Mike Reindl Nominates Northwood-Kensett for the Freedom Award

School and Community Partnerships

Annual
Conference: Thank You from Iowa State University Extension
on Vimeo.

From politicians to local farmers to 4H youth, this video highlights the benefits that result from the partnerships that Iowa State's Extension Service forms. (For those reading this blog who know me personally, you'll recognize a familiar face at the 1:20 mark!)

For years, our school district has enjoyed a mutually beneficial partnership with our local Extension office. Their staff pioneered the acquisition of substance abuse prevention grants and provided research-based programming for the students in our schools. Our county's 4H program is the strongest in the State of Iowa, and I am convinced that our students' leadership and communication skills are better than they would be without those opportunities. We, in turn, have provided release time from school when appropriate for these 4H'ers to experience trips to Washington, D.C.; conversations with legislators in Des Moines; and time showing livestock, making presentations, and organizing activities at the Iowa State Fair (Project Based Learning at its finest).

The Governor's Blueprint for Education proposes an Innovation Acceleration Fund that is intended to support community-school-business partnerships. I don't believe this is necessary. Our partnerships with Extension have been supported with federal grant funding in the case of the substance-abuse prevention programming, but none of the other benefits required resources beyond a desire to work together for the benefit of our young people.

For example, just last week I met with our counselor, staff from our area community college, and staff from our local long-term care facility to establish a program for our students where they take CNA courses at the care facility, taught by a local RN, and earn their certification and college credit. Again, no outside funding necessary--just a desire to support current student needs, plus acting upon that desire to get things done.

While I am excited about the changes that will come from the Blueprint for Education, I hope that we do not lose sight of our most valuable resource in education decision-making: common sense. It doesn't always take more money to make good things happen.