By David Meade
During their regular monthly meeting Tuesday, the Anderson School District One Board heard a report on how the adult education program is faring.
District One Superintendent David Havirdsaid the adult education program, which had been under the supervision of the Anderson Districts One and Two Career and Technology Center for years, was brought under District One supervision last year.
“It has worked better in a school environment than a career and technology environment,” Havird said. “It is a very important part of Anderson District One.” The program is housed in the old Pelzer Elementary school building and works to award diplomas and GEDs to students ages 17 to 70, according to Havird.
Adult Education Director Janice Walpole said the program began offering the GED test on computers in January which are designed to evaluate students being prepared to graduate college and for career testing. Walpole said the program had seven graduates during the first session, sixteen the second and a total of 34 between January and June.
Walpole said the program is classified statewide as a “small program” based on the number of students participating.
Last year the program served 459 total fundable students. Of 32 small programs across the state, the District One and Two program placed number one in number of students graduating using the computer testing and eighteen out of 56 in the total program including small, medium and large programs.
Walpole said the local program is ahead of many of the large and medium districts in both number of students and use of computer testing.
“We are very pleased with our teachers and students,” she said. Many of those seeking GEDs and Diplomas in the program are more prepared than most other programs, according to Walpole. “They are better prepared early, when they come to us.”
Though based in Pelzer, the Adult Education program offers satellite programs at the Watkins Center in Honea Path and at Community Bible Church and Mt. Airy Baptist Church in the Wren/Powdersville area.
