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Messenger-Inquirer
November 4, 2003
Council backs funding of local tech center
Chances for facility are 'pretty good,' official says
Owensboro Community and Technical College's advanced technology center is among
17 capital construction projects recommended for state funding Monday by the
Council on Postsecondary Education.
The unranked list includes more than $465 million in new construction and renovations
for the 2004-06 biennium.
A large chunk -- $217 million -- is for new research space at the University
of Kentucky and the University of Louisville. The council recommends that the
state pay only $130 million toward that goal with the rest coming through agency
bonds or institutional funds.
Despite an expected $300 million state shortfall this year, there's a "pretty
good chance" that some of the projects will be funded when the General
Assembly meets in January, said Tom Layzell, council president.
"There is some pent-up demand for these projects," Layzell said.
"There's a decent chance we'll get some funding for some projects."
There is also a chance that some projects could be phased in or trimmed to
get within state debt limits, Layzell said. The list now goes to the winner
of today's race for governor.
This is the first year that the council has recommended the full amount for
the Owensboro center. For the 2000-02 biennium, the council did not endorse
the project, but it received $375,000 for design work in the state's final budget.
The council recommended $8 million for the project for the 2002-04 biennium,
but the money was not budgeted.
The list of projects includes $90.3 million for new buildings at Kentucky Community
and Technical College System campuses and another $7 million for renovations.
The $90.3 million includes $24 million for the Owensboro center and $13 million
for the Henderson Community College Tri-County Technical Center.
Western Kentucky University has one project on the list: $33 million for renovation
and repairs to the Kelly Thompson Science Complex in Bowling Green.
The council selected the 17 projects from 183 requests from Kentucky's colleges
and universities, said council spokesman Bill Swinford.
In addition to these projects, the council also recommended a capital renewal
and maintenance pool of $15 million for work on existing buildings, Swinford
said.
The council will also request $60 million to continue the "Bucks for Brains"
initiative that has helped to more than triple the number of endowed professorships
in Kentucky over the last five years.
OCTC President Jacqueline Addington could not be reached for comment Monday.
Here is the list of recommended capital construction projects from the council
for 2004-06:
Research Space
-- University of Kentucky -- biological/pharmaceutical complex, $119.8 million.
Council recommends $71.9 million in state funding.
-- University of Louisville -- health science campus research facilities phase
III, $98 million. Council recommends $58.8 million in state funding.
New Construction
-- Ashland Technical College Regional Postsecondary Education Center Phase I,
$28.6 million.
-- Henderson Community College Tri-County Technical Center, $13 million.
-- Owensboro Community and Technical College Advanced Technology Center Phase
II, $24 million.
-- Madisonville Community College Technology Building Phase I, $12.5 million.
-- Franklin/Simpson Technology Center, $11.9 million.
-- UK Lexington Community College -- classroom/lab building, $28.8 million.
-- Eastern Kentucky University (two projects) -- business/technology center
phase II, $32.8 million; Manchester Postsecondary Education Center Phase I,
$10 million.
-- Morehead State University -- MSU-NASA Space Science Center, $12.2 million.
Renovations and repairs
-- Prestonsburg Community College/Mayo Technical College -- renovate district
facilities, $5.6 million.
-- Somerset Community College -- renovate aircraft maintenance lab, $1.4 million.
-- Kentucky State University -- renovate Hathaway Hall Classroom Building, $11.2
million.
-- Murray State University -- Blackburn Science Replacement Phase II, $22.2
million.
-- Northern Kentucky University -- Old Science Building Renovation, $17.7 million.
-- Western Kentucky University -- Thompson Science Complex replacement/renovation
Phase II, $33 million.
The Gleaner
October 30, 2003
Literacy team: Even Start, HCC combine to help families
Last spring the young woman felt she had hit rock bottom.
She and her children had no home, no car and bleak prospects for the future.
She had dropped out of high school and had no GED and her job opportunities
were severely limited.
Today, that Henderson resident has her GED in hand and is beginning classes
at Henderson Community College in January. She has an apartment and a used car.
She has taken parenting classes and utilizes positive reinforcement techniques
that build her children's' self-esteem.
She doesn't know exactly what career path she will take, but is certain that
she wants to work with people.
What brought about such a remarkable transition?
Local programs and agencies working together to help her reclaim her life and
give her children a firm foundation for theirs.
One of those catalysts is the Henderson County Even Start Family Education
Program, which is a facet of the national Even Start Program and now in its
third year in this locale. This year, it merged with the Henderson Community
College Adult Learning Center's Family Literacy Program, a "marriage"
that reportedly strengthens both free programs.
The Even Start Program, which is tailored to each low-income family's individual
needs, has four components: Parenting, parent and child time together, GED preparation
and children's literacy. It also helps parents prepare for transition to college
and provides links to other agencies that can be of assistance.
Coordinated by Amanda Duncan, the Even Start program that is sponsoring this
Saturday's local observation of "National Family Literacy Day" has
day classes at Lawndale Hall and evening classes at Jefferson Elementary School.
Free childcare is provided during the classes.
Duncan and Even Start Family Advocate Keri Goldsberry are the only full-time
personnel in the program, but there are a number of part-time employees. Duncan
said their focus "is not just the child or just the parent. We bring the
family in as a unit."
Goldsberry and Duncan are excited about their first local fund-raiser/celebration
for National Family Literacy Day. Noting that the celebration site, Pizza Hut,
is donating 20 percent of its sales during the 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. event and
that servers are contributing their tips to Even Start, Duncan said all proceeds
will go toward "the purchase of books for our families."
The Saturday celebration is for the entire community, "and it's going
to be fun," Duncan promised.
But those books for the dozens of local Even Start families assure that the
Literacy Day won't be a mere 24-hour observation.
Duncan and Goldsberry said they hope the event raises community awareness of
Even Start and literacy needs here, "and helps us reach people we haven't
reached before."
For more information about the Even Start Family Education Program, contact
Duncan or Goldsberry at 831-5087 or the HCC Adult Learning Center at 830-5270.
The Gleaner
October 30, 2003
HCC center earns third yearly bonus
For the third straight year, the Henderson Community College Adult Learning
Center is reaping a reward for meeting and exceeding its annual enrollment and
performance goals.
The center, housed in the basement of the campus administration building, will
receive $17,885 for exceeding its enrollment goal of 913 students by 29 students
this fiscal year, and meeting its performance goals that included the numbers
of students receiving GEDs and the numbers placed in post-secondary education
or training.
The local center has earned a bonus during each of the three years in which
the Kentucky Adult Education division has had its accountability and rewards
system for the state's adult education programs.
Pam Wilson, center director, said the extra money will be used to buy several
new computers, promote staff development and provide more hands-on instructional
activities.
She attributes the program's success to "a great staff. That's the whole
key to it." The staff, she said, is dedicated to helping individuals reach
their personal goals, whether that involves learning to read, receiving a GED,
brushing up on basic academic skills, college preparation, workforce education,
and English as a second language.
Kentucky Adult Education, a unit of the Council on Postsecondary Education,
reports that adult education programs in 75 Kentucky counties met or exceeded
their goals this fiscal year and will share $879,555 in reward funds to be distributed
in fiscal year 2004.
Cheryl King, vice president for the Council on Postsecondary Education, said
a record high 109,800 Kentuckians enrolled in adult education programs last
year, up from 86,413 the prior year.
"Kentucky is making significant progress toward improving the educational
attainment level of adult Kentuckians who do not have a high school diploma,
who function at low levels of literacy, who want to learn the English language,
and who want to go to college," King said.
Considering the large numbers of adults served by the local center each year,
Wilson said, "It would be nice if we worked ourselves out of a job, but
I don't think that will happen."
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