13-06-2025
Siouxland schools revamp GTL program
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) — An agreement between Wayne State College, Northeast Community College, and South Sioux City Community School will help students participate in the district's Gateway to Learning Program.
The alternative high school is designed to support students who may have challenges within a traditional school setting. The project helps students succeed, but positions the program to help even more high school students.
'We couldn't be more excited to have our alternative education students relocate to a college center where, every day, they walk through the doors of a college center and have greater access to pursue their post-high school plans. And so that is a game changer for our kids, and we couldn't be more excited,' said the superintendent of South Sioux City Schools, Dr. Rony Ortega.
Local college officials say the partnership with the school district will assist in enhancing their current offerings for their programs.
'It just makes perfect sense that we use our resources efficiently and we remove those barriers, the barriers of space, the barriers of access in this process,' said Janet Lebeza of Wayne State College.
The existing GTL program is currently housed at 1000 West 29th Street. At the college center, the program will have 5 rooms and a corridor.
President of Northeast Community College, r. Leah Barrett, said 'to be able to come here as high school students and then just in the flip of a switch, get to be here as a college student, taking classes and finding a way to really learn what they want to do and what they want to live their life doing.'
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Barrett also said that while the arrangement of the program with colleges might seem new, this isn't the first time this style of partnership has been implemented. In the press release, she said, 'Welcoming the GTL program to the College Center is a great step to building pathways to higher education for young people who may not have been college-bound. The students will have the benefit of stepping into a college facility every day for high school classes as well as multiple opportunities to participate in dual enrollment courses from Northeast and Wayne State.'
The students in the new GTL high school will have new opportunities, one of which is welding. According to the release, the students will take welding and general education courses at the College Campus and finish their remaining high school requirements on Fridays or outside of the typical school day. Students will have access to tuition-free content because of Northeast's free Early College program.
Students will be responsible for their own textbooks, course fees, and tools. And, according to the release, this is where the new partnership needs assistance. Students may need help paying for textbooks, course fees, and tools.
The director of the South Sioux City Extended Campus said that students who participate will graduate in May with a high school diploma and a welding diploma. She also said, 'We do not want these expenses to be a barrier to students, and therefore we are committed to securing sponsorships and in-kind donations to ensure a successful launch.'
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