Board approves MOU with Iowa Western for college and career readiness counselor role
Summary
The board approved a memorandum of understanding to accept an Iowa Western Community College-funded college and career readiness counselor; the district also continues a more general college-and-career counselor funded by the Iowa West Foundation.
The Lewis Central Community School District Board of Directors voted Aug. 4 to approve a memorandum of understanding with Iowa Western Community College to provide a college and career readiness counselor dedicated to Iowa Western programming. District administrators said the Iowa West Foundation previously funded a districtwide college and career recruiting counselor — Pat Nepple — whose role is not bound to a single college or employer. The Iowa Western MOU establishes a separate, college-specific counselor to help students learn about Iowa Western courses, credentials and opportunities; the MOU was presented as a paid arrangement with Iowa Western covering that counselor’s cost. A motion to approve the CCTC MOU with Iowa Western Community College was made, seconded and approved by roll call. Board members recorded yes votes during the roll call. Administrators said the district benefits from both positions: the general college and career recruiting counselor supports wide exposure to colleges and businesses, while the Iowa Western–funded counselor will focus on aligning students with Iowa Western offerings. The MOU requires no district-funded salary for the Iowa Western-specific counselor because the college or foundation covers compensation under the agreement. The approval was administrative; no amendment to district staffing was required beyond accepting the external-funded position.
