In 2005, Ameren donated more than 200 of the devices \- with a total value of $600,000 \- to K-12 classrooms throughout the Ameren companies' service areas in Missouri and Illinois.
Recipient schools in Missouri were:
Belleview R-III Elementary; Belleview
Boonville R-I High School; Boonville
Vineland Elementary; DeSoto
St. Clare of Assisi School; Ellisville
McCluer High School; Florissant
Trinity Lutheran School; Jefferson City
Kirksville Middle School; Kirksville
New Bloomfield R- III Junior High; New Bloomfield
Fort Zumwalt North High School; O'Fallon
Riverbend Middle School; Pacific
Portageville Middle School; Portageville
St. Raphael; St. Louis
Webster Groves Middle School; St. Louis
Westminster Christian Academy; St. Louis
St. Patrick School; Wentzville
The SMART Board' interactive whiteboard is a touch-sensitive display about the size of a standard whiteboard. Hooked up to a computer and projector, it operates like a giant computer screen that students and teachers simply touch to operate. Students can also write over applications in digital ink and then save their work for future study and review. The interactive whiteboard engages students with diverse learning styles by providing both immediate access to a wide range of digital materials and a common focus for the entire class.
"We hope with this educational technology will increase students' technical skills and help them think more critically and creatively," said AmerenUE Energy Delivery Senior Vice President Richard Mark.
Besides providing SMART Board' interactive whiteboards, Ameren's now discontinued Power Up program in Missouri and Illinois also provided 105 self- contained solar hydrogen fuel cell energy kits that high school science teachers can use to build awareness of renewable energy sources through hands- on experiments. The total cost of these kits is $150,000. In addition, Ameren awarded $250 grants to individual teachers for classroom equipment or supplies of their choice \- up to a total of $150,000 awarded.
"We support our communities in many ways beyond our basic role of providing reliable gas and electric service," Mark said. "This program supported education throughout Ameren's service area \- where school systems are facing some tough financial pressures."
Ameren, through its subsidiaries, serves 2.3 million electric customers and more than 900,000 natural gas customers in a 64,000-square-mile area of Missouri and Illinois.
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