HARRISON TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Starbase One, a unique STEM program located at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Harrison Township, has been forced to close its doors due to a lack of federal funding.
The program, which inspires 1,800 students annually, is renowned for its hands-on learning experiences, including a space shuttle simulator and a replica of the International Space Station.
The Starbase program is free for any school in metro Detroit, all the school has to do is provide transportation to get students there.
The Starbase program started in 1991 at Selfridge, and has grown to 90 programs across the country, including Puerto Rico and Guam
However, federal funding for the 90 programs comes from the Department of Defense, and Congress has failed to approve a full budget.
Currently, the House is proposing $60 million and the Senate is offering only $20 million. Until a resolution is reached, Starbase was forced to operate with the smaller $20 million budget, leading to the temporary shutdown on Feb. 7.
Rick Simms, the director of Starbase One, expressed hope that Congress will agree on the higher funding amount, allowing the program to reopen.
“A lot of times your kid doesn’t want to get up for school, I mean, I remember the day, you know, mom’s waking you up. You’re like, ‘Oh, I just don’t.’ But they said on Starbase days, kids are waiting and they’re up because they don’t want to miss the bus.”
Meanwhile, teachers like Jenny Laporte have been furloughed, leaving the facility without its heart and soul.
“If we can impact kids in a positive way and help create those good humans, then we’ve done our job,” said Laporte. “And we’re also exposing them to areas and things that they never would have dreamed possible before, which is why they don’t want to leave.”
Despite being a federal program, Starbase One operates as a non-profit and is actively seeking fundraising opportunities and/or donors.
