Latest news with #DMACC
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Scholastic Spotlight: Award winning counselors & Ag educators
We are celebrating teachers and staff in Central Iowa schools! Des Moines' Hoover High School is recognizing its counseling team for earning a prestigious national recognition and both DMACC and Southeast Warren High Schools now can say they have agriculture teachers who are the top of the top. See all the highlights in this week's Scholastic Spotlight. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Axios
10-03-2025
- Health
- Axios
More women are working in deathcare, funeral industry
Lanae Strovers didn't plan to work in deathcare until she lost a close friend and his funeral didn't reflect who he was. The big picture: More women like Strovers are entering the historically male-dominated funeral industry. Context: In the 18th and 19th centuries, women played major roles in deathcare, including watching over the dying and laying out their bodies. But that shifted when embalming became the norm and deathcare became a more formalized practice, which women were excluded from. Flashback: When Strovers' close friend died in a single-car accident in 2007, it took three months for his remains to be identified. When the funeral finally happened, "it just felt like we were at the wrong place," she tells Axios. Nothing reflected the vibrancy of her friend, who was a Des Moines hairdresser. That night, after a couple of glasses of wine, she Googled "how to become a funeral director" and applied to DMACC's mortuary science program. She woke up to an acceptance email. State of play: There's a dated perception that funeral directors are "old white men," but these days, women are outpacing men in mortuary science enrollment, according to the National Funeral Directors Association. In 2007, 40% of students enrolling in mortuary science programs were women and 60% were men. In 2019, 72% of enrollees were women and 28% were men. What they're saying: The funeral industry is shifting from traditional services to more personalization, Strovers says. It can be as simple as putting out a bowl of grandma's Werther's Original candy or as complicated as designing a funeral to appear like a runway show. People are also more open to talking about grief and mental health in recent years, Strovers says. Yes, but: The industry doesn't have the highest pay, she says. In Iowa, a person with a degree in mortuary science earns an average of $62,138, according to DMACC. But entry pay is lower, typically around $35,000, she says. The bottom line: "Society as a whole has been so much better about mental health and talking about their feelings, and we're doing so much more aftercare," Strovers says. "Once the family is done with the service, we're not done serving them."
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Rep. Jon Dunwell wants to rework Iowa's public school spending formula as early as next session
Feb. 27—Editor's note: This is the second in a series of articles covering the topics discussed at legislative gatherings hosted by the League of Women Voters of Jasper County. Iowa House Rep. Jon Dunwell, R-Newton, wants to propose a bill that would give public schools a three-year funding package to allow districts better planning. Although he was hesitant to mention this idea at a recent legislative gathering hosted by the League of Women Voters of Jasper County in the DMACC Newton Campus, Dunwell said it is a passion of his to introduce this bill next year. Then at the same time lawmakers would use those three years to rebuild the formula. "To figure out how we're allocating dollars to our schools, because it's a very complicated formula and it's not the same for every district," Dunwell said at the Feb. 15 gathering. "My four districts are all different from each other in terms of how the dollars come out. Rework the formula, rework the spending." Systems in government can be inefficient, he added, but giving schools a set expectancy of funding could help. Dunwell said when he spoke to officials at the Baxter school district, they told him if they knew a 2.5 increase in SSA was coming every year, for example, they would be fine. "We have a lot of what's called categorical dollars that the school can't access, categorical dollars they can't spend," Dunwell said, noting some districts have their hands tied. "So when you look at our penny sales tax, Newton here has primarily chosen to use that in the past couple years more for sporting facilities." Dunwell noted if the Newton Community School District had greater freedom in spending its money it might help them out. However, he also said there is a reason why categorical funding exists. But he ultimately believes lawmakers need to create time and space to rework a system that matches Iowa. "That's not an easy process," he said. "Not sure you can do that in a session. I say let's approve of a multi-year increase and then let's work on the system and see if we can't come out with a better, more efficient system, and get some of that money that's hung up in the system back into students and education." CONVERSATION STARTED OVER ESA FUNDING Discussion about Dunwell's idea surfaced when confronted with questions about the state's education savings accounts (ESAs), which are often referred to as vouchers by opponents. Dunwell condemned that term as offensive and argued that vouchers and ESAs mean different things. He also denounced claims that ESA funding is increasing by 44 percent while funding for public schools is increasing by 2.25 percent. While true, Dunwell suggested these statements are not giving the full truths. He explained the amount of funding for ESAs and public schools is drastically different. In total, Dunwell said the state will be devoting more than $3.9 billion in state aid to public schools in fiscal year 2026. ESAs will be getting more than $315 million. Dunwell also noted public schools will receive federal funds and property tax. "We implemented ESAs in a three-year phase in. This is the final phase in where anyone can qualify for an ESA," Dunwell said. "The amount of dollars that we send to an ESA account is the equivalent to the amount of dollars we put into supplemental aid per student in a public school." TAXPAYERS WONDER WHY SO MUCH IS INVESTED IN EDUCATION Iowa Sen. Ken Rozenboom of District 19 was also in attendance at the legislative forum. He reiterated the fact public schools receive local, state and federal dollars to fund education. Altogether, he claimed taxpayers are paying about $18,722 per student. The state provides about $8,000 per student. "Every classroom that has 20 kids, taxpayers are paying $342,000 a year. If a teacher makes $100,000 in pay and benefits, that still leaves $242,000 going to that classroom to teach our kids," he said. "Taxpayers would like to know where all that money goes if it's not going to the teacher ... where's all the rest of it?" Rozenboom has served in the Iowa Legislature for about 13 years, and every year he has heard people say the state is not giving enough money to public schools. He adamantly opposes these claims, saying the United States and Iowa spend a lot of money on education. But taxpayers ask him why it's so expensive. "From a taxpayer's perspective again, every private school student costs the state taxpayer $7,983 — that's all they get," Rozenboom said. "Every public school student, the taxpayer's on the hook for $18,722. More than double what the state contribution is."
Axios
24-02-2025
- General
- Axios
New skill share club encourages people to teach each other
DSM Skillshare is helping residents learn practical and creative skills from their neighbors — for free. Why it matters: In an era of online classes and workshops, the new organization brings people together for hands-on, in-person experiences. How it started: The idea started when founder Cheltzie Miller-Bailey ran into car trouble a couple of years ago and realized she had no clue what to do. Frustrated and feeling powerless, she tells Axios that she almost signed up for mechanic classes at DMACC. But that sparked a bigger thought: What if people could learn everyday skills from each other without the cost or intimidation of formal classes? The first event last month, led by DSM Crochet Club, was so popular that a second session had to be added afterward on the fly. How it works: Community members volunteer to teach what they know — whether it's woodworking, car maintenance or makeup application. Sessions are currently held at the Wander Women Midwest office in the Market District. Registration is required. What's next: The group's next event on Sunday focuses on self-care, including planning self-care and finding strength through movement. March will focus on gardening with professional and hobbyist gardeners helping people prep for the growing season. Get updates on future sessions by following DSM Skillshare on Instagram. The bottom line: "I know what it feels like to be stuck, wishing I had someone I could trust to teach me the things I need to know," Miller-Bailey says. "This is about making sure no one in our community has to feel that way."
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Yahoo
‘Zombie Park' in SF goes from beloved spot for dog walkers during day to drug market at night
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — An open-air drug market has started to take over a San Francisco park at night — sparking concerns among neighbors. 'It's pretty; it's esthetically pleasing if it was cleaned up,' said one neighbor. During the day, Jefferson Square Park in San Francisco is a beloved spot for dog walkers. But at night, things take a turn for the worse. Cellphone video shows the park overrun by an open-air drug market. 'Well, they call it '''Zombie Park,' some people call it the new UN Plaza,' said Sebastian who lives near Jefferson Square Park. 5 times as many African Americans die of overdoses in SF, compared to other groups Sebastian has lived nearby for nearly 30 years. He wants to remain anonymous for his safety but feels compelled to speak out about how frightening the park has become in the last couple of months. 'It is very scary because you know there are two schools around here,' he said. 'Also we have elderly and people who live in the neighborhood they are afraid to walk with the drug dealers and users all over the place.' This park is located on Gough Street about a half mile away from City Hall and next to Sacred Heart Cathedral. The school has put up 'No Trespassing' signs by its field. 'The park is a mess now,' Sebastian said. 'All the neighbors have been complaining.' Supervisor Balil Mahmood has heard these complaints — from people saying the drug dealing has moved to the park from his district in the Tenderloin. 'SoMa and the TL are looking really good compared to a couple of months ago, but things are getting worse in other neighborhoods,' Mahmood said. Mahmood decided to see it for himself — walking the park with staff from the Drug Market Agency Coordination Center (DMACC), a task force with several different agencies. 'We didn't see any arrests that day because sometimes a lot of these things can be solved without an arrest and that's something that DMACC knows,' Mahmood said. 'I saw first hand to people suffering on our streets.' There is a 'renaissance' in San Francisco, NBA commissioner says But Sebastian says when the park does get cleared out, all the people just move down to Van Ness and Eddy streets. Supervisor Mahmood will be introducing legislation to provide more funding for DMACC's task force so they can boost staffing to seven days a week. He will present this to supervisors at the next board meeting at City Hall. This has Sebastian and other neighbors feeling hopeful about the streets and parks becoming safer and cleaner. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
