Friday, June 22, 2012
Substantial grants from the Dunham Fund and the Tellabs Foundation will put the school, which will serve kids from four area districts, closer to becoming a reality.
Support for the proposed partnership school at Aurora University continues to grow. On Thursday, two more substantial donations – these totaling $2.55 million – were given to the school, which, when built, will serve students in the Oswego, East Aurora, West Aurora and Indian Prairie school districts. Thursday’s grants came from the Tellabs Foundation, a new donor, and the Aurora-based Dunham Fund, which has supported the project from the beginning. The Dunham Fund presented AU with a $2.35 million capital grant, according to Aurora University officials. That grant joins the $500,000 the fund has already given to the project, partially through its Challenge for Change program. AU officials announced that the new school, when constructed (…
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Along with Aurora's Dunham Fund, Exelon is the first major donor to the proposal, which would bring students and teachers from four school districts together at Aurora University, focusing on science and math.
Thanks to gifts from the Exelon Foundation and the Dunham Fund, Aurora University is now $650,000 closer to realizing the dream of a new partnership school. At a press conference on Tuesday, university officials announced the grants, which will be put towards the creation of a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) school that will bring together students and teachers from four districts: Oswego, Indian Prairie, and East and West Aurora. The new donations—$500,000 from the Exelon Foundation, a nonprofit organization funded by the Chicago-based Exelon Corporation, and a matching $150,000 from Aurora’s Dunham Fund—bring the total cash on hand to $1 million. The Dunham Fund had previously provided $350,000 in seed money for …
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
The new law lays the groundwork for a collaborative school on AU's campus that will serve Oswego, Indian Prairie, and East and West Aurora students, and concentrate on math and science education.
Surrounded by teachers, students and local dignitaries, Gov. Pat Quinn on Wednesday signed a bill that will lay the groundwork for a partnership school at Aurora University. Speaking at the university’s Alumni Hall, Quinn called the new school a positive step for the state. The partnership school will bring together students and teachers from four local school districts—Oswego, Indian Prairie, and East and West Aurora—and will concentrate on science and math education. “The legislation I will sign today will improve education in the whole state,” Quinn said. “Science, technology, engineering and math are vital to the state’s future and the country’s future.” An outgrowth of the university’s Institute for Collaboration, the school will aim …
With Quinn's signature, collaborative project between Aurora University and four area school districts becomes a reality.
Imagine a school where both students and teachers learn. A school that allows talented kids to absorb math and science skills in a university environment, at no additional cost. A school that brings together teachers and planners from four school districts and one university, to create a collaborative learning experience. That’s the vision behind the proposed “partnership school” that will serve students from four school districs—Oswego, East Aurora, West Aurora and Indian Prairie—on the grounds of Aurora University. Gov. Pat Quinn is expected to sign legislation Wednesday in Aurora that will set the stage for this project, the first of its kind in the state. The new school will be an outgrowth of Aurora University’s Institute for …
john
11:32 pm on Friday, June 22, 2012
I think this school concept is a great idea. However, I would be leery of a private school trying to tap into our school districts tax base for revenue to fund this project. I believe that is the ultimate motive of the AU administration. Is it worth each districts tax dollars for so few of the students education. I would look for real transparency of costs in this set-up. more ›