Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

CCIC Hears Education Plan

Education was the topic of the day for the Clark County Industrial Council, Thursday, April 16.

Carroll Forte and Sherry Rogers, with the Adult Education Group, spoke to the CCIC members about the programs available from the group.

Forte said the funding for the program comes from the Workforce Education Department out of Little Rock through public schools, but doesn't take money away from public schools.

He said it is a county wide program with classes held days and nights. Its mission, he continued, is to upgrade and assist adult education for those 18 and older, improving their skills, helping them get general equivalency degrees (GEDs), while also working with industries to help them improve the skills of their labor force.

Rogers, the head instructor with the program, said the group is expanding to include English as a Second Language as part of its work to help the Hispanic people obtain jobs.

The group, she said, also works with those who have learning disabilities overcome their problems and learn other methods of obtaining information.

Two years ago, Rogers told the CCIC members, the group began working with Scroll Technologies, testing the employees.

The readability of the information given to the employees by the company was graded at 12.9, or a little higher than high school level. However, the workers were tested averaging being able to read at the 10th grade level.

The tests they were given had 40 different skill levels and included a literacy task analysis. The testers went to the individuals to help identify the problem areas and get them corrected.

Those giving the tests also spoke with supervisory personnel to check on the skills the workers needed to do their jobs properly and see if the group can be of assistance.

She said a WAGE advisory committee is utilized and helps prospective employees with their pre-employment efforts. Those involved with the WAGE program will go through 12 weeks of training for competency. Upon completion, they will be better able to find work.

Forte said the group is in the process of planning its budget for the coming year.

He said if any area companies are interested in making use of the program teachers are available to help.

Companies participating must find space for the instructors and furnish the materials to be used. The Adult Education Group will provide instruction for the workers.

Rogers said one of the most popular courses for senior citizens is computers. Many of those in the classes have never touched a computer before and enjoy learning how they work and what they can do.

Forte said the group averages 55 GED graduates every year, while about 30 participate in the commencement exercises.

One of the problems, he said, is with Clark County's unemployment rate so low, many who need the help the group can provide don't seek assistance. Fewer people feel the need to improve themselves, he said.

In other business, Charles Summerford, engineer for the road project to the satellite business park near the country club, said with the dry weather work on the access road is coming along well.

The south end of the road is being reshaped toward the country club, while the banks stabilized somewhat over the winter months such as they were. Now, he said, these surfaces are dense and packed, ready for pavement to be applied.

The project received another extension from the Arkansas Economic Development Corporation, moving the old deadline from March 31 to June 30.

Weather permitting, he said, this should be the last extension needed before the project is completed.

Base material and gravel will be put down soon, with 85 percent of the culverts already installed. The dirt work can be finished in three or four weeks and paving will then begin.