South Phoenix School to reopen with STEM including Aquaponics focus! YES

[Dr. George B. Brooks, Jr.]

I promised full info, here it is!

Brooks Academy is coming back with STEM and Aquaponics!

As a result of the Roosevelt School District (RSD) Governing Board’s direction given at the last school board meeting, RSD has been approved to move forward with putting a large industrial sized greenhouse on the property of Rev. Dr. G. Benjamin Brooks, Sr. Academy located on Wier, just west of 32nd St. Roosevelt’s instructional staff will now have a location designed to implement a community school program along with Cultivate South Phoenix or CUSP, a grass-roots coalition group, which will provide the Roosevelt children with a strong learning experience pertaining to health, well-being and sustainability that is infused with essential skills in reading and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math).

The greenhouse will provide students with a learning lab that will demonstrate the unique work being done with regards to growing seedlings, including various herbs and seasonal crops in addition to the potential of developing natural, hydroponic and aquaponic habitats in the near future. This will provide Roosevelt School children a one-of-a-kind learning experience. The harvests from these sources will be cultivated by the children and staff for use in culinary experiences, nutritional analysis and business related lessons.

For more information on the greenhouse project at Brooks Academy, contact the District office at 602-243-4800.

Address: 
Rev. Dr. G. Benjamin Brooks, Sr. Academy
3146 E. Wier Ave 
Phoenix, Az 85040

Joseph Ortiz
Director of Public and Community Relations
Roosevelt School District
6000 S. 7th St.
Phoenix, AZ. 85042
602-243-4807 - Office
602-243-2637 - Fax
[e-mail]

[John Malone]

Hello Dr Brooks,

Just a curiosity, but was that school named after your father?

And if so,is this him?

Congrats on getting the development approved.  Quite an achievement.

[Dr. George B. Brooks, Jr.]

Greetings John and thank you. Yes that is my father and the school was indeed named after him. Recently it was shuttered because of budget woes but thanks to the RSD board and perhaps a little, no a lot of divine intervention, it is being opened in this new community school form. I am particularly honored to be part of the effort and that aquaponics will be part of it in a major way.

[Dr. George B. Brooks, Jr.]

P.S. As of this time, the preliminary design of the greenhouse includes about 5,000 ft2 of aquaponic grow bed, part for production and part for instruction.