Belle Plaine’s high school staff made connections with area businesses on a tour of Belle Plaine area manufacturing businesses on Thursday, Sept. 26. Gov. Kim Reynolds and Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg at Kelly Plastics.

Kelly Plastics is a Complete Injection Molding Services Company.

Leading tours of the business were Doug Gates and Mike McInnis.

At the conclusion of the tour, Reynolds visited with the staff about the importance of seeing kids get the skills they need to be successful. She said the networks and relationship between the school and businesses helps keep the students in their communities. “That’s one of the ways we’re going to keep our rural communities strong and vibrant,” she said. The best way to do this is to showcase the businesses and show there are opportunities in their own backyard.

She is happy to see how kids have responded to workplace learning and other projects, especially to see kids who might have been disengaged to be reengaged.

She feels technology can be in every discipline that is taught.

“Heartfelt thanks for all that you do each and every day,” she told the school staff, adding it was good to see them look for opportunities to collaborate.