MADISON TOWNSHIP — Parents and teachers had a number of questions involving a new science, technology, engineering and mathematics special elective at Wednesday night’s Madison Board of Education meeting.

The school board is looking to implant STEM courses in kindergarten through high school. Community members at the meeting expressed concerns that the new mandated STEM courses would replace other electives.

Parents spoke with board president Jeff Meyers and superintendent Shelley Hildebrand for about 45 minutes during the public comment section of the meeting.

Many parents sounded their concerns about making the new electives required, but felt STEM was a “great” option.

“While Galion and Shelby have implemented this as an option and had success, Brian Lowe, a parent in the district said, why is Madison looking to make this a requirement? What does Madison gain?”

“The short answer to your question is, if we do that, we have to spend more money on more teachers and classrooms,” Meyers answered. “We don’t want to spend all of the district’s money.”

Madison Middle School currently teaches two STEM classes, Hildebrand said.

“We currently have a STEM 1 and a STEM 2 that is taught in our junior high,” she said. “This is not new. This is an opportunity for more kids to take it. STEM is meant to be taught by all standards. It is part of our curriculum. So we are making it a part of our curriculum.

“The whole curriculum is an exploratory curriculum.”

The superintendent said the current STEM courses are taught as optional electives.

“Just like music and P.E. are right now, they are exploratory,” she added. “They are mandatory but they are exploratory. There are a variety of things they learn about, but they are requirements.

“Your kids in K-6 don’t get a choice about whether they take music or P.E. This is another special, another rotation. This is providing skills that are included in all aspects of learning — just like they do in technology. They learn (Microsoft) Word, Powerpoint, spread sheets.

“They may never use those things again, but they are exploring them.

Meyers added that as educators, it is the school’s responsibility to educate its students in preparation for jobs that may not yet exist.

“We can’t prepare your children to be electric workers,” he said. “Because in 20 years, it may not be around anymore. I worked 27 years working power lines so you could have telephones in your house. Then all of a sudden I didn’t have a job because of cell phones.

“We’re going to try to educate children for what is coming in the future: science, technology, engineering and mathematics.”

Before the public comments came to an end, Lowe asked to speak once more.

“I grew up in Madison; a lot of us went to Madison and stayed in Madison,” he said. “Everyone I’ve talked to about the STEM doesn’t believe it should be mandatory.

“You don’t have support from community, you don’t have support from the teaching staff and you sure don’t have support from the kids.”