North Scott High School students Briana Shimkus, left, and Jordan Jones stand outside the Regional Innovation Center in Eldridge. Both students are taking classes at the new center. PHOTO CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
ELDRIDGE, Iowa — When teacher Jacob Hunter looks at the new Regional Innovation Center (RIC) in this community, one of the first thoughts that comes to mind is: It opens doors for students. “The innovation center opens doors to countless opportunities for students, empowering them to take their first steps toward new career paths before […]
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ELDRIDGE, Iowa — When teacher Jacob Hunter looks at the new Regional Innovation Center (RIC) in this community, one of the first thoughts that comes to mind is: It opens doors for students.“The innovation center opens doors to countless opportunities for students, empowering them to take their first steps toward new career paths before they graduate. Through practice, hands-on learning, students gain the skills and experience needed to tackle some of the great challenges of our time, such as feeding a growing world,” said Mr. Hunter, who teaches agriculture topics at North Scott High School in Eldridge.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.The education center — in the works for about eight years — 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.Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, left, looks over a classroom in the Regional Innovation Center at North Scott High School, Eldridge, during a tour of the education facility in January. PHOTOS BY DAVE THOMPSON“It was truly designed to benefit all kids within driving distance. … The potential for them here is huge,” North Scott School District Superintendent Joe Stutting said during a recent tour.Some of that education focuses on building trades in plumbing and electrical, health care courses, food production, diesel tech, construction, robotics 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.Two current North Scott students taking classes are Briana Shimkus, a senior, and Jordan Jones, a junior. Both students have plans to continue their education at Iowa State University and pursue agriculture-related careers. And both say they are getting a great start on their future goals with their classes at the RIC. “This new building presents a lot of opportunities. … The classes are offering us a lot of professional skills,” said Ms. Shimkus.During a recent interview with the QCBJ, Ms. Jones said she was getting set for “my fun day” at the center because she was getting ready for animal care and handling, and other classes. She called the RIC “like a junior college” for students before they head out to other schools or jobs.The education center was described as “an amazing facility. It’s a great space. … This place is all about creating pathways for students,” by Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, who toured the center in late January with state lawmakers and education leaders.During the tour, Iowa Rep. Mike Vondran, R-Davenport, said he was especially impressed with the education facility because it will help prepare students for high-paying jobs and keep young people in the community. “This is a great place for young people to explore careers. … This is a working building for the community,” he added.The guests also visited several classrooms including the construction tech lab, where Mr. Naig and others watched as students participated in building trades lessons, completing various electrical and plumbing assignments.“If you are going into construction, this is the lab you want to be in,” said Mr. Stutting.Among the students on the tour was Evan Keppy, a junior at North Scott. He is taking classes at the center in food development and hopes to eventually become an inspector at a meat production facility. “This place is very open. … It’s open to any career I’d like to have,” he said.Getting students ready for careers and convincing them to stay in Iowa were two of the major themes that both education leaders and lawmakers discussed while touring the RIC.“Shame on us if we don’t help our kids understand the opportunities that are here in this state,” Mr. Naig said.Mr. Hunter added that his favorite theme for the new RIC is giving young people opportunities to build their lives.“This initiative ensures that students from any school can access these opportunities without leaving their home district. Without the opening of this facility, thousands of students in one of the most agriculturally-focused communities in the world would lack access to agriculture education,” he said.
Regional Innovation Center (RIC)
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.
New offerings: Beginning this semester there will be classes for 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.
Grand opening ceremony: The ceremony has not yet been scheduled but likely will be held this spring.
