Civil Municipal Magazine - Nov 2023

188 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 4, ISSUE 11 Council Bluffs is much more than an address for Google – it’s a place our company and its employees truly call home. Since announcing the selection of Council Bluffs in 2007, Google has invested more than $5 billion, created hundreds of jobs and takes pride in engaging locally as a vested member of the community. Google employees are devoted to their community, volunteering hundreds of hours to local organizations, boards, and committees to support Council Bluffs as a great place to live, work, and raise a family. Since opening, Google has awarded more than $3 million in support to local schools and nonprofits in Iowa - including a decade-long commitment in time and resources to Council Bluffs’ free community wifi network, BLink. The partnerships and passion that fuel Council Bluffs are incredibly special and we are humbled to be one small part of the community’s success. We are grateful for the world-class talent leading the City of Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie County, Council Bluffs Community Schools, and so many other partners who work every day to ensure our community thrives. For more information, visit: google.com/datacenters COUNCIL BLUFFS COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT graduation, they already have a plan for where they’re going and set the plan in motion.” She adds that another pillar emphasizes preschool opportunities with a specific focus on early literacy initiatives. The district also has a strong commitment to employee recruitment and retention, allowing them to maintain a dedicated and high-quality staff. The key pillar among the strategic goals, though, is student achievement, which is realized by providing a safe and welcoming school environment, and individualized support and enrichment opportunities through academics, athletics, fine arts, and extracurricular activities. Diverse Pathways: The “Diploma Plus One” Graduation Initiative Chief Academic Officer, Dr. Tracy Mathews, highlights the district’s commitment to the “diploma plus one” graduation initiative, which focuses on providing students with diverse pathways and future opportunities. She mentions the introduction of new pathways, such as aviation science, STEM concentrator pathways, and biomedical science, adding to the 24 other pathways available in high-demand career fields Murillo shared that the focus on Diploma Plus begins in elementary school, with exposure to career areas and a Promise to Succeed ceremony for all fifth graders leaving elementary school. The goal at middle school is to then explore career fields and a Commitment to Graduate at the end of the school year for all 8th graders. At high school, students actually experience college and careers through concurrent enrollment, internships, pre-apprenticeships and other work-based learning opportunities. To assist students in aligning their career interests with appropriate pathways, the district utilizes a platform called Xello. This tool helps students identify potential career choices that match their interests. Google & Building a F Together.