title
Adopt and present resolutions recognizing April 8-16, 2017 as National Robotics Week in Solano County, recognizing the Vanden High School and Armijo High School robotics programs for advancing to the F.I.R.S.T. Robotics World Championships to be held April 19-22, 2017 in Houston, Texas and recognizing the Armijo High School and Grange Middle School robotics programs for advancing to the VEX Robotics World Championships to be held April 19-22, 2017 in Louisville, Kentucky (Chair Vasquez)
body
Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
Chair Vasquez requests that the Board adopt and present a resolutions recognizing April 8-16, 2017 as National Robotics Week in Solano County, recognizing Vanden High School and Armijo High School robotics programs for advancing to the F.I.R.S.T Robotics World Championships to be held April 19-22, 2017 in Houston, Texas and recognizing the Armijo High School and Grange Middle School robotics programs for advancing to the VEX Robotics World Championships to be held April 19-22, 2017 in Louisville, Kentucky.
SUMMARY:
In 2009, universities and technology companies requested the United States Congress create a road-map for robotics. A year later, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1055, declaring the second full week of April as National Robotics Week.
Robotics programs in Solano County’s schools are effective and engaging methods for introducing and teaching the concepts of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Robotics programs have the ability to inspire youth to enter into STEM-related career fields, which provides for a highly-skilled workforce.
Schools in each of Solano County’s six unified school districts, as well as the Solano County Office of Education, offer robotics and engineering courses or clubs dedicated to robotics. Within these courses and clubs, students build robots and compete amongst other programs from across the country and around the world through organizations such as the F.I.R.S.T. (For Inspiration and Recognition of Technology) Robotics Competition, VEX Robotics Competition and RoboPlay Robotics Competition.
The Vanden High School Robotics Team 701 and Armijo High School Robotics Team 6474 recently competed in the 2017 Sacramento Regional F.I.R.S.T. Robotics competition, earning enough points to qualify for the F.I.R.S.T. Robotics World Championships (April 19-22) in Houston, Texas. Additionally, teams from the Armijo High School and Grange Middle School robotics programs advanced to the VEX Robotics World Championships to be held (April 19-22) in Louisville, Kentucky.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with these resolutions.
DISCUSSION:
The Board could choose not to adopt these resolutions. This is not recommended because this is an opportunity to raise public awareness of robotics and STEM-related education in Solano County.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION