The Iowa Department of Education today announced that $1.7 million in competitive grants are available to Iowa school districts to align secondary career and technical education programs with industry-recognized credentials. The new Credentials to Careers grant will support high schoolers earning credentials with labor market value.

“By expanding opportunities to attain an industry-recognized credential in high school, the Credentials to Careers grant helps connect the classroom to the workforce,” said Iowa Department of Education Director McKenzie Snow. “Students earning portable, stackable credentials will be ready to succeed in high-wage and public-good careers, changing lives and strengthening communities.”

Industry-recognized credentials are certifications, credentials or licenses that are vetted by employers and endorsed by a nationally recognized trade association or organization in a particular industry. Credentials are available across many career pathways, including those in health sciences, information technology, construction, manufacturing, child development, culinary and business.

By aligning career and technical education (CTE) programs with stackable credentials, students can build critical skills to pursue in-demand careers and can accelerate further advanced credential or degree attainment. These stackable credentials are portable, can be accumulated over time, build upon previous skills and can help close the skills gap between what employers need and the competencies students possess. These opportunities build upon authentic work-based learning, CTE programs and concurrent enrollment options across Iowa.

Funding through the Credentials to Careers grant can be used by school districts to develop, broaden and enhance CTE pathway programs. Allowable costs include student exam fees, instructional equipment, non-consumable instructional supplies, computer equipment and software, wired and wireless internet connections, installation costs, instructor training related to new equipment purchases, instructor training expenses required to offer the credential and curriculum enhancements.

Applications for the Credentials to Careers grant will be accepted on IowaGrants.gov beginning today, Jan. 11, 2024. The application deadline is Friday, Feb. 16, 2024, at 11:59 p.m.

More information about the Credentials to Careers grant, including a list of the approved industry-recognized credentials, is available on the Iowa Department of Education’s website.

Iowa Farm Bureau Federation and Iowa State University Athletics are giving basketball fans a chance to cheer on the Cyclones in Kansas City with the “Hilton South” Farm Strong® Challenge. 

One grand prize winner will receive two all-session passes for the Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament on March 12–16, a $900 hotel gift card, a $150 Cy’s Locker Room gift card and Iowa State “Farm Strong” apparel. 

To enter, visit IowaFarmBureau.com/FarmStrong and answer three questions related to how farmers care for their animals and the environment while providing high-quality proteins essential for health. Each correct answer equals one entry. Contestants can enter daily through Feb. 20. A winner will be announced on March 6 during Iowa State’s final regular season home game against BYU. 

“To be Farm Strong isn’t about your physical strength—it’s a mindset that involves integrity and tenacity,” says Brent Johnson, Iowa Farm Bureau president. “Through this contest, we celebrate that drive toward continuous improvement that we see not only in Cyclone athletes but in farmers across Iowa.”  

All season long, Cyclone basketball fans visiting Hilton Coliseum can scan their seat’s QR code to test their farm knowledge and win grocery gift cards, courtesy of the Farm Strong partnership.  

Additionally, a portion of the sale of all Cyclone-themed Farm Strong merchandise and apparel benefits the Iowa Food Bank Association. To date, the Farm Strong initiative has raised more than $45,000 to feed hungry Iowans.  

The Mt. Pleasant City Council met in regular session on Wednesday, January 10^th, for what turned out to be a fierce meeting. The main topic on the table was the trash pickup in the city, which turned many heads.

In what looked more like a crowded theater of movie goers, many showed up to voice their concerns. A Mount Pleasant resident, who has lived here since 2015 and has means of private trash hauling, asked if he can opt out. The mayor mentioned how the opt out option was considered between the board, but they will not go down that route. If water is on at a residence, the owner of that residence is charged for trash pickup.

The resident then asked if a bid was held, and the mayor said that the prices are reasonable with WEMIGA Waste and Lance Refuse. He also thinks that local haulers are more likely to serve responsibly, and had they chose out of town businesses, they might have hurt the two local haulers.

Regarding the question of a sticker buyback program, the council did confirm that the city will purchase stickers from residents back. That will be credited to their account. For businesses, they will buy them back with money. Extra stickers will be sold in City Hall if businesses run out before the change in February.

Councilman Engberg addressed the room, “Stickers are gone” and mentioned how it is not equitable. Due to recent work comp claims, the councilman said that they were told they are not allowed to let workers throw trash into garbage trucks, or hang off the side, as it may cause injuries. He then said that the council is attempting to please the majority of the town, but they know not everyone will be happy.

According to the council, the sticker system was cheap, but it was deficit spending for the city.

A question was posed about the size of the container, and if a smaller can is available. Washington has a 35-gallon container that is only a few dollars cheaper, and they pick it up every other week. These containers are not liked by the hauling services as they tend to get moved in the wind.

Councilman Engberg promised that he will have meetings and attempt to find a way to help out those who do not use much trash. He said that the council is listening, and hears the citizens concerns who were in attendance.

A citizen urged the council to communicate better and encouraged more detail and description in their meeting agendas. The public has been assured that all public meetings will now be published on the Mount Pleasant City Council’s Facebook page, as well as continuing with the website.

For those who are unable to bring their trash to the curb, the trash hauler will pickup the trash from the property for an extra fee.

The contract can still be amended and adjusted at this point. Nothing is set in stone. One councilman said that they will continually assess the program and will tweak it as needed.

A citizen did say that the appreciate the opportunity to voice their concerns, and a second said this system needs to “be more fair.”

Councilman Batty spoke on the importance of these meetings, which are open to the public. “Come back for our budget meeting” which is coming up in a few months.

One community member summed up the night well. “It seems that people do not want to pay for what they are not using.”

More information:

New MP Trash Hauling System: Q & A

Mt. Pleasant Citizens Express Frustration at MP City Council Meeting…

Nestled in the Old Threshers grounds, too far north to be the Log Village and too far south to be the North Village, sits the Theatre Museum. Or, professionally, The Theatre Museum of Repertoire Americana. To some, this is a frequent must-see attraction. Others may not be aware of its existence or the important history that lies inside.

In the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, most communities, regardless of size, had an opera house for public events and entertainment, including performances by professional artists. During the summer months, many theatrical companies played under canvas because of the summer heat.

Of course, to enjoy a great show, you had to feel like you were really there. Backdrops created a sense of reality and transported you out of your seat, and into the world of the play. The museum has an extensive collection of theatrical backdrops painted in the late 1800s and early 1900s, one of the largest such collections in existence in one place.

While most enjoy streaming services today, television, and phones, entertainment looked a lot different in the 18 and 1900s. Traveling shows would come to town and folks from all over would flock to the theatre.

I was joined by board president Dr. Monie Hays, and Grace Davis, vice president. According to them, the term “theatre” had a negative reputation during the 19^th and 20^th centuries, and instead, “opera” was preferred. They work and volunteer many hours a week to sort through the archives and preserve what used to be a part of everyday life. Posters were placed throughout towns much like Mount Pleasant, and a traveling show would bring many people together for hours of entertainment.

Currently, the museum hosts Dr. Wendy Waszut-Barret (PhD Technical Theater), who specializes in restoration, replication, and replacing. With an eye for theatrical backdrops, she can narrow a certain painting down to the play it was used in, or what year it would have been used.

Hidden history will be uncovered at 3:00pm on Thursday, January 11th with a special program taking place at the Theatre Museum. The museum holds memories of a time long gone, yet some are determined to keep that history alive.

*Waszut-Barrett is an expert in both the provenance and preservation of such artifacts. To read more, visit Drypigment.net: https://drypigment.net/.

**For more information about the Theatre Museum or about the January program, including to volunteer or to arrange an interview with Dr. Waszut-Barrett, contact Dr. Monie Hayes at moniehayes@hotmail.com, or the Theatre Museum at theatremuseum@yahoo.net / 319-385-9432. The museum is located at 405 E. Thresher Rd., Mt. Pleasant, Iowa.

***The Theatre Museum of Repertoire Americana is in need of volunteers for the remaining days that their guest is there. They will be open 9-5 on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Please call 319 385 9432 for more information or to volunteer.