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State approves high school application to offer CNA program

  • Charles City High School students received certificates on Thursday for completing CNA training. Press photo by James Grob

  • Shelby Wiegmann, who led the Iowa BIG North CNA implementation initiative team, speaks at a reception at Chautauqua Guest Homes on Thursday. Press photo by James Grob

By James Grob, jgrob@charlescitypress.com

The Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals has approved Charles City High School’s application to offer a 75-hour certified nursing assistant program.

Iowa BIG North students worked with managers at Chautauqua Guest Homes to obtain state approval and specifically tailored the classes to meet the needs of high school students. The program allows for flexibility to engage students in the class while still allowing them to be involved in the full high school experience.

The organization held a reception at the Chautauqua Guest Homes on Thursday to make the announcement and presented 12 students who have completed the program with certificates.

Iowa BIG North is a consortium of school districts in Northeast Iowa (Charles City, New Hampton, Osage and Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock) that share resources to offer an educational experience centered on student-passion, student-led, problem-based and authentic learning.

Twelve junior and senior students at Charles City High School completed the initial session of the new CNA class and were the first Iowa BIG North class to be awarded the state certificate of completion.

Students who completed the program are Samantha Alinea, Valerie Allison, Edgina David, Cinnamon Evans, Branycia Mitchell, Dylan Parsons, Madeline Peters, Cole Reams, Sadie Ruzicka, Tayler Schmidt, Amy Titus and Elizabeth White.

“The CNA classes being offered through the high school offered me the flexibility I needed to take the class without having to quit music and basketball,” said Evans, a junior. “I was able to continue with my high school activities and obtain my CNA certificate due to the flexibility of the program. I wouldn’t have been able to participate in another program without having to sacrifice my passions.”

CNA courses at community colleges are often not able to offer a timeframe for class and clinical coursework that is flexible and works with high school student schedules. Active high school students who participate in extracurricular activities have a desire to take the course, but find their activity schedule doesn’t fit the established class calendar.

“Meeting student need is important and should be one of our top priorities,” said Donna Forsyth, a facilitator with Iowa BIG North. “The IBN CNA course can do this.”

The program, officially approved April 11, contains a rigorous curriculum, established and approved by the state of Iowa. It is one of four high school programs across the state that is a stand-alone high school program not tied to a community college.

The program is the first in the state designed and implemented by students through a business partnership.

Sue Ayers, administrator at Chautauqua Guest Homes in Charles City, presented each 2018 program graduate with a letter of intent to hire following testing at one of the Chautauqua facilities in Charles City.

The CNA class will be offered again during the second semester of the 2018-19 academic year at the Charles City High School for juniors and seniors. The intent is to expand the course into more Iowa BIG North districts in the future.

Ayers called the partnership between Chautauqua and Iowa BIG North a “match made in Heaven.”

“I have a personal experience obtaining my own CNA through the traditional method,” said Iowa BIG North student Shelby Wiegmann, who led the CNA implementation initiative team.

“After hearing from businesses about the need for more CNAs in Iowa, and hearing from high school students about the challenges in making this work in their schedule, I knew we needed to make changes,” she said. “That is how this Iowa BIG North program got started, by listening to students and matching that up to business needs.”

When Wiegmann received word that the program had received state approval, she said she was so excited that she “was literally jumping up and down.”

Iowa CNAs must complete a program that meets state and federal requirements. Iowa programs consist of at least 45 hours of classroom and at least 30 hours of clinical work. Students must also achieve 70 percent or higher on the final state test.

Charles City students have exceeded the state of Iowa requirements in both classroom and clinical time. They also have authentic learning experiences with residents at the Chautauqua skilled nursing facilities.

“For years, we have worked with the high school to offer training for CNAs,” said Ayers. “When we finally involved students in the process, we looked outside the box, formulated new goals and processes and attained success. This course is a win for all involved. We are working to retain North Iowa’s best and brightest individuals after their career goals are realized.”

Chautauqua Guest Homes worked with Iowa BIG North students to implement this program at a minimal cost to the school district and students. A class like this would typically cost the 12 students enrolled, or the district, more than $550 per student — that’s $6,600 total, plus the cost of each collegiate textbook. The investment by the district was just $1,200 to offer the CNA course to all students, as instructor costs are shared.

“These students display the ability to problem solve and show the dedication and commitment to complete each and every program requirement despite early hours and inclement weather,” said Kathy Cerwinski, nurse manager of Chautauqua Guest Homes and RN program director. “We are developing health care leaders that are critical thinkers and focused on high-quality care. I am extremely proud of each of them.”

“The recommendations from the Future Ready Iowa Alliance reflect the need to educate parents and students, sooner rather than later, about the high skilled career opportunities available in Iowa,” said Beth Townsend, director of Iowa Workforce Development.

“One of the very best ways to do this is through work-based learning opportunities in our K-12 schools,” Townsend said. “Work-based learning provides a broad range of opportunities for students to explore different career options. It also is one of the best ways to close the skills gap by growing our skilled labor pool.”

Graduates of the program are employable as CNAs immediately upon completion of the CNA final test.

Charles City junior Samantha Alinea is taking the CNA course as a beginning step toward her goal of becoming a pediatric ophthalmologist — a child eye surgeon.

 “The CNA program is a great opportunity for students like myself,” she said. “I am involved in club volleyball, I had piano lessons, and I worked at Y’s Guys when I didn’t have golf practice. This program works with your schedule.”

Townsend told the students, “There are lots of opportunities for you as CNAs in the state of Iowa. Charles City, please continue to embrace this. You are a model for the rest of the state.”

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