Idaho Youth ChalleNGe Academy update

By Carmen Syed

Derek Newland, Director of the Idaho Youth ChalleNGe Academy (IDYCA) of Pierce, spoke to attendees at the recent Pierce-Weippe Chamber of Commerce meeting, held on July 10 at the Pierce Community Center.

Mr. Newland gave an update on the progress of getting the Academy property ready for receiving students in January 2014. Ground is being moved and prepared for the modulars that will house the students. These modulars will begin arriving in mid-August. In addition, the interior and exterior is in the process of being painted, and new carpet will be installed in the next week. A new sign was printed by Express Name Tags and More of Weippe, and Logistics Manager, Harv Nelson installed it in front of the school grounds this last week.

In addition, the IDYCA has advertised for 20 new positions recently, including Cadre Team Leaders, Case Managers and Counselors. Interviews have begun for the Cadre Team Leaders, which will be on-staff in the next couple of weeks. There were many that are interviewing from the local area, but housing will need to be secured for those from out-of-town.

The Academy’s Administrative Assistant, Carmen Syed, is taking over the City of Pierce’s efforts in developing a detailed list of rental properties in the area for these new hires. She has made personal contact this week with those on the existing list, to update the availability. However, any rental property owners that have not been contacted are encouraged to call the Academy at 208-464-1253 to be included on the rental list. The new Human Resource Assistant, Cheryl McIntosh of Pierce, has also recently been hired, and will start work soon. She will be assisting in the housing effort for the new hires.

Things are rapidly moving forward with the Academy, and it is an exciting time for our town, county and the youth of our great state!

Finalists for Youth ChalleNGe Director interviewed in Pierce

By Alannah Allbrett

Four final applicants for the National Guard Youth ChaleNGe director’s slot were interviewed in Pierce Jan. 3.

Loren Whitten-Kaboth, Coordinator of the Clearwater Economic Development Program in Orofino, provided an update on the hiring schedule before the program gets underway in Pierce in 2013. The official interviewing and hiring process has begun for the program, starting with the position of Director. Many applications were received for that position, and were narrowed down to 10 applicants and, subsequently, four finalists were chosen.

Major General, Gary L. Sayler, had the four candidates for directorship drive to Pierce for final interviews so they could get a real time taste of what life in the small community might be like. Two of the candidates took extra time to stop into City Hall to meet with staff and ask questions firsthand. Mayor Carmen Syed made herself available during the entire interview process. 

Volunteers needed

Ed Hildebrand, former custodian of Pierce Elementary, has been working at the school, getting things ready for the NGYCP. New lighting fixtures have been installed. Mayor Volunteers are needed to help with cleaning the lighting covers before they can be installed.

Please call city hall for more information: 208-464-2222.

Hiring to begin at National Guard Youth ChalleNGe school

By Alannah Allbrett

The Idaho National Guard Youth ChalleNGe (IDNG) School in Pierce is nearing the hiring stage. IDNG has issued a hiring plan which calls for a staggered schedule, and federal money has been released to begin the long awaited program.

Idaho will fund $1.4 million, with matching federal dollars of $4.2 million. Superintendent, Bob Vian, speaking Monday evening to the School Board, passed along the rather convoluted path the money will travel. “The state sends the money to us” he said. “We send the money to the military; the military is going to send a check to us for the teachers and students. It will be paid for in full by them” he stated. “The Food Service Program will be contracted, billed high, and adjusted every month based upon use.”

The school year will be a longer one for teachers, teaching for 22 weeks, taking a four week break, and going for another 22 weeks, thereby earning contract teachers double the regular salary. The school will be “broken out” as a separate entity from Joint School District 171, otherwise the increased salaries would figure into the district’s overall average. That would negatively affect the Pay for Performance structure currently in place. Mr. Vian said the IDNG School will be one of the only schools in Idaho that, in fact, has money.

The school district will contract with the National Guard for school bussing, food, and educational staff. The state will advertise for a head teacher (Principal) in January 2013.

Mr. Vian said the school, by its nature, will call for unique staffing. There will be a G.E.D. program for former drop-out students, attempting to earn a high school equivalency diploma. Students will also do community service on weekends, tied in t d teacher, as there is a high special education threshold involved,” said Mr. Vian.

Vian said the IDNG program, unlike the one in Bremerton, WA, will be required to take every student “that walks through the door.” There is a catch, however, once a student has entered the program and leaves voluntarily, is expelled, or leaves the campus unauthorized, he or she will not be allowed to return to the program. “It’s kind of like a high school dance,” said Vian. “Once in – and once out.”

The program will have a very military structure to it with a Commandant, and Cadré Leaders. Students will be working virtually ‘round the clock including mandatory weekend study halls. When asked if the students would be provided with religious services, Mr. Vian said, knowing the military, he was sure they would have a Chaplain or other religious activity of some sort.

A Program Coordinator and RPM Coordinator will be hired in December of this year. Beginning January 2013, the following positions will be filled: a Budget Officer; Recruiter; Commandant; LOG Specialist, and an Administrative Assistant.

By March, a Lead Teacher (Principal); Lead Counselor; MIS; two RPM Assistants; an Administrative Assistant, and a Maintenance person will be hired.

Five contract instructors; two Counselors, and two Case Managers will come on board in May. In September 2013, three Shift Supervisors; a Cadre Team Leader; a Nurse Practitioner, and Medical Assistant will join the team.

The school is set up to accommodate up to 120 students. There will be a total of 54 positions, 33 initial hires and 8 contracted workers, with 13 additional positions to be filled as the program grows.

Mr. Vian, accompanied by the district’s Business Manager, Special Education Director, Food Service Manager, and probably one special education teacher, will travel to Bremerton, WA to observe the National Guard operation there. The Guard will begin an advertising campaign within ten days, to include television, radio, and newsprint media announcements on the program’s particulars. Their website is located at: http://www.youthchallengeidaho.org/.

Youth Challenge gets further support from Idaho’s governor

By Alannah Allbrett

Idaho National Guard’s Youth Challenge Program, which aims to open an alternative school in Pierce, has received a positive boost from Governor C.L. Butch Otter. Otter has requested a “budgetary shift” of one million dollars (with an attendant spending authorization of $1,250,000.) in Idaho’s 2013 fiscal budget. That plan received a setback, however, when the joint budget committee rejected the recommendation last Friday.

Tyler Mallard, Special Assistant to the Governor on Uniform Services, said their office remains optimistic that Youth Challenge in Idaho will still have a satisfactory conclusion and reaffirmed the governor’s intention to “continue to champion” the program, stating that it is a “win/win situation for the military, the youth that it will benefit, as well as the community.” He said that the intent of requesting a fund shift was to get the start-up money allocated, but if it does not go through immediately, “It will in no way jeopardize the commitment to the program.” Mallard stated that the legislature will still have the ability to revisit the issue until the budget is finalized but that it is the prerogative of the legislature.

Major General Gary Saylor, military advisor to Governor Otter, has spearheaded the youth challenge program in Idaho since its inception. The program is just one of the 33 challenge programs located in 27 states. The centers follow a well-rounded curriculum that includes physical fitness, community volunteerism, discipline, and mentoring to achieve its 90 percent success rate in turning around at-risk kids.

Jerome County’s State Representative, Maxine Bell, as the co-chair of the budget committee, questioned why the Guard is involved in education stating, “I’m not sure why they’re getting into that line of work.”

In a recent interview with the Clearwater Tribune, General Saylor addressed the issue saying, “A number of legislators have asked that same question. There are a number of reasons,” he responded. “The Youth Challenge program got started back in the 90’s, in an attempt to see of the National Guard could help correct the number of [high school] drop outs. The Guard is involved in lots of communities – literally in every zip code in America. We are citizens of Idaho ourselves,” he said. “The test program was very successful throughout the nation. We constantly strive to continue military education for our own soldiers, and we are about education,” said Saylor. “But this is more than education. It is also about how to be a good citizen, about team work, leadership, and supporting causes other than just your own. We are continually trying to educate our legislators and feel very strongly about the value of this program.”

The original target date for opening the alternative school, located at the former Pierce Elementary building located on 21 1/2 acres, was for the fall of 2012. With funding problems and the need to establish a 501(c)(3) tax status, however, that date got moved to January 1, 2013, with classes beginning by Jan 7.  

The federal government pays for 75 percent of the ongoing costs. Corporate donations or monies from the state’s general fund would make up the difference. Saylor said there are several foundations which have given their support already or have pledged future support.

When asked if Governor Otter has been a staunch supporter of the program, Saylor said, ‘“Absolutely! He has been behind it for the last 15 months; he’s been on board since day one.”

The one million dollar appropriation would go towards startup costs remodeling the school, and hiring staff, the first of which would be personnel to market the program. General Saylor said the Guard would send out job announcements through the Gowen Field Human Resources office, through the usual hiring channels. Jobs will be opened to the non-military, public.

If funding and startup is achieved, the center would provide 56 direct jobs and 40 indirect jobs (a 3 percent increase) for Clearwater County.

Saylor said he is still hopeful that the measure will get passed in this legislative session. The governor’s budget director, Wayne Hammon, said, “There’s plenty of time to address lawmakers’ concerns this session.”