Southport Middle School gets upgraded media center

Students at Southport Middle School got their first glimpse of the school’s upgraded multimedia center on April 9, the first project unveiled in preparation for the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship in Indianapolis.

The College Football Playoff Foundation and the city’s playoff host committee have partnered with Lakeshore Learning to modernize the media center, which features new computer stations, tables, chairs and a seating area for reading and studying. The center also has new tablets, 3D pens, a sewing machine and a Lego wall.

“We just had books and things like that. Everything was fine at first, ”said seventh-year student Samuel Lloyd as he used one of the 3D pens for the first time. “It makes me want to come back here even more. “

Lloyd scoffed at a question about whether he is getting good grades, but he knows a lot about his improved media center: “It makes me more motivated to get good grades in language arts and things like that. “

Southport Middle School has 1,190 students enrolled, according to state data. About 40% of students are white and about 11% are black or African American. Almost half of the students are Asian or Hispanic.

Perry Township Schools Superintendent Patrick Mapes said new technology and other improvements should help the school better serve its diverse student body.

One of the reasons cities want to host big sporting events like the National Championship or the Super Bowl is that it usually leads to investment in other areas. The College Football Playoff Foundation has traditionally focused on education.

“Our job is to use the popularity of football for the benefit of teachers,” said Britton Banowsky, executive director of the foundation.

The Indianapolis host committee said it will invest $ 1 million to help teachers and students renovate schools, as well as online learning assistance programs and the recruitment of various teachers.

The next schools slated for a media center makeover are Garden City Elementary School in Wayne Township, James and Rosemary Phalen Leadership Academy on the northeast side, and Victory College Prep on the southeast side.

Contact editor Tyler Fenwick at 317-762-7853. Follow him on Twitter @Ty_Fenwick.