Program continues to educate disadvantaged adults

By Naeem McFadden

Published: July 25, 2008

The June 30, end of the year, total for students enrolled at the Marion County Adult Education School increased to 651 students in comparison to 564 for the previous year, Adult Ed Coordinator Candyce Brooks told Marion County Board of Education trustees during this past week’s meeting. Brooks went on to discuss progress made at the school. The program is continuing to grow, Brooks said, adding that though she is concerned with the number of students enrolled, is also concerned that the school is moving them along academically. Brooks said that by the end of the year, 50 percent of the students moved up an academic level.

“I’m very proud of the achievements that we’re making on our students … that’s very good for a program our size and in this in area,” she said. Brooks asked board members to keep in mind that some students enter the school with reading levels between a zero and 1.9 grade level and that there are challenges with not being able to recognize letters in the alphabet or their sounds. Brooks said 85 percent of those students are taught and moved to the next grade level.

On June 13, the GED test was offered to students, with a 50 percent pass rate, Brooks said. The test will next be offered in December. The school presented four high school diplomas, 10 GED’s and over 80 work keys certificates, she said. Brooks said that classes, based on an individual student’s functioning level, helps to improve basic skills and is helpful to them being successful in HSAP testing. A transitional specialist, hired for the coming school year, will coordinate with the local high schools to update them on what the adult education school can offer to students who are recovering academically and who receive their diploma, she said. The summer HSAP test will be at the school on July 24.

The Marion County Adult Education School also presented board members with new marketing tools they will be using, such as coffee mugs, ink pens and koozies. Brooks said the items were shared with people during the three-day Country MusicFest at the Carolina Entertainment Complex to keep the public aware of the program. “So 2,000 koozies are floating around in peoples’ hands with our phone numbers and how to get in touch with us,” she said.

In other business, board members approved the request from Marion County Technical Education Center Director Paul Crandall, regarding the rerouting of the school’s roof draining system. Six contractors made on-site inspections on the east wing, he said, just before recommending the lowest bid from Sawyer Construction. The County Board approved consultant Frank Hart’s recommendation, also, to accept the lowest bid, replacing the carpet in the main lobby of Adult Education Facility.