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District outlines student-engagement strategy and expands career pathways with skilled trades center and apprenticeships
Summary
Administrators discussed improved student-engagement measures, chronic absenteeism gains and a push to expand work-based learning and registered pre‑apprenticeship programs; the district also gave an update on its skilled trades center, which has temporary occupancy and will host four of five pre-apprenticeship programs.
District leaders briefed the Southeast Polk board on student-engagement efforts, progress on chronic absenteeism and expansion of career and technical pathways through registered pre-apprenticeship programs and the new skilled trades extension center.
Attendance and engagement: administrators reported increased attendance metrics in March, with 86% of students meeting attendance goals — a 9 percentage-point improvement from the same month last year — and said 658 fewer students are now chronically absent compared with the prior year. The superintendent framed engagement as behavioral, emotional and cognitive, and staff highlighted strategies to improve relational ties (for example, a teacher strategy described as "10 by 2," two minutes a day for ten days to connect with students) and the district's strengthened cell-phone policy as improving classroom engagement.
Career pathways and work-based learning: the district said work-based learning has been added to its District College and Career Academic Plan (DCAP) and explained Iowa's updated state guidance, which emphasizes ongoing industry engagement, pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeships and industry-recognized credentials. Southeast Polk now offers five "quality pre-apprenticeship" programs (including introductory apprenticeship, construction and technology tied to Carpenters Local 106, electronics/residential wiring tied to the Des Moines Electrical Apprenticeship Program, advanced metals/welding tied to Sheet Metal Workers LU 45, and plumbing/HVAC pending approval). Several registered apprenticeships and employer partnerships were described (diesel tech, automotive, CNC, welding, and a newly added Vermeer partnership). Administrators said these pathways provide students with advanced standing when they enter union or industry programs after high school.
Skilled trades center update: the district reported temporary occupancy of the skilled trades extension center (occupancy granted Jan. 30) and said an open house is planned; four of the five pre-apprenticeship programs will operate out of the center. The district is finishing phase-two work (module build-outs for electricians, construction, plumbing and HVAC) and expects full use as grass and site work are completed.
Board direction and next steps: administrators will produce a DCAP summary and continue to develop career-pathway maps for students (outlining which high-school courses lead to which careers). The board will be updated on task-force findings and the district expects to begin implementation of recommended engagement practices next year and evaluate impact in subsequent years.
