Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Career Connected Education topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Urbandale students complete DMACC-funded CNA summer training; district explores expanding career-connected offerings
Summary
Nine Urbandale Comm School District students completed a condensed CNA training at DMACC West in June, including clinicals in Altoona. The course was grant-funded and provided at no cost to students; district leaders said the grant appears to have been a one-time award and discussed options to expand similar opportunities.
Nine Urbandale Comm School District high-school students completed a condensed Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training in early June through a partnership with Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC), the board heard Aug. 25.
The students took classroom and simulation work at DMACC West from June 2–13 and completed clinical placements at a skilled-care facility in Altoona. The district said DMACC received a grant that allowed the course to be provided to Urbandale students at no charge; district staff stated the grant appears to have been a one-time award.
Why it matters: the CNA credential provides patient-contact hours and a credential that many postsecondary nursing programs expect or prefer. Board members and staff said the condensed summer format helped students with limited availability complete the credential before college or other plans.
Program details and participant accounts District staff said about nine eleventh- and twelfth-grade students completed the course; all earned at least an A or B in the class. Students and staff described the training as intensive but effective for preparation for the state knowledge and skills tests required for CNA licensure. One student reported receiving a license after the course and said the instructor, Melissa Hansen of Southeast Polk, prepared students well for both the knowledge exam and the hands-on skills test.
Board discussion Board members and staff discussed whether the DMACC grant is recurring; staff indicated it was a one-time grant. Directors and staff said the West Campus model (a condensed summer schedule) helps students who face transportation or scheduling barriers during the regular semester. Staff said they will explore how to offer similar opportunities on campus or through future partnerships to expand access.
Voices from the program Student participants described hands-on experience during clinical shifts and said the compressed schedule made it feasible to complete the coursework while maintaining other commitments. District leaders highlighted one student who moved with family to Urbandale and said the credential is opening employment and postsecondary opportunities.
Next steps District staff said they will continue to study whether similar short-term, grant-funded postsecondary partnerships are feasible and whether the district can offer comparable programming on campus in the future.
