WATERLOO — School staffers were reminded they are influential in shaping the lives of future generations as they gathered to mark the start of a new school year.

The Waterloo Community School District held its annual back-to-school event for staff on Thursday morning. West High School’s auditorium was packed with about 1,700 employees.

“(The event) is a great opportunity to bring all the staff together and really celebrate all the good things going on in our district,” Superintendent Jared Smith said.

Waterloo Schools still looking to fill staffing gaps ahead of classes’ start Wednesday

The overarching theme of the presentations and celebration was that employees — and their words and actions — matter.

“Your words are impactful. They have the potential to shape lives,” School Board President Sue Flynn said. “They motivate, they can challenge, they can provoke anger, they can provide the only bright spot in a student’s day. Your words do make a difference. Your words are often life-changing.”

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Gina Weekley — the district’s new director of equity, inclusion and belonging — gave a presentation on how her time as a student in Waterloo schools influenced her as an adult. The new position was created to enhance the district’s initiatives to support and enhance equity and inclusion for students and staff.

Weekley

After high school, Weekley left Iowa for Virginia because she was “afraid” to be herself in her home state. She later returned to Waterloo, even though many traumatic things happened to her while growing up here.

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She said she has a nine out of 10 Adverse Childhood Experience score. An ACE score is a tally of different types of abuse, neglect and other negatively impactful experiences. During her time at McKinstry elementary, which closed in 2009, she experienced the death of multiple family members, a parent dealing with alcoholism and a brother who was shot and ultimately went to prison.

“Society told me that I was built on a path to be less than, but it’s just because of a community just like this that I am (who) I am,” Weekley said.

Later while attending East High School, she said she was sexually assaulted by a caregiver. Weekley said she’s no longer ashamed of sharing her trauma. She is now using her personal experiences to teach others about equity.

“One thing I didn’t realize is that these educators were breaking down generational cycles for me,” she said. “They were teaching me how to cope … and this is why I came back to Waterloo. That is what equity is all about.”

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She later introduced her former first-grade teacher, Linda Watkins, to the crowd. She said Watkins was an example of equity in education.

Weekley said in school she often caused problems for teachers, but many of those educators took steps to help her be a better student. She told the crowd that every teacher should “choose one Gina” to help.

“If we want to change the trajectory of our community, of our school district, of our country, we gotta get it right,” she said. “That tough kid, get to know them, figure out exactly what they need. Because it might just be you.”

She noted equity has become a divisive concept in society but defined it as giving families, students and staff what they need to be successful and thrive. She said everyone in the room signed up to better children’s lives, but unconscious bias can get in the way.

“We all lead and learn and live by what we’ve been taught, what we have internalized,” she said. “If we don’t contest that and start disrupting those vicious cycles for kids like Gina, (they) will continue.”

Fundraising underway for total transformation of East High School athletic facilities

After Weekley’s presentation, Smith took the stage to lay out his plan and goals for the 2023-2024 school year. The main point, he said, is students come first. He hopes by the end of the school year, achievement improves by 10%, tracked through the annual Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress; attendance improves by 10%; and culture improves by 10%, which would be tracked through a survey.

Jared Smith

After becoming superintendent last year, Smith put in place a three-year plan. Last year’s plan was to reset the culture. He is trying to repair “broken relationships in the system” by asking all employees what they wanted from the district.

This year’s goal is to refine the system by making sure the district’s programs are effective. Next year, the goal will be to refresh the strategy and come up with a new district strategic plan. That strategic plan would be led by the Central Rivers Area Education Agency.

Superintendent Jared Smith speaks during the Waterloo Community School District’s staff back-to-school event at West High on Thursday.

CHRIS ZOELLER, Courier Staff Photographer

Gina Weekley, Waterloo Community School District’s new director of equity, inclusion and belonging, speaks during the staff back-to-school event at West High on Thursday.

CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer

Highland Elementary faculty cheer as they win the Waterloo Schools Foundation’s trivia contest and are awarded $1,000 for the school during Waterloo Community School District’s staff back-to-school event at West High on Thursday.

CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer

Waterloo Community School District’s 1,700 faculty members gather at West High on Thursday for the district’s back-to-school event.

CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer

Amy Schmidt, Waterloo Community School District’s new director of secondary education and current director of K-12 career development, speaks during the staff back-to-school event at West High on Thursday.

CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer

Cedar Valley parochial schools will see increased enrollment across the board for 2023-24 thanks to a new state program that pays students’ tuition with taxpayer dollars.

Interest among Iowa families for a new taxpayer-funded private school financial assistance program continues to grow — as does the potential cost to the state.

Applications for Iowa’s education savings accounts have far exceeded the state’s predictions and some schools’ capacity.

Account applications will be accepted through June 30

JOHNSTON — After signing into law a transformational $340 million program for public assistance for private school costs this year, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said Thursday she plans to address Iowa public school teacher salaries during the next legislative session.

Area private schools are ready and willing to take on more students after the ‘school choice’ bill was signed into law, creating educational savings accounts for students’ tuition.

DES MOINES — A state-funded private school financial assistance package costing $345 million a year is headed to Gov. Kim Reynolds’ desk, where her signature would seal her top legislative priority into state law.

Surrounded by school-choice advocates and private school students, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed an expansive private school education assistance bill into law on Tuesday.

New money pouring into the private school industry could lead to the creation of more private schools in Iowa.

More than a hundred individuals roughly split between supporters and opponents signed up to speak for up to two minutes each during the 90-minute hearing.

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As May ushers in Mental Health Month, SRSLY Chelsea invites you to discover the transformative power of simple, mindful moments in fostering mental well-being and creating a healthier state of mind.

For Mental Health Month this year, Mental Health America (MHA) is spotlighting the relationship between our environment and mental health.

As the nation’s leading community-based nonprofit, MHA is dedicated to addressing the needs of individuals living with mental illness and promoting overall mental well-being. For 2023, the organization encourages everyone to “look around, look within,” emphasizing the importance of recognizing how our surroundings can impact our mental health.

To gain further insight into this year’s theme, SRSLY spoke with a local Behavioral Health Navigator at Chelsea Hospital, Kathy Walz. Walz shared her expertise on how individuals can harness the power of their environment to bolster their mental health. During Mental Health Month, MHA and mental health professionals like Walz aim to raise awareness about our surroundings’ crucial role in our mental well-being and provide practical tips on creating supportive spaces for everyone.

“Giving our brain a break is one of the easiest ways we can improve our mental health,” says Kathy Walz, Behavioral Health Navigator at Chelsea Hospital. “Taking just a few moments to be present and appreciate the world around you, without other distractions, can help us reset and move forward with our day.”

Mental Health Month is an excellent opportunity for individuals to assess the impact of their environments on their mental health. By taking the time to “look around, look within,” people can make necessary adjustments to their surroundings to promote a healthier state of mind. As MHA continues to work towards improved mental health care and understanding, this month serves as a reminder to prioritize our mental well-being and create supportive environments for ourselves and others.

For more information on giving yourself a quick brain break, click HERE to view the video, scan the QR code, or read the article from Walz below.

“Spring is here – the birds are chirping, flowers are blooming – and it seems like we have been waiting a long time for this! If you’ve taken a minute to notice the green surroundings or the music in the trees, then you have experienced a Mindful Minute!

“These moments can be helpful to our mental health in many ways. They help us be present and appreciate what is going on at that very moment. It also gives our brains a break from the many thoughts that occupy the space – if only for a moment. In that short time, we can slow down, take a deep breath and experience a quick mental burst of gratitude. It may be a surprise even that short amount of time can make a difference in our mental health.

“Often, people I work with are hesitant when I mention mindfulness as a preventative mental health tool. “I don’t have time for that.” “that sounds complicated” or “where would I even start?” are comments I hear frequently. While there are many good applications on your phone to help introduce you to the concept of mindfulness (CALM, Headspace, Breath2Relax, to name a few); you don’t have to download an app to give your mind a break.

“One of my favorite places to be is on a beach with the sand between my toes, feeling the sun shining down on my face with the sound of the waves and seagulls in the background. Can you picture it? Yes? Then you just had a mindful moment – and a visualization of a mini vacation in your mind. The amazing thing is, if I close my eyes, I can take this mini vacation and use it any time I need a break from the endless “to-do” lists. Try it – it’s like a deep breath for your brain!”

For further information on Chelsea Hospital’s Behavioral Health Navigator, please visit their website at Chelseahospital.org. To educate yourself about mental health and stay updated with SRSLY’s initiatives, visit srsly.org or follow them on Facebook at @srslychelsea. If you’d like to contribute, donations can be made at https://giving.stjoeshealth.org/srsly.

SRSLY Chelsea is dedicated to fostering a strong community that supports youth mental health and prevents substance use among young people. This is achieved through concerted efforts in action, education, and advocacy. The Coghlan Family Foundation, Chelsea Hospital, and the Five Healthy Towns Foundation generously support SRSLY.

To learn more about their mission and stay connected, visit www.srsly.org and follow SRSLY on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

SRSLY Chelsea encourages you to embrace Mental Health Month and take a moment to check in with your mental health and well-being by incorporating mindfulness into your daily routine.

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Tom Fiorentino of Edwards rides on his purchased QuietKat e-bike in 2020. The bike makes it practical for him to go to work up a significant hill without getting exhausted, and run errands without a car.
Steve Peterson/Special to The Colorado Sun

The popularity of e-bikes is surging and with that surge comes an increased concern over safety. As e-bikes become more common in Eagle and its surrounding areas, town leaders encourage users to be mindful when upgrading to an e-bike and while riding them. 

According to a town of Eagle media release, town leaders encourage cyclists to “prioritize safety first when considering upgrading to an e-bike.” 

E-bikes are described as a vehicle with two or three wheels with fully operatable pedals and an electric motor not exceeding 750 watts of power. Their increased popularity can be attributed to a shift in mindset toward a more environmentally-conscious mode of transportation, according to an e-bike market report made by Revi Bikes. Alongside commuters, e-bikes grew in popularity among recreators and fitness fanatics. 

Additionally, with this elevated popularity, Vail and Avon—alongside other municipalities—have incentivized e-bike purchases with new rebates. The town of Avon originally began its e-bike rebate program in 2022, offering $200 rebates to residents who purchased e-bikes. 

With the town’s updated rebate program, Avon residents can receive up to $400 in rebates for their e-bike purchases. The town of Vail is readying for its e-bike rebate program—set to begin in May. With the town of Vail’s program, residents will receive rebates based on income tiers. 

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Holy Cross Energy account holders are also able to apply for a $50 rebate for new e-bike purchases with the intention of using the bike for running errands and commuting to work. 

In addition, e-bikes will be making more of a presence locally due to additional initiatives. Namely, the town of Vail is set to distribute eight QuietKat Villager e-bikes bikes to qualifying essential workers this summer, continuing the E-Bikes for Essentials program, which began in 2021. Also, e-bike share network, Shift Bike, is returning to the valley this spring, with a larger fleet of e-bikes between Vail, Edwards, Avon and EagleVail. 

While this influx of e-bikes in Eagle County encourages use of an energy-efficient means of transportation, the town of Eagle advises residents to be mindful of e-bike dangers before hopping on the craze. 

Colorado e-bikes fall into one of three distinct classes as of 2018, the town of Eagle media release noted, and each class holds unique regulations. The classes are determined by the type of motor assistance the e-bike uses and the maximum speed it reaches.

“Understanding these laws is essential for all e-bike riders to ensure safe travel on roadways, pathways, sidewalks and trails,” the release read. “Riders must identify the class their e-bike falls under and adhere to the specific regulations for that class to prevent accidents and enjoy a safe riding experience.”

The classes of e-bikes are categorized as follows:

• Class one e-bikes provide motor assistance to the rider only while the rider works the pedals. The motor stops operating at a maximum speed of 20 mph. 
• Class two e-bikes provide motor assistance at all times, even if the rider ceases pedaling. The motor stops operating at a speed of 20 mph.
• Class three e-bikes provide motor assistance to the rider only when the rider pedals. The motor stops operating at a speed of 28 mph. By law, class three electric bikes must have speedometers. 

Understanding what class one’s e-bike falls under also helps a rider determine where they are permitted to use the e-bike. “Class one e-bikes are typically allowed on paved pathways and sidewalks, but class two and three are not,” the media release detailed.

So, those who ride class two and three e-bikes are required to ride on the street and must adhere to traffic laws while riding on the street. E-bike users are not exempt from adhering to traffic signs, signals and yielding. 

The release reminded e-bike users that within the town of Eagle and its surrounding Bureau of Land Management lands, e-bikes within any class are prohibited on non-motorized dirt trails. 

“Before riding on any road, pathway or trail, it is essential to research the laws specific to the State of Colorado and the town of Eagle,” the media release read. 

Whether in Eagle or elsewhere, town code sections often address motorized and e-bike use in open spaces. Additionally, the Colorado Parks and Wildlife website details that on Colorado Parks and Wildlife land, class one and two e-bikes are allowed in the same areas road bikes and mountain bikes are permitted access. On Colorado Parks and Wildlife land, class three e-bikes are only permitted on roadways and in designated bike lanes. 

On State Park lands, class one, two and three e-bikes are permitted on roadways and in designated bike lanes. However, only class one and two e-bikes are allowed on multi-use trails. The Colorado Parkes and Wildlife site noted that in other areas that are open to non-motorized biking, such as campgrounds, class one and two e-bikes are also allowed. 

The Colorado Parks and Wildlife website also outlines e-bike accessibility by class in State Wildlife Areas and State Trust Lands. For regulations and classifications of e-bike use on other public lands, the Colorado Parks and Wildlife site suggests users contact land agencies—like the U.S. Forest Service or a local municipality—individually, as management approaches vary between supervising agencies. 

Finally, once e-bike users have determined where it is safe and permitted for their classification of e-bike to ride, users are encouraged to execute certain best practices to ensure safety even further. 

While safety concerns arise from thermal runaway in lithium-ion batteries— which are commonly used in e-bikes— there are other safety measures town of Eagle leaders encourage e-bike users to practice.

Safety tips for e-bike users:

• Wear a helmet to minimize the risk of head injuries in accidents.
• Know the type of bike you have and where you are permitted to ride. 
• Practice good trail and road etiquette. On trails and pathways, e-bikes and bikes always yield to pedestrians and equestrians. Uphill users yield to downhill users and communication is key. On roads, bikes bust obey traffic laws that apply to them. 
• Plan your route and research details like elevation, length and opening times.
• Pick the right bike for the terrain you plan to ride on. 

“The regulations for e-bikes are in place for the safety of all cyclists, pedestrians and drivers,” the release reads. “The Eagle Town Council encourages all e-bike riders to employ mindfulness, prioritize safety first and follow the rules of the roadways, pathways, sidewalks, open spaces and trails.”

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BETHESDA, Md. — Eating disorders are serious and often fatal illnesses associated with severe disturbances in people’s eating behaviors, thoughts, and emotions. Research has found that delaying treatment results in poorer outcomes for people with eating disorders. Despite this, less than 20% of people with such disorders ever receive treatment. Tools that encourage and assist people with eating disorders to engage with mental health services are critical to helping them get the care they need.

In a new National Institute of Mental Health-funded study, Ellen Fitzsimmons-Craft, Ph.D., an associate professor of psychiatry at Washington University School of Medicine, and colleagues developed a chatbot to encourage people with eating disorders to connect with care. Chatbots are computer programs designed to simulate human conversation. Research suggests that people respond to chatbots in the same way they respond to humans and that chatbots can be an effective way to reach a wide range of people who need assistance.

In this study, the researchers designed a chatbot named “Alex.” This study is the first in a planned three-part series, which includes a preparation phase, an optimization phase, and an evaluation phase. In this “preparation” phase, researchers developed Alex to include four theoretically informed components:

• Psychoeducation: This component helped refute stereotypes about eating disorders, emphasized the seriousness of this mental disorder, and provided information specific to the eating disorder the user indicated they were experiencing.
• Motivational interviewing: This component highlighted differences between users’ health goals and their current behavior by encouraging them to evaluate how important it was to address their eating disorder behaviors and their confidence in making changes.
• Personalized recommendations: This component provided personalized recommendations for seeking treatment.
• Repeated check-ins: This component included up to three check-ins in the weeks after interaction with the chatbot, which reminded users of available resources for treatment and promoted reflection on overcoming barriers to care.

The psychoeducation, motivational interviewing, and personalized recommendation components were designed to take a total of 15 minutes to complete. The repeated check-ins each took about 3 minutes to complete.

Testing the Alex prototype

The researchers held two in-person testing sessions to get feedback on a prototype version of Alex. After incorporating user feedback, the researchers tested the chatbot again in two remote-testing sessions. Participants in the testing sessions were people who had screened positive for an eating disorder but were not currently in treatment. After engaging with the chatbot, participants rated the chatbot on usability, usefulness, ease of use, ease of learning, and satisfaction. The researchers also interviewed participants to learn more about their experiences.

In the first two testing sessions, participants rated the chatbot with an average of 83.0 and 77.0 out of a possible score of 100 on usability, indicating they had an above-average user experience with Alex. The participants liked how human-like the chatbot was, with some noting that knowing they were speaking to a chatbot allowed them to open up more than they might have if they were speaking with someone face-to-face.

Participants generally offered positive feedback, while also suggesting ways to improve Alex’s components. For example, in the Motivational interview component, participants indicated that they liked how the chatbot helped them think about their ability to enact change, but they found completing several quantitative scales related to this reflection confusing. As another example, participants liked the pressure-free nature of the personalized recommendations for treatment that they received; however, they wanted the ability to select an option that allowed them to receive information on multiple types of care.

The researchers updated Alex in response to this feedback. For instance, they altered the flow of the chatbot-user conversation, improved the reflective scales, and supplied users with resources for various types of care, including individual treatment in person or via telehealth and online self-help resources.

Testing Alex “2.0”

After incorporating the user feedback, the researchers tested Alex again in two remote testing sessions. Usability ratings in the remote testing sessions, which were 75.0 and 85.8, showed a slight overall increase over ratings from the two in-person testing sessions. Only a modest increase was expected due to the high ratings in the initial testing sessions.

Participants in the remote testing sessions also received check-ins in the 2 weeks following interaction with the chatbot. These check-ins reminded participants of the available treatment resources and encouraged them to seek help-. Participants generally found that the reminders reinforced help-seeking behaviors but thought that it would be helpful to be able to schedule these check-ins. This insight offered important feedback for future chatbot iterations.

Overall, participants were open to the chatbot and able to successfully use it, suggesting its potential as a highly scalable tool to improve motivation and help-seeking behaviors among individuals with eating disorders. The researchers note that future studies should be done to determine how effective the chatbot is at improving help-seeking behaviors immediately and longer term. It will also be vital to understand which specific aspects of chatbot interaction help motivate help-seeking behaviors. In the future, the chatbot could be adapted and tested for encouraging services use among people who screen positive for other mental disorders.

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