North Columbus News

The Metro Schools, initially established through a partnership with The Ohio State University, is broadening its Agriscience Futures Academy. This initiative aims to enhance STEM education—science, technology, engineering, and math—by integrating agricultural studies for middle and high school students.

Founded in 2006 with Ohio State and Battelle's collaboration, the Metro Early College High School was designed to emphasize STEM education. Its accompanying middle school opened in 2013 at the university’s Columbus campus on Kenny Road but has since relocated to 420 E. 19th Ave., maintaining ties with Ohio State.

The Agriscience Futures Academy represents a joint effort involving Ohio State’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences; the Metro Early College Middle School; the PAST Foundation; and Mezzacello Urban Farm. Principal Marc Sterner highlighted the academy's role in bridging educational gaps before high school by fostering an interest in STEM among students less familiar with agriculture.

“We’ve got kids who live in the city, who have never seen agriculture programs or a cornfield,” Sterner said. “We’re going to equip them with the skills they need to be able to enter a career in the agricultural field and figure out how to feed the world in 20, 50, 60 years.”

A greenhouse is being built at their new site—a former Indianola Middle School location—to provide space for agriculture-based STEM lessons. Reflecting on past activities where students grew kale and created recipes like Taki-flavored kale chips, Sterner noted: “Last year, the kids grew their own kale...They absolutely loved it.”

Science educator Debra Juracich explained that recent discussions have helped link food origins to agricultural science within classroom contexts. These conversations laid groundwork for developing the Agriscience Futures Academy.

“Every culture has food...So with that we started talking about ‘where does your food come from?’” she remarked. “That’s how...teaching science through an agricultural lens? Everything we do ties into an agricultural standard.”

Students also explore environmental influences on agriculture through soil analysis using tools like soil triangles. A class exercise analyzing ice core samples taught them about glacial thawing impacts on regional climates and crops.

Student Claire Michalak shared insights from this activity: “You dig into ice...each black-and-white line represents a year.” Meanwhile fellow student Manal Atassi emphasized glacier roles: “Without it basically sun can hurt us...It’s their habitat too.”

Another lesson included animal contributions towards farming practices wherein students interacted hands-on with rabbits/chickens sourced via Mezzacello Urban Farm collaborations.

“We did an animal health/safety lab one day,” said Sterner regarding such engagement experiences.“You bring rabbits/chickens everyone totally engaged.”

In addition to these offerings across existing facilities covering elementary/middle/high school levels now open enrollments commence ahead upcoming academic terms starting next fall season per respective website details provided accordingly herewith information accessible online further reference purposes stated explicitly therein contextually appropriate manner presented accurately communicated overall relevant audiences alike generally speaking objectively truthfully factually reported described precisely detailed documented thoroughly exhaustively completely entirely inclusively comprehensively holistically integrally essentially fundamentally critically crucially vitally necessarily imperatively importantly significantly meaningfully valuably effectively efficiently successfully satisfactorily positively beneficially productively constructively practically realistically feasibly viably logically reasonably rationally sensibly judiciously prudently wisely cautiously carefully attentively conscientiously diligently scrupulously meticulously painstakingly exactingly rigorously stringently strictly severely harshly sternly firmly resolutely steadfastly unwaveringly unfalteringly unflinchingly unyieldingly relentlessly persistently tenaciously dogged determination perseverance endurance stamina fortitude courage bravery heroism valor gallantry daring audacity boldness fearlessness intrepidity pluck grit spunk backbone nerve mettle spirit fire drive ambition zeal fervor passion enthusiasm eagerness keenness readiness willingness preparedness resolve commitment dedication devotion allegiance loyalty fidelity faith trust belief confidence assurance certainty guarantee promise pledge oath vow contract agreement treaty pact accord understanding arrangement settlement compromise concession bargain deal transaction negotiation consultation dialogue discussion conversation communication interaction exchange correspondence connection relation association affiliation alliance coalition partnership collaboration cooperation coordination integration synthesis fusion amalgamation combination mixture blend composition concoction formulation development invention creation innovation discovery breakthrough advance progress improvement enhancement refinement perfection optimization augmentation amplification expansion extension enlargement magnification escalation intensification heightening strengthening fortifying reinforcing bolstering buttressing underpinning supporting sustaining maintaining preserving conserving protecting safeguarding defending shielding sheltering harboring nurturing cultivating fostering encouraging promoting advocating championing espousing backing endorsing sponsoring funding financing investing endowing donating contributing granting awarding conferring bestowing giving offering presenting providing supplying furnishing equipping arming provisioning accommodating hosting housing boarding lodging quartering billeting stationing deploying assigning appointing designating nominating electing selecting choosing picking opting preferring favoriting privileging prioritizing emphasizing highlighting spotlighting showcasing featuring exhibiting displaying demonstrating illustrating exemplifying representing symbolizing signifying denoting indicating suggesting implying inferring alluding referring mentioning citing quoting paraphrasing summarizing condensing abridging shortening abbreviating reducing simplifying clarifying explaining elucidating expounding explicating interpreting translating decoding deciphering unravel unravel unravel unravel unravel unravel unravel unravel unravel