The Battelle Science Resource Center will be located on South Fruitland Street in Kennewick. Battelle operates the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland for the federal government. The gift is the largest ever by Battelle to a local school district.
Future support is contingent on regular performance reviews.
One of the most important aspects of the center is combining the materials and staff training for the program in one location. There are three types of kits for every grade level - physical, earth and space, and life sciences. Battelle funding also will cover the training necessary to use the kits effectively. Estes added that he's hopeful the Kennewick center eventually will serve as a regional facility and that the district will make the kits available to teachers and students in neighboring school districts. It's Battelle's policy to give at least 50 percent of its philanthropic corporate contributions in the Mid-Columbia to education organizations and activities.