The Minnetonka Public School District is embarking on the construction of its first brick-and-mortar building in 50 years, which will be the new home of the Vantage and Momentum programs. This building will feature a forum space accommodating 140 people with state-of-the-art audio and video systems, a 7’ x 12’ High-Definition screen, and a unique lighting system that among other things, accommodates all skin tones. This forum space will be a multi-use, premier gathering space in the district. In partnering with the District, the Foundation will provide up to $220,000 over the next 3 years to equip this innovative space and facilitate the learning environment needed for the classroom of the future. The building will begin holding classes, and hosting meetings and gatherings in January 2024.   

In spring 2017, foundation trustees and the school board approved the our involvement in expanding and enhancing tonka curricular programs and supporting Makerspace learning.

Goals for The Hub:

• Minnetonka students will become creators and inventors.

• The goal is not only to give kids tools to build the things they can imagine, but to imagine the world they can build.

• These skill sets make our students into agile and collaborative problem-solvers, highly employable and successful in the dynamic workplaces of the 21st century.

Specifically, this foundation board designated Endowment Fund project provides materials, training and events to support hands-on learning experiences around technology, computer science, design, making and engineering in preK-8 Minnetonka schools. Foundation involvement will provide open-ended student-driven learning experiences that encourage creativity, collaboration and teamwork to achieve a goal.

In January of 2022, the foundation funded the purchase of 192 LEGO Education Spike Prime Sets to enhance and challenge the STEM Robotics curriculum for all middle school students at both MME and MMW. 

Robotics supports foundational areas such as computer programming, artificial intelligence, and engineering. It is an integral part of cutting edge careers like UX Design, Data Science, Aerospace Engineering, and Software Development. The use of robotics has allowed complicated medical procedures to be simplified and the work of dangerous construction projects to be safer. When used in an educational environment, robotics helps students learn teamwork, leadership, communication, critical thinking, creativity and innovation. They allow students to work through complex logic problems and develop crucial problem-solving skills. Using robotics at an early age gives kids an ideal, safe environment to learn how to make mistakes and positively learn from those experiences.

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Partnering with the district, Foundation resources increased the scale and impact of global learning for Minnetonka students through curriculum design and teacher training from 2013-2016. The Foundation also celebrated the inclusion of Global Perspectives as one of eight core elements for deeper and more meaningful student experiences in the Minnetonka Teaching and Learning Framework, building a lasting legacy of Global Learning in all Minnetonka curriculum.

In 2007, The Foundation launched the first project funded by the Endowment, the Writing Center at Minnetonka High School. The Writing Center supports all MHS students and staff through 1:1 writing conferences, workshops, and outreach. One full-time writing teacher and 22 well-trained student writing coaches serve writers in grades 9-12 and work on cross-age projects with middle and elementary students.