1+1>2: Utah businesses go back to school.

• Author: Payne, Liz
• Position: Feature Story

Several weeks ago, Mrs. Maughan's kindergarten class from Grant Elementary in Murray spent their morning in a unique classroom located in the wetlands of the Jordan River. Students went on a "habitat hunt," turning over rocks, peeking into trees and bushes and watching the river to identify the homes of beavers, birds and bugs. Back indoors, they built edible nests out of chow mein noodles, chocolate frosting and jelly bean eggs. Not bad for a day's science lesson.

Their field trip, and countless more tailored for science, art, creative writing and even math students, are made possible by a partnership between Murray School District, Murray City and Kennecott Corporation, the program's major sponsor.

Partnerships such as this are springing up all over the country, as businesses seek new ways to give back to their communities.

In Utah, where rapidly growing schools need more than taxes alone can provide, businesses are recognizing a unique role they can play in building schools -- strengthening themselves in the process.

Partnering with education doesn't mean simply writing out a check. It can take on many forms, as even a cursory look at a few of the creative partnerships across the Wasatch Front will reveal.

On the Bandwagon

There was no tried and true template for building the Kennecott Nature Center. Louie Cononelos, Kennecott's director of government and public affairs, explains that, along with its varied contributions to arts and charities, "Kennecott looks for one or two larger projects each year that will leave a lasting legacy in our community." In keeping with this goal, through a five-year, $100,000 grant, Kennecott established the groundwork for the Nature Center.

Nature Center Program Coordinator Judith Payne notes that the donation by Kennecott worked as a catalyst. It set the stage for Murray City and the Murray Education Foundation to make contributions. Soon small businesses and independent contractors began to phone the district and offer their services. Local suppliers then agreed to donate building materials.

Ultimately, more than 45 local businesses joined the partnership, providing everything from electrical supplies to flooring to cabinetry, plus the labor to install them. The result was a real sense of community pride and a jewel of a learning facility for students in Murray.

Payne laughs, "Visitors from other districts come and just drool over this facility." She believes that the center could be a model for other...