[EricS-Team180]

S.P.A.M is the FRC team for the Martin County (FL) High School District. We are as inclusive as we can be under the school district rules, and include 3 county high schools, a charter school and home schoolers. There have been instances in the past where students who were county residents, but attended private schools outside the county, were also team members. The number of students from each school varies widely from year to year. The high schools are sports rivals, but that seems to melt away as we collaborate for the FRC season.

Our shop is an old, converted storage shed on the South Fork H.S. campus. It was given to the team by the County School board around the end of 2000. They poured a concrete floor and added A/C and electrical service. Our original sponsor - Pratt and Whitney - donated a Bridgeport mill, lathe, band saw and drill press. Prior to that, S.P.A.M had the problem of never having a permanent build space. Our financial account is held by the school district through the South Fork school administration.

We only have a ~10' x 15' space for driving in the shop. Each year we go to the South Fork administration for permission to schedule gym time for field set-up and practice. We have rolled carpet for a ~1/2 field and build the game pieces for as simple set up and tear down as we can. Getting gym time is a challenge, since it is also winter sports season.

To operate under the school district, we need a Martin School District representative (ie employee) present any time we meet or travel. Most of the mentors - engineers or NEMO's - work outside the school district so, we recruit teacher mentors from each of the schools. Together they can share
their time so we can meet during the grind of build season. In the past it has been quite a challenge to recruit teachers to support the team. Fortunately, we have had a very helpful group that "get it" the last few years, and we have profited as a team from their commitment.