State Sen. Brendan Crighton and State Rep. Jennifer Armini announced $80,000 in state funding for Swampscott to support science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and improve wayfinding and street signage.
The funding comes from the Legislature’s fiscal year 2026 Fair Share supplemental budget. The supplemental budget invests surplus Fair Share revenue in transportation and education priorities across the Commonwealth.
“Fair Share funding continues to enable critical investments in our transportation and education systems that support the needs of our residents throughout the Commonwealth,” said Crighton. “Whether it is infrastructure improvements that make it easier for people to get to where they need to go or resources to improve literacy and access to mental health, this funding helps to meet the needs of the moment.”
Swampscott will receive $40,000 for robotics equipment and another $40,000 for wayfinding and street signage.
The school district uses robotics in a few different ways. Swampscott High School’s Team 4311 robotics team recently competed at the New England District North Shore Event in Reading.
Swampscott’s robot, the Current, finished in ninth place out of 38 teams during qualifications. The group became the captain of the seventh seeded alliance during playoffs.
The team also finished in ninth place again during the qualification round at the Greater Boston District Event in Revere. They also became captain during this competition.
At the elementary school. Students interact with new technologies every day, particularly in the innovation lab, where Bee-Bots and Wonder Workshop Dash robots are used.
The Bee-Bots resemble the insects they’re named for, complete with a face and smile. Along the back are buttons students use to operate them, helping teach sequencing, problem-solving, and directional counting.
The Dash robots look more futuristic, made up of three bright blue spheres on wheels with another sphere on top containing a camera-like “eye.” They can respond to voices and sounds, dance, sing and interact with students.
Students engage with coding in developmentally appropriate lessons as they sequence the tools and interact with simple computations to complete specific tasks.
Middle school students in Wes Geraci’s robotics class have learned to build, test and revise projects like pumpkin tosses. They programmed micro:bits to test whether a pumpkin could land safely, then applied those findings to real-life designs.
“These are practical, community-driven investments that reflect what our schools and towns need right now,” said Armini. “This funding will support hands-on learning and stronger, more accessible public spaces.”
Read the Swampscott Tides article here.