Posted by Jim, a resident of the The Crossings neighborhood, on Mar 2, 2009 at 7:57 pm

Insanity!

"More than half of the district's cuts will hit the Adult School, which is losing over $1 million from its budget through 2010. The cuts come as more residents are returning to school to be retrained during the economic downturn, educators said."

Cutting Adult Ed. classes is insane! Why is Adult Ed. taking the lion's share of cuts? Just when adults need these classes more than ever, the program is being virtually eliminated.

Adult Ed. provides high school diploma and GED classes which provide a way for students to get ahead in the work place. It provides skill training for workers, and serves the community in many, many other practical ways. It does all that at a fraction of the cost of community colleges! It would make more sense to take the remedial classes out of colleges and have those students become truly college ready before we squander money on providing expensive college classes for them.

Cut some of the "nice to have, but not need to have" programs from the high schools. Remember, schools are there for education. The 3 R's benefit the majority far more than being able to kick or throw a ball does. As an employer, I find all too many applicants have trouble with basics such as writing and spelling.