Through curriculum and activities, Parkland School District has adopted the concept of STEMM, a national movement supporting opportunities for students in science, technology, engineering, math and medicine.

STEMM education aims to prepare young people for future careers in the global workforce and to inspire innovation.

At the June board meeting, President Roberta Marcus said Parkland programs in the arts have been so successful, the district could add an "A" to STEMM.

High school Band Director Jason Lerew thanked the board for continued support of the arts throughout the district.

"Parkland is at the top with highest number of students at the state level," Lerew said.

Last year, Parkland had four participants in all-state band who were selected through a series of auditions.

Parkland Strings Director Karen Creeden reported five young people from the district performed in the all-state orchestra.

"Parkland has a great reputation for talent and quality," Creeden said. "Many students continue in college and throughout their careers."

Choral Director Frank Anonia said Parkland had four participants in all-state chorus.

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Rod Troutman commented on the influence of fine teaching and role modeling on student achievement in all categories.

"We let students see there are many pathways to success – art, music, academics and athletics," Troutman said. "We have many role models."

Board member Barry Long expressed gratitude to the dedicated teachers who made great accomplishments possible for their students last term.

"Now we ask the teachers to come back in the fall to inspire excellence again," Long said.

During the 2013-14 school term, a team of four elementary students, led by Ironton fifth grade teacher Tiffany Houser, entered the first K'Nex STEM Design Challenge (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) in the Lehigh Valley and won first place, allowing them to competed at the state level this past May.

The challenge the students faced was to create an environmentally friendly people mover out of K'Nex pieces.

Students could not exceed 1,400 pieces and had to include at least one motor.

The team of Pierce Bell, Luke Gutman, Prathysha Kothare and Blake Ziegler created the E-Line Nalis (elevator and zip-line, and Nalis, Latin for thinker).

Their idea was inspired by Curiosity, a rover that landed on Mars and was considered a self-thinker for its ability to land and make adjustments without NASA.

Their system consisted of a working elevator, zip-line and vehicle.

In addition to all the above, students contacted local companies including Krause Toyota, CNG Applications and Wildlands Conservancy to develop their research on environmental components that would fit their system.