Schools in Diocese of Sioux City participate in Nonpublic School Day

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
April 12, 2007

DES MOINES - Catholic schools from throughout the Diocese of Sioux City participated in Nonpublic School Day at the Capitol in Des Moines.

The Iowa ACE (Alliance for Choice in Education) sponsored the Nonpublic School Day this year. The Iowa Catholic Conference (ICC) helped out with logistics for the day. There were over 800 school children that were scheduled to attend.

"Nonpublic School Day is an opportunity for all of the accredited nonpublic schools to come together at the State Capitol to have an opportunity to meet with our legislators to help them understand the importance of accredited nonpublic schools in the total Iowa education picture," said Kevin Vickery, superintendent of Catholic schools for the Diocese of Sioux City. "It showcases our schools and our students through our table displays and student performances."

Twelve music groups were selected from throughout Iowa, three from the Diocese of Sioux City, to perform during Nonpublic School Day. The three included student performances from Mater Dei School in Sioux City (8th grade), St. Edmond School in Fort Dodge (5th grade) and Gehlen Catholic in Le Mars (Jazz Band).

There were display tables from Bishop Garrigan Schools in Algona, Sacred Heart School in Boone, Kuemper Catholic Schools in Carroll, Danbury Catholic, Emmetsburg Catholic and Pocahontas Catholic. A group of students from Sacred Heart in Sioux City was also there for a tour of the capitol.

"The most important piece is that it is an informal networking between our schools, representatives from our schools and the diocese and other organizations that support nonpublic schools to meet with legislators individually and collectively," said Vickery.

He continued that it is important to have the students there because "that is who we are. That is our whole purpose. It gives the legislators the opportunity to meet some of their young constituents."

Many of the groups were able to visit the Senate and House floors to see how things work.

"It is not just simply for the legislators to see the students, but it is an excellent opportunity for the students to see how law is made," said the superintendent.

Andrea Twitchell and Jessica Van Holland, eighth grade teachers at Mater Dei, accompanied the eighth grade students to Nonpublic School Day. Julie Tebbe and Rachael Wragge from Mater Dei also attended.

"We wanted to represent our school," said Twitchell. "The eighth grade had just finished learning about government and how it works. Going with the curriculum it would best fit to take the eighth graders."

She hopes the students learned that their Catholic education is important.

Paul Niebuhr, instrumental music director at Gehlen stated the goal of this fourth annual trip to Nonpublic School Day was to "educate our legislators on the impact Iowa's nonpublic schools have on our students, community and state."

"I think it is great that the private schools in the state get a day to voice their opinions with the state legislature," said Niebuhr. "It gives the students a chance to see the Capitol, possibly meet with representatives, say thank you for the support they have given to the nonpublic schools and say what needs we have."

Students and staff thanked the legislators for passing the School Organization Act, which is providing families with tuition assistance through the new Msgr. Lafferty Tuition Foundation.

In addition, Niebuhr said the students received a civics lesson from Representative Chuck Soderberg. Representative Soderberg gave the students a tour and an explanation of the workings of the Iowa House.

"He talked to the kids about how a bill gets passed through and how that all happens through the committees," said Niebuhr.

Soderberg also addressed the various issues in this year's legislative session including human cloning, Fair Share, the Education Bill and cigarette tax.

"Nonpublic School Day was a great opportunity for supporters of nonpublic education to communicate with their legislators about the contributions of nonpublic education to the state. Nonpublic schools save the state over $240 million a year," said Tom Chapman, executive director at the Iowa Catholic Conference. "I think the day went very well. It was great to see the students' performances and so many different Catholic and other Christian schools represented."

Chapman noted that he is happy the students were there because "it's good for them to visit the state's Capitol and hopefully learn a little about the legislative process."

According to Chapman, the ICC is asking supporters of nonpublic school students to contact their legislators about increasing the tax credits available through the Educational Opportunities Act from $5 million to $10 million.

"The act provides scholarships to low-income children to attend the school of their choice while offering an Iowa tax credit to donors to the scholarship fund," said Chapman.