The Williamsburg-James City County Schools administration presented Tuesday modified proposals for the division’s adult GED and nursing programs.
Both programs were included on a list of suggested eliminations from the 2014 budget when Superintendent Steven Constantino released his budget proposal earlier this month. Constantino and administrative staffers presented tweaked proposals Tuesday at the end of a work session that began with a public hearing; 18 speakers advocated for both adult programs and against a plan to cut four full-time special education teachers and five special education assistants.
In his first proposal, Constantino suggested eliminating the adult GED program, which serves students 18 and older who left high school without a diploma. The division’s adult education program also offers basic education and English as a Second Language classes. In the proposed budget, the elimination of the program was estimated to save $89,630 in salary and benefits. The program’s eight courses are taught by one full-time coordinator and test administrator, along with 14 part-time instructors.
On Tuesday, administrators proposed an alternative plan that would cut back the amount of classes offered and still eliminate the full-time position, but would allow the program to continue. The full-time coordinator position would be cut, and two full-time teachers would share teaching, testing and coordination duties. Part-time staff members would also be eliminated . Between savings in salaries, benefits, travel and other miscellaneous expenses, the new proposal would reduce the program by $87,496. The division received $43,000 of federal money in 2013 to support the program.
The restructured program would fund five part-time instructors to teach five classes combining adult basic education, GED and English as a Second Language (ESOL) coursework. Four of the combined classes would be delivered face-to-face, while a fifth would be offered as a virtual learning course. Each class could accommodate up to 30 adult learners; the division would need to serve 140 learners to qualify for grant funding.
The division would continue to operate as a testing site. Currently, adults pay $58 to take the GED test; in July, the cost will rise to $120 and the test will be a computer-based online model.
Four part-time instructors plus one lead teacher/coordinator would cost the division $35,140. In total, WJCC estimates the modified model would cost $56,140 and predicts it would receive $58,086 from grant funding.
Chief Financial Officer Scott Burckbuchler said one of the major changes would be the program’s classification in the budget. Currently, all adult education costs are collected as one budget “cost center” that includes the costs and revenues for the high school and adult GED programs, Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail program (which is not affected by cuts) and LPN program. The new proposal would create a separate cost center for the adult GED program, and it would be operated out of the grant fund, rather than the operating fund.
Although the money raised would not cover the costs, school board member Jim Kelly did suggest the division explore charging a nominal tuition fee for its GED classes, possibly to encourage learners to stick with the program. Newport News and Hampton charge $25 for similar programs.
In its initial budget proposal, the administration also suggested eliminating the Lafayette School of Nursing, founded in 1973 with help from the now-defunct Williamsburg Community Hospital. Cutting the program would save the division $208,680. Students living in the district currently pay tuition of $1,200 a year.
The two-year program has 21 first-year students who would be barred from completing the program if the board decides to accept the proposal. All 21 have indicated they would like to stay to the program for the second year.
On Tuesday, the board discussed what options it could pursue to help those students either continue the program or be accepted into another program in the region. To be self-supporting, the administration has said tuition would have to be raised to $5,500, but it’s difficult to estimate how much money would actually come in because the program has typically lost 50 percent of its students in the second year, according to Senior Director for Accountability, Quality & Innovation David Gaston.
Constantino said the division would consider refunding the cost of the first year of tuition to students who do not get the option to continue. City representative Elise Emanuel suggested going further, and finding a way to provide guidance to help them be accepted into another program — possibly at Riverside — and even offer tuition assistance to help them complete what they started.
Board member Jim Nickols also suggested the division should talk to local medical care providers who hire Lafayette School of Nursing graduates about whether they would be interested in financially supporting the program in some way.
“I feel an obligation to help the students who are currently in the program help realize their vision for themselves,” he said.
The night began with pleas from adult education professionals, GED graduates, LPN supporters and community members to save the programs. Regional instructional specialist Rachel Morrissey said cutting the adult education program will hurt the community, noting around 5,000 residents of the Williamsburg area lack high school credentials and the area has started to attract a growing ESL population.
To prove her point, Morocco natives Amal Zaaboul and Mohammed Hatouane and Haitian-born Ofrande Celestin spoke of how the program has helped them learn the English language and become better credentialed for the workforce.
“Before, it was the dream to be in America,” Zaaboul said. “Now we are here … please don’t close this door in front of us as citizens.”
Some speakers talked about the obstacles that pushed them to pursue adult education opportunities in WJCC. Anna Brown told the board her learning disabilities were largely ignored or undiagnosed during her school years, culminating in F’s at the end of her school career. She earned a GED and works as a mechanic.
Speaking on behalf of her husband, Bruce MacDonald, Marilyn MacDonald talked about his difficult childhood. Frequent moves, illnesses and family problems pushed him to leave school after eighth grade; when he joined the Navy at 17, he was diagnosed as illiterate and sent to an adult education center. Today, he holds a doctorate.
First-year LPN student Incilay Carlta said the students understand the tight budget constraints, but would like to at least finish their second year in the program.
“This school allows us to have one-on-one time with our children and full-time jobs. Please allow us to finish what we have started,” she said. “I know it’s been a long time since everybody’s had a raise, but one day, everybody’s going to need an LPN. And we’re going to be here for them when we graduate.”
