ACPS & Alexandria City High School Administration has decided to move Titan Robotics from our current shop space to a small classroom space. Only about 500 square feet of this room is available for students to use. We are extremely concerned about student safety, room capacity, and the safe operation of the equipment we use to teach students necessary career technical skills.

We believe that the move from our current space to a classroom is dangerous for students, mentors, and volunteers. We haven’t been shown by ACPS/ACHS how there could be enough clearance to operate our machinery safely.

According to the FIRST Safety Manual, First Robotics teams are expected to be provided between 2000 to 5000 Square feet. For more information about why Robotics programs require sufficient space, visit this file.

Many teams operate with slightly less space when they are able to share space and collaborate with other teachers. We’ve done so successfully since 2016 until this year.

What is being proposed currently jeopardizes not only our safety but the future ability for Titan Robotics to function. This plan will severely limit and negatively impact our ability to support our existing STEM programs in ACPS schools and our ability to continue to share STEM in our community. It could limit our ability to run our annual summer camps. This year, nearly 200 campers are planning to attend our camps.

For more information, visit our website, our Instagram, or our Facebook!

Feel free to visit the ACHS website or the ACPS website.

Contact us at info@frc5587.org for more information.