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20 course offerings open to WBHS
by Gregory R. Norfleet · News · February 26, 2015
In the 1980s, high school students who took auto mechanics, certified nursing assistant and similar courses rarely earned college credit.
“Some did,” Kirkwood Career Development Director John Weir said, “but not all were accepted by universities. They were not always wasted. Some took the credits, but not the grade point averages.”
“So they pretty much wasted their afternoons,” West Branch School Board President Kathy Knoop said.
Weir agreed, but similar classes at Kirkwood’s new Oakdale-based Regional Center will come with credits and GPA’s accepted at most Iowa universities. Course offerings cover 20 different areas, like agriculture science, nutrition, hotel management, emergency medical technician, business exploration, transportation, criminal justice, pre-engineering and graphic media.
Weir spoke to the board of education and parents Feb. 9 about the Regional Center that will open Aug. 24, just in time for high school students to start classes that will give them a head start on college, save them money on student loans and give them a peek at some of the degrees they offer.
“Some go to college to find themselves,” Weir said. “That’s expensive.”
Superintendent Kevin Hatfield said he estimates sending students to the Regional Center will cost the school district about $30,000, but that the district does not plan to increase tuition.
“It’s worth it,” he said of the opportunities for students.
Knoop wondered if a shift in students to the Regional Center may mean West Branch does not need to offer as many classes, and “could be more cost-saving.”
School board member Deb Schreiber said the Regional Center offerings should prompt the school district to rethink its facilities plan.
“(This) could impact our brick and mortar design,” he said.
Superintendent Kevin Hatfield agreed, saying the school district needs to look ahead a few years.
“It will have bearing on what schools look like,” he said.
Hatfield noted that West Branch is already molding its industrial technology courses into more of ninth- and 10th-grade classes because of the expectation of juniors and seniors taking courses at Kirkwood’s Regional Center.
High school counselor Taylor Larson said 20 to 30 of current juniors -- who will be seniors in the fall -- appear interested in Regional Center courses already. Board member Mike Colbert noted that makes up about a quarter of the current junior class.
“This is a huge opportunity for kids who don’t find school that interesting,” Larson said.
High School Principal Shannon Bucknell said with students at the Regional Center’s morning and afternoon sessions, the only time everyone will be back in West Branch is a couple of hours that overlap lunchtime.
“Band won’t work with the morning … classes,” he said, the same with other courses, like show choir.
Weih said students will return from afternoon classes at the same time each day, about 3:15 p.m. including Wednesdays when the rest of the K-12 classes get out at 1:45 p.m.
Bucknell said the high school will make arrangements to ship students to Kirkwood, back to the high school and home even when Kirkwood’s schedule does not match. That includes when students have to come back early for sports, come in late due to cold, and even if West Branch starts the school year after Kirkwood. Weih said students would not be penalized if their school delays picking them up due to weather, even if Kirkwood holds class as usual.
High school student Jenna Bower said she liked how she has already earned 15 college credit hours through other dual-credit and Advanced Placement courses “at no cost.”
Bucknell noted that students can earn up to 23.5 credits per year through Kirkwood. Over that and they become “full-time students” and must pay tuition.
For that reason, he would not recommend students graduate early since they can take more college courses and save more money.
Bucknell added that West Branch students may get picked up by a Tipton High School bus in a ride-sharing agreement since West Branch is on the way.
Larson said he will strongly encourage students to take Regional Center courses.
“It’s scary, it’s concerning and it’s out-of-box,” he said. “But you’re talking 40 credits. Your talking a lot of money.”
Weih put up a picture on the overhead screen in the high school auditorium, showing an artist’s rendering of what will be Kirkwood’s fourth Regional Center.
“People tell me it looks like a press box,” he said.
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