Science Hill unveils new $30,000 microscope lab for students

Science Hill High School students now have access to a dedicated microscope lab after the Johnson City Public Schools Foundation invested $30,000 to equip the space with 25 new microscopes. The Johnson City Public Schools Foundation, a community-based nonprofit that provides funding for projects and teacher grants and manages donations for student scholarships, held a dedication and lab tour Monday evening to celebrate the new facility. The lab will give students more opportunities for hands-on science instruction and research. "A lab like this is much more than a room filled with equipment. It's a place where curiosity becomes investigation, where questions lead to discovery and where students have the opportunity to experience science first-hand," Director of Schools Erin Slater said. "Every microscope on these tables represents an invitation to look more closely, ask better questions and understand the world in new ways." The microscopes were purchased with funds raised through the Johnson City Public Schools Foundation's annual Spell-A-Bration fundraiser. Foundation President Bob Parker said the 2026 event generated enough money to purchase all 25 microscopes. "It was a great success, and through the generosity of our donors and sponsors, generated enough funds to purchase these microscopes," Parker said. "We really took a step up this year in publicizing and that helped us gain more sponsors and donors … This is a passionate group of folks, and that passion is contagious." The microscope lab has been about six or seven years in the making, according to Josh Carter, supervisor of secondary and instructional technology. "We wanted to put a microscope lab together, but it was very cost prohibitive to do that," Carter said. "About three years ago, we renovated all the science labs in this hallway. Part of that was to create a new microscope lab, but we were unable to do that." Carter said the fundraising and community support behind the project finally allowed the school to complete the lab, noting many students will benefit from it. "Any student in the building in a science course could use the lab, but the primary classes that will use this lab are Biology I, Biology II, AP Biology, Human Anatomy and Physiology and AP Environmental Sciences." Carter said students in CTE Health Sciences and chemistry and physics classes may also use the microscopes. Jacqueline Smith, instructional science coach, helped set up the lab and said students have already begun using it during class. "They've had lots of opportunities in here so far," Smith said. "Biology I has been in here as we've been going through mitosis and seeing all the phases … Physiology has been here looking at histology slides … They're able to see different striations in the muscles better than you could with our other microscopes." The equipment also gives students conducting independent research through the school's AP Research course a way to complete work on campus rather than seeking access to microscopes elsewhere. As part of Monday's dedication, CTE students created a plaque commemorating the Johnson City Public Schools Foundation's contribution to the lab.