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DMPS expands paid internships and tech apprenticeships, seeks $170,000 for summer program
Summary
Central Campus leaders told the Des Moines school board they plan to expand paid internships and tech apprenticeships after multi-year pilots showed strong student outcomes; they seek roughly $170,000 in combined funding to hire more than 50 interns for summer 2026, pending grant decisions.
Dr. Kelsey Muchka and Jennifer Scott told the Des Moines Independent Community School District board on April 21 that Central Campus’ paid internship and tech apprenticeship program has grown from a pilot to a district resource and that leaders are seeking funding to expand the program this summer.
The presenters said the program began in summer 2023 with five interns funded by a roughly $35,000 Iowa Workforce Development grant and expanded in 2024 after receiving $98,743 to hire 27 interns across six occupations. “Six out of the seven finished; one had a health issue and he could not finish,” Muchka said of the program’s first tech cohort, and she added that the current year hired 10 interns who “are on track.”
Central Campus leaders described multiple funded and pending revenue streams they hope will support an expanded summer 2026 program. They said a multi‑pronged approach aims to hire more than 50 interns with a proposed budget of about $170,000. Presenters listed existing awards and proposals: a STEM Best Grant of $50,000 to build eight welding bays (which will be constructed by welding students), $45,000 secured through Talent Collective to run a skilled‑trades camp, and a pending $40,000 request for an IT tech camp that would supply roughly 25 additional tech interns to assist projects such as phone system work and school‑site projects.
Muchka framed the initiative as both student development and workforce preparation: interns are paid, earn IPERS retirement contributions, gain technical and professional skills, and help district operations. “Our students are...building a resume,” she said, adding that the program offers pathways tied to students’ ICAPs and the district’s diploma‑plus goals. The presentation noted Central Campus plans to expand into operations, transportation and communications and encouraged departments to budget for student employment as a sustainable funding strategy.
Program staff described specific placements and outcomes: a student‑run aquarium that will employ lead interns supervised by faculty, welding students who will build the district’s welding bays, and tech interns who serve as first responders for classroom technology issues—reducing workload for district technology staff. DMPS technology staff were named as partners (Neal Schroeder and Bill Malone were cited as collaborators).
Presenters asked the board for continued endorsement and for departments to consider including student employment in operational budgets. They also invited board members to visit Central Campus during active intern work and to attend a Focus graduation on May 16 where a program therapy dog will appear.
Next steps: Muchka and Scott said funding is still being finalized and that some summer hires are contingent on grant awards. The presenters asked the board for support in adopting program elements that increase staffing and stable funding for student employment across DMPS.
