FSCC Board looks at options in better adult education

Fort Scott, Kan. -- On Monday, the Fort Scott Community College Board of Trustees will take a closer look at a continuing agreement the college is involved in to help some adults get the high school education they may be lacking.

During their regular meeting, which is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. Monday in the FSCC Heritage Room, 2108 S. Horton St., trustees are expected to receive updated information on a mutual agreement between FSCC and Neosho County Community College to provide adult basic education courses this school year on the FSCC campus.

In the agreement, the two colleges work together to provide services for adults who have not earned a high school diploma and who have decided to go back to school to earn general equivalency degrees (GED), or diplomas that signify high school graduation, FSCC President Clayton Tatro said.

"It's to provide adults over the age of 18 with no high school diploma an opportunity at a GED education," Tatro said. "It's an update of a partnership that is already in place."

During the Monday meeting, trustees plan to review the agreement, which outlines contributions that both colleges will make to the adult basic education program, and consider it for approval. As part of the agreement, NCCC will oversee the program at the FSCC campus; provide instruction and data entry; conduct weekly staff meetings; provide professional development funds for instructors through a state grant; and provide instructional material for students in the program.

FSCC's portion of the agreement requires the college to provide space in the Maximized Individual Learning Laboratory to conduct ABE classes; to provide computer access for students, and transportation to and from professional development training sessions for teachers and staff; to provide full-time and part-time teachers in the program; to provide transportation to and from the GED testing site for FSCC students; to provide office and storage space; and to provide support services for students in the program.

To earn a GED, students must study and learn a variety of material, and pass a battery of tests which certify that the student possesses high school-level academic skills.

During the Monday meeting, trustees and FSCC administrators also plan to consider approval of an agreement between FSCC and NCCC to allow students enrolled in adult basic education classes at either college during the 2008-'09 school year the opportunity to transition to a post-secondary institution if they so choose.

A $35,000 NEXT STEP grant that NCCC received from the state will allow for additional resources that FSCC and NCCC can use in their collaborative effort to provide adult basic education courses for students, Tatro said.

"The state grant provides added resources for our partnership," he said. "NCCC is sharing the grant revenue with us."

In the grant agreement, NCCC will provide many of the services outlined in the initial agreement between the two colleges, as well as $17,500 in instructional costs, which will be provided through the grant, during the 2008-'09 school year. FSCC also plans to provide the same services in the grant agreement that are outlined in the initial agreement between the two schools.

Trustees also plan to conduct other routine business on Monday, and have scheduled an executive session to discuss personnel matters.