Education center – ‘Launchpad for future success’

ELDRIDGE – “We do it for the kids.” That’s the word from John Maxwell, a farmer, community leader, member of the Scott County Board of Supervisors and supporter of the new Regional Innovation Center (REC) in this community. Mr. Maxwell was one of hundreds of community leaders and residents who praised the REC on Friday, […]

ELDRIDGE – “We do it for the kids.” That’s the word from John Maxwell, a farmer, community leader, member of the Scott County Board of Supervisors and supporter of the new Regional Innovation Center (REC) in this community. Mr. Maxwell was one of hundreds of community leaders and residents who praised the REC on Friday, May 9, as part of grand opening ceremonies for the almost $19 million education facility. The events on Friday included a ribbon-cutting ceremony, tours of the facilities, visits for students and words of praise from leaders, such as Iowa Lt. Gov. Chris Cournoyer, U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-LeClaire, North Scott School District Superintendent Joe Stutting and other community leaders.

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“We had the vision about 10 years ago to build this center. … It was a little writing on a napkin to close the gap between high school graduation and employment,” said Mr. Maxwell about the starting steps of building the REC. The education center was built after education leaders realized that a facility was needed to help make high-quality careers and technical education available to students in eastern Iowa. Leaders said the ultimate goal was to create an education center that will open career pathways for not only North Scott students, but for all students throughout the region. Since the first classes began Wednesday, Jan. 22, at the RIC, located at 2202 S. First St., hundreds of students have been gaining the skills and experience to help them in the modern world. Some of that education focuses on building trades in plumbing and electrical, health care courses, food production, diesel tech, construction, animal care, greenhouse and floral production and much more. Currently, nearly all the students taking classes there are enrolled at North Scott. But that will eventually change. In the future, the RIC classes will be filled with students from area school districts, plus the Eastern Iowa Community Colleges, said Mr. Stutting. “Within these walls, students will have the opportunity to explore cutting-edge technologies, learn from experienced instructors, and develop the skills necessary to succeed in a rapidly evolving world. The RIC’s focus on expanding career pathways is areas like construction, diesel and agriculture directly aligns with our goals of enhancing career and technical education,” Mr. Stutting said in a statement. During Friday’s ceremony, he called the REC a “transformative opportunity” for students to get the education they need for careers. Some of the other comments for local leaders on Friday included:

• Lt. Gov. Cournoyer: “This is ground zero for the next generation. …This is vision and action coming together. (During her comments, Ms. Cournoyer said she was speaking on behalf of Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, who was scheduled to be at the Friday ceremony, but had to cancel her appearance to remain in Des Moines as the state legislature completed its session.)
• U.S. Rep. Miller-Meeks: “It’s a celebration of all the talents we have.”
• Mark Pratt, North Scott School Board member: “You guys (teachers) bring this center to life every day. … You believe every student can thrive.
• Ann Lawler, president of Scott Community College: “(Today) is not just about opening a building, it’s about opening doors of opportunity.”

Many of the comments about the new REC came from students currently taking classes in the center.  One of those students was Evan Keppy, a junior at North Scott High School, who was helping give tours of the new facility on Friday. He is taking several classes at the REC, including food production classes. In one of those classes, he helped make “cricket cookies.” Those are cookies made with cricket flour – a protein-rich powder made from crickets. “This place has opened my eyes. … There’s just so much students can do here,” he added. Not far from Evan, Molly Mose, 16, a sophomore from Dixon, Iowa, was in the greenhouse section of the REC. Molly was selling dahlia bulbs as part of an education program called Supervised Agricultural Experience. Her bulb business –called Molly Dolly Dahlias – started a few months ago when a family friend shared extra flower bulbs with the student. “This hands-on project has taught me valuable skills in flower production and the ins and outs of running a small-scale agriculture business,” she stated in a sign near her flower bulb display station. The young student said taking classes at the REC has been a great experience. ‘It’s been super great. I’ve been learning how to operate a business better,” Molly added. On the other side of the center, student Alyxis Klatt, 16, a sophomore at North Scott, was showing visitors a classroom that hosts animal care and handling classes. She said she has enjoyed her classes and hopes to pursue a career in veterinary medicine and animal care. Younger students in the district said they are looking forward to taking classes in the REC. One of those students is Payton Lanham, 13, an eighth grader in the North Scott district, who helped with the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday. She said in the next couple of years she hopes to take classes and perhaps pursue a career in animal care. “I am really excited to work with animals,” she added. Here’s a look at some of the features of the new education center:

• Size: 84,000 square feet.
• Cost: $18.7 million. School leaders, though, said the investment will be near $22 million once all the high-tech equipment and furnishings are in place. 
• New classrooms: The RIC  will offer classes that include: animal science, diesel tech, building trades, construction, robotics, agri-science, food science and health care. Other RIC amenities include: an arena, commons area, small animal and dog kennels, livestock show area, computer lab, greenhouse and a student store.
• Financial support: The center was made possible through a $12.5 million investment from the North Scott Community School District; funding from Eastern Iowa Community Colleges; public and private grants; and support of businesses and individuals. 
• The funding included: North Scott – $12.5 million; EICC – $4 million;  Grandview Farms – $100,000; River Valley Cooperative – $100,000; anonymous – $100,000; The Harms Family – $25,000; and Twin State/Liqui-Grow – $25,000. Grants included: Iowa Career Academy Incentive Fund Grant – $1 million;  Scott County Regional Authority – $500,000; Regional Development Authority – $100,000;  Harbor Freight Tools for Schools – $50,000; Corteva Agriscience – $5,000; and Land O’ Lakes – $500.
• Classes: Some of the classes at the center include veterinary assistant, nurse aide, Lancer bakery, renewable resources, early childhood, human anatomy and physiology,  greenhouse and floral production, culinary meat science, food product development, food of animal origin, electrical and plumbing building trades, biology lab, and animal care and handling.
• Future classes: New classes next school year will include EMT, diesel equipment, ag engineering, ag mechanics and more.
• Students and partners: The RIC will be available to more than 9,000 students across eastern Iowa. Educational partners include: EICC and the Bettendorf, Central DeWitt, Davenport, Durant, North Scott, and Pleasant Valley community school districts. The partnerships also will include area businesses with some of their leaders having a role in helping teach students about various job fields. “We want to link students to businesses in the community,” John Maxwell, the chairman of the Scott County Board of Supervisors, said during a recent tour of the center.

“This is more than just a building; it is a launchpad for future success, a place where curiosity is ignited, skills are honed and dreams take flight,” Mr. Stutting said in a statement.