Team Selma is blessed with some truly phenomenal partnerships.  From restaurants to flower shops and even our local fraternities and sororities.  Recently, a new partnership emerged with the University of Alabama’s (UA) School of Engineering, specifically mechanical engineering.

Selma City Schools is committed to improving the academic outcomes of our scholars.  To that end, we are transforming R.B. Hudson to a STEAM Academy.  STEAM is science, technology, engineering, arts and math.  Our UA partnership will be amazing for supporting our efforts.

The mechanical engineering department, under the leadership of Dr. Marcus Ashford, have created a class titled Engineering Service Learning and Logistics.  Members of this class will support our scholars and teachers at Hudson and Selma High School.  We are creating a STEAM Bus that will be a greenhouse on wheels.

You may have seen pictures on our social media sites featuring our welding scholars doing the initial work to re-purpose the school bus.  Next, the UA students are designing a low cost, shed-like structure that can be used to house the STEAM Bus. They may even incorporate solar panels, rain barrels, and/or other systems to be attached to the shed to interact with the bus.  We even discussed developing a special climate model for the bus.

Aside from working with the STEAM Bus, this partnership will also provide grant writing assistance, teacher workshops and connecting us with other UA organizations.  We are super excited to explore the opportunities that this could provide for our teachers and scholars!

As amazing as this is, we recognize that this is only possible because of the grant received from International Paper to begin this project.  Also, our incredible teachers, Mrs. Williamson, Ms. Needham, Mr. Irby and Mr. Talton are to be commended for their leadership.

In the coming months, we will have a great reveal for this bus and our Parent University Bus.  Both buses will be used to ensure that our schools are connecting with the community in a meaningful way. 

Team Selma appreciates all of our partners and welcomes you to become a part of our team. 

Courtney Washington, our community engagement specialist, will be more than happy to pair you with a school or a special project.  Check out our website and social media for details and let us know how you want to partner with Team Selma.

For more information, email me at avis.williams@selmacityschools.org.