During Monday evening’s monthly regular Warsaw Community School Corporation school board meeting, the school board had the opportunity to hear from representatives from the adult education program.

According to Brenda Utter, teacher and program coordinator, the adult education program saw a total of 412 students last year.

“We are actually not an extremely small program,” explained Utter. “We had 412 students last year and we are completely grant funded. Meaning, our teachers are not paid by the school. We get tech support and other things from the school but mostly, we are grant funded.”

Utter noted that the program is currently offered in both Kosciusko and Fulton counties with four different locations: Gateway Education Center, Wawasee High School, Akron High School and a program in Rochester. According to Utter, approximately $950 is received per student with students ranging in age from 15 to 68 years old.

The diversity of her students in both their walks of life and learning needs was a topic Utter touched on as well. Currently, Utter noted the program has students from approximately 10 different countries with most enrolled in the English as a second language program and the rest seeking their HSE (High School Equivalency).

Tom Ray, principal of Washington STEM Academy and test administrator noted that Indiana is one of four states in the country no longer administering the GED test. Instead, test takers are now seeking their HSE in its place. Ray stated that much of test taking is now taking place on the computer and noted the importance placed on keeping technology updated.

Though students range from those with doctorates to those with a sixth grade education level, Utter noted all students are instructed in the same classroom, demanding that instructors be extremely well-rounded in education styles as well as in curriculum.

“We run a curriculum just like anyone else runs a curriculum, the difference is. We have students in the classes who come to us with a third grade reading level and we have students who come to us with a 12th grade reading level,” explained Utter. “They are all in the same class. We run it like a one-room school.”

Utter noted that student count is increasing locally, though the program is the only one in the region of five counties that grew last year.

David Robertson, WCS chief academic officer, noted, “It really does meet a need for people in our community, we know it is just hard, there are not a lot of options out there for gainful employment. It’s encouraging to hear that the numbers are continuing to grow….I just want to thank everybody, it is really neat to see the progress.”

In other business,

• WCS Superintendent Dr. David Hoffert noted that the student count this month is currently at 7,220 students. Hoffert noted this is a slight decrease from last year’s count of 7,247 students.
• The board approved the September 2014 Personnel Report and Financial Recap for August 2014 as presented by WCS Chief Financial Officer Kevin Scott.
• The board approved the donation of $28,000 from the DEKKO Foundation for a 2014-2015 Arts Partnership. This grant has been received each year to bring unique art experiences to all eight of the WCS elementary schools.
• The board approved a donation of $1,000 from Paragon Medical to the Warsaw Performing Arts Center. The donation is to promote family friendly events and entertainment while reaching out to all corners of Kosciusko County.
• The Board of School Trustees was asked to entertain motions adopting the 2015 Budget, the 2015-2016-2017 Capital Projects Plan, the 2015 Transportation School Bus Replacement Plan, the Resolution to Reduce 2014 Appropriations, 2015 Budgets, or Line 11 Operating Balance, and the Tax Neutrality Resolution for 2015. The board approved this request. Related documents may be found here.
• All November Board Meetings have been moved up one week. The work session will be held on 4 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 11, and the regular board meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 17.