The Clark County Community Education Program Advisory Council held its regular bi-monthly meeting May 16 at Central Bank.
Community Education Director Cora Heffner welcomed Michelle Smock, the new assistant with Partners In Education. Smock reported that several grants have been requested and all the BUG awards will be completed this week.
In School-to-Careers events, Heffner said the College and Career Fair on March 30 was successful with 10 schools and 21 employers participating. About 650 students in grades eight through 12, plus some Bluegrass Community and Technical College students, attended.
Forty-three students participated in job shadowing at 29 businesses this school year. Twenty-four students at the Day Treatment Program participated in the Stock Market Game. Sixty students from Pilot View studied various careers and toured Toyota. Twenty-seven welding students from the Clark County Area Tech Center went to Somerset Community and Technical College to learn about welding.
It was announced that service learning funds are no longer available from the federal government.
Heffner worked with cross country coach Dodd Dixon and Conkwright principal Patrice Thompson to submit a grant to ING/NASPE for funds for a running program.
The application for the 2012 America’s Promise 100 Best Communities for Young People was also submitted. Both awards will be announced in September.
Six George Rogers Clark High School sophomores participated in a half-day of activities at BCTC as part of KY Scholars. Activities included a history lecture on pirates, science experiments, lunch and college life information.
There will be a Community Leadership seminar from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on June 21 at the Clark County Extension Office. Lunch is included. The cost is $10 for Chamber of Commerce members and $15 for nonmembers. Call 744-6420 to register.
It was noted that there is just one slot left for the June State Registered Nurse Aide class.
A new Zumba class begins May 23 and meets from 6 to 7 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Friday at College Park Gym. It is pay-as-you-go, $5 each class with every fifth class free.
Winchester-Clark County Parks and Recreation Director Jeff Lewis announced that Summer Day Camp will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 11 to July 6. Children ages 5 to 12 are welcome; the cost is $5 for the month. Scholarships are available.
Thirteen lifeguards recently earned certification.
Festival plans are under way for July 4 and Labor Day.
Swim lessons continue to be offered.
BCTC Winchester Campus Director Bruce Manley announced the success of this year’s Run for the Glitz fundraiser, with proceeds going toward building an amphitheater on the Winchester campus. The school is still taking registrations for Summer II classes.
“Stop By and Get Started” for fall 2012 classes will take place from 2 to 7 p.m. Thursday, June 28. Students will be able to fill out applications, take the COMPASS test, apply for financial aid, meet with an adviser, schedule classes and attend orientation all in one day. Students can visit www.bluegrass.kctcs.edu for more information.
Beth Willett with the Clark County Health Department provided information on new online smoking cessation assistance, local smoking cessation classes, the diabetes support group and the MAPP project. Information can be found at www.clarkhealthdept.org or by calling 744-4482.
Clark County School Board Vice Chairwoman Debbie Fatkin gave an update on the progress of the new high school and elementary buildings. The construction documents for the new ATC are in process. She has contacted two high school students to serve on the council next year. She noted that one student at GRC scored a 36 on the ACT, the highest score possible, and that nine others had scored higher than 30.
One student has been accepted into the Gatton Academy for Math and Science at Western Kentucky University for her junior and senior years of high school.
More than $1.4 million in scholarships were awarded to GRC students this year. Fatkin noted that the state will begin to charge school systems $10 per background check for all volunteers. This will also impact Community Education nurse aide students and PIE volunteers.
Steve Havel with Catalent Pharma Solutions said the firm’s participation in the Read 180 program at Conkwright went well and they will continue to partner with the school. He has been working with Mike Kindred, CCATC principal, to provide internships for students.
Adult Education Center Director Faye Wiseman announced that graduation for all those earning GEDs this year will be at 6 p.m. June 23 at the Leeds Center.
Mike Kindred, ATC principal, expressed appreciation to the Adult Ed Center and the Office of Employment and Training for assistance with testing students for Work Keys. SRNA students had a 100 percent pass rate for the year. One of the HOSA students received a $1,000 scholarship. CCATC will be offering a four-day camp for at-risk middle school students during June. The state has announced funding cuts of 4 percent for the upcoming year.
Len Midden announced that the Clark Regional Foundation for the Promotion of Health has hired Jen Algire as executive director. The foundation continues to work on the MAPP project and use of the former hospital building.
In addition to Heffner, Smock, Lewis, Wiseman, Willet, Fatkin, Havel, Denham, Kindred and Manley, in attendance were Diane Travis, Office of Employment & Training; Rhonda Cromer, Planning and Development; Carl Hensley, Jutta Kausch and Len Midden, community volunteers; and Community Education administrative assistant Lisa Stephens.
At the invitation of Fatkin, the group’s September meeting will include a tour of the new high school. The next meeting of the Community Education Advisory Council will be held at noon on July 18 at Central Bank. All meetings are open to the public.
