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State give $25K to improve link between school, industry

State give $25K to improve link between school, industry

4 districts form consortium to earn STEM BEST grants

The community school districts of Charles City, New Hampton, Osage and Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock were awarded a STEM BEST — Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Businesses Engaging Students and Teachers — grant of $25,000 by the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council. The purpose of STEM BEST is to create a meaningful and impactful connection between education and business and industry.

This four district consortium combated strong competition in applying for this grant.

“The STEM BEST proposal by the North Iowa consortium faced intense competition statewide,” a press release said. “Nearly twice the number of proposals that could be funded were received.”

Part of the application process included submitting a budget of how grant money might be used.

“It is a $25,000 award to the four of us,” Charles City Superintendent Dr. Dan Cox said. The majority of the budget will be used for teacher training, curriculum development and site visits. The grant money has been budgeted so teachers and representatives from each of the four schools will have equal opportunities to learn and grow in improving STEM for their schools.

Superintendents from all four districts were present Thursday to accept the award.

“Collaboration and creativity are two of the super skills for the 21st Century,” Cox said. “I am proud of the collaboration among our four school districts to creatively figure out how to expand learning opportunities for our students and strengthen the partnerships with our amazing businesses in Floyd, Mitchell and Chickasaw counties.”

Paul Gibbons, North Central Regional STEM Manager, opened the ceremony by expressing the importance of emphasizing STEM skills to prepare students for the future.

“The number of STEM related jobs are growing at three times the rate of non STEM jobs,” Gibbons said.

The hope is to build relationships between businesses and industries and schools to encourage students to return to North Iowa to establish careers and build families.

“We want our home groomed products to stay right here,” Osage Superintendent Barb Schwamman said.

Brenda Dryer, director of Mitchell County economic development, explained that when students return to the community to obtain STEM related careers there is a ripple effect that benefits the local economy. Executive Director of Charles City Area Development Tim Fox agreed noting STEM related jobs pay a significantly higher wage and STEM employees report greater career satisfaction.

Pavel Charvat, Mitas Tires North America President, looks forward to the relationships that will be built that will lead to an increase in qualified employees. “(The grant will) help to develop students to be at least as good as their parents and brothers and sisters,” Charvat said. He also complimented Charles City employees commending their work ethic and ability.

“We believe that this STEM BEST grant is a game-changer for education in North Iowa,” Cox said. “It reinforces for the rest of the state students in rural Iowa school districts, like Charles City, New Hampton, Osage and Rockford can, and do, receive a world-class education.”

By Amie Johansen amie@charlescitypress.com

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