ADRIAN — Adrian Public Schools reported last week that work has begun on STEM and career labs at the district’s elementary schools.

Construction is underway at Lincoln, Michener and Prairie schools, and is scheduled to begin this summer at Alexander Elementary School. The labs are being funded by contributions from the Mouli family and Adrian Schools Educational Foundation in addition to the district itseld,

All four spaces are scheduled to be in use by students in the 2026-27 school year.

“The start of construction marks an important phase in providing our students with first-class STEM and career labs,” Nate Parker, superintendent of Adrian Public Schools, said in a news release. “We are grateful for the continued partnership and generosity of the Mouli family and the Adrian Schools Educational Foundation. These new spaces will strengthen hands-on learning opportunities for our youngest learners and support our long-term vision for innovative instruction across the district.”

The new labs were designed to support the elementary science curriculum by providing dedicated spaces for hands-on experiments, investigations, and inquiry-based learning. The labs will also create expanded opportunities for students to participate in science-based clubs, enrichmen activities, and extended learning experiences.

“These new STEM and Career Labs will provide students with dedicated spaces to explore, create, and solve problems,” said Derrick Richards, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction. “They will also provide a place for students to explore potential careers beyond the traditional classroom. These spaces are designed to offer a high-quality STEM environment similar to the advanced facilities already in place at Springbrook Middle School and Adrian High School.”

STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.