, and students from both campuses have been displaced for the duration of the school year as repairs continue.
Beaumont Independent School District plans to use the funds to replace damaged technology and instructional materials, including books and other classroom resources, as well as other intervention materials which will be used to make up for the loss in instructional time.
“We are so thankful for our partnership with ExxonMobil and the generosity that they have shown the Beaumont community,” said Dr. Shannon Allen, Beaumont Independent School District Superintendent. “This grant funding is an investment that will have long-lasting effects on our students, not only through support for science, engineering, technology and math, but also assistance to students who have undergone a crisis.
With the help of the ExxonMobil Foundation, Beaumont ISD will bounce back from Tropical Storm Imelda and will return stronger than ever.” The ExxonMobil Foundation is also contributing $25,000 toward STEM programs and the purchase of math and science equipment at two of ExxonMobil’s partner schools Charlton-Pollard and Amelia Elementary.
The funds will also support the science-engineering-technology-and-math lab at Austin Innovation Center to implement robotics programs at all high school campuses. This will enable students to participate competitively in local, regional and state competitions and build collaboration and problem-solving skills.
Funds will also be used to supplement hands-on innovation labs at every middle school campus. Students will utilize lab resources to participate in project-based learning experiences with coding drones, 3D printing and use laptops and tablets to enhance coding abilities.
News Release ExxonMobil currently has approximately 2,400 area employees, and its operations account for approximately one in every seven jobs in the region. In 2018, ExxonMobil employees and retirees volunteered more the 18,000 hours across the Greater Beaumont area.