Iowa County parent survey highlights career, tech needs

A recent parent survey highlights the need for additional career and technical training in Iowa County, says a news release from Iowa County Community Development.

English Valleys, Iowa Valley, H-L-V and Williamsburg Community School Districts sent surveys to parents of all students enrolled in public schools throughout the county.

Chad Garber, superintendent of Williamsburg Community School Distric, said that one of the districts main goals is to provide what our students, parents and communities need, the news release says.

The survey asked parents how often they discussed college and career training with their children and what was most important to the parents when it came to their children’s career choices.

Survey results indicated that, when exploring college, career and technical training and jobs, parents are most concerned with their children’s enjoyment in a career, the pay and the demand for that career.

Parents were least concerned about their children getting four-year degrees.

The survey asked how likely parents are to encourage their children to explore skilled trades through trade school, apprenticeships and on-the-job training. About 52% of parents said they would encourage and support their children pursuing careers in skilled trades.

Parents were asked if they would send their children to another Iowa County school district for career training if it was available and open to their student. About 46% of parents would allow their children to travel to another district to obtain the training they desired, and 48% would allow their children to travel to a centralized career training center, if one were available.

An Iowa County CTE Development committee has been meeting for nearly a year to discuss added career and technical training. The committee consists of all Iowa County superintendents, representatives from Kirkwood Community College and Iowa County Community Development.

The committee is exploring all options for increased CTE in Iowa County, according to the news release.