Schools

Adult & Community Education

Advisory Committee
Nancy Beecher, Concord
Jean Ford-Webb, Carlisle
Louise Haldeman, Concord
Eleanor Garvey, Concord
Berni Jenkins, Concord
James Saltonstall, Carlisle
Stephanie Smith, Carlisle
Deborah Stoessel, Concord
Joan Turner, Concord

Courtland Booth, Director
Brenda Finn, Superintendent
Becky Shannon, SC Liaison

Concord Carlisle Adult & Community Education (ccace) provides opportunities for lifelong learning to the citizens of the School District and surrounding towns. Collaborating with citizens and organizations, ccace responds to community needs and interests with our communities' talents and resources, calling upon local people to develop and coordinate programs and services for children, adolescents and adults throughout the year.

We make schools available for extended-day educational use for citizens in Concord and Carlisle. We promote and support School and Town projects that cannot be funded or presented in traditional ways. ccace is both a program of classes and educational events and a process that connects local citizens with each other and their public schools in ways that are creative, educational and cost effective.

Adult & Community Education provided a comprehensive program of non-credit, fee-based community courses for more than four thousand people in the 2005-2006 year. Several thousand more took advantage of free educational services and events, including educational counseling, lectures and forums. More than three hundred instructors taught with the program.

In 2006, ccace was able to pay all instructional and non-salary costs and most of the Director's salary. Fees recovered 95% of ccace's overall costs, and a $28,000 operating deficit was funded by reserves in its revolving account. 2006 was the first year without after-hours rental revenues to help with salary costs. The Concord-Carlisle Schools provided office space at the Ripley Building and management support services valued at $66,000. Overall, ccace provided community educational services over the period with a financial value exceeding $750,000.

Adult & Community Education furnished staffing for Concord-Carlisle High School each weeknight for the 10 months of the traditional school year. The primary school resource for funding ccace is nighttime access to high school classrooms, after School and Town needs for that space are satisfied. ccace oversees the evening classes, supervises the student radio station, and provides assistance to other visitors to the facility.

Children and adults of all ages participated in community education programs. Forty-five percent of the students were school-age children in 2006, and most were enrolled in before-school and after-school classes. The Instrumental Music School of Concord-Carlisle provided lessons for 400 students, all of whom participate in the daytime music curriculum as well. The learning needs of senior citizens in the School District were also addressed. Daytime courses, in sites loaned by Town facilities, accommodated the Village University and other classes of special interest to elders.

Adult Education Staff Court Booth, Deborah Jancek, and Mary Zellner

The majority of those attending community education classes were adults in their middle years. Reflecting the general population, many do not have children enrolled in the public schools. These adult students continued their educations in courses in the arts and humanities, computers and information technologies, career development, health and personal wellness, college preparation, and parent education. There were new courses in Folk Art, Aging & Health, Fiction & Poetry of Islam, Race Relations, Dreamweaver, and more. Community Education sponsored "Transcending Tradition," exploring foreign influences on Concord authors, with the Concord Historical Collaborative. It also introduced, with Minute Man Historic Park, "1775 Immersion," a two-day program for elementary and middle school teachers. Hundreds of other courses included some that are offered every year, such as computer basics, world languages, painting and drawing, music appreciation, health and wellness, parenting, and personal finance.

Adult & Community Education represented the schools in local emergency planning and disaster preparedness. It will seek a grant in order that this work may continue, and help to ensure that the schools are equipped with plans and volunteers in the event that an emergency calls for school assistance. It was able to provide in-kind support for other programs, such as the cps Center for Parents and Teachers, cps Summer School, Alliance for Teen Safety, and Concord-Carlisle Human Rights Council. By the end of 2006 certain community service activities requiring budget support were reduced as ccace emphasized further cost-cutting and revenue generation.

The Concord Town Meeting considered Adult & Community Education and how to recover the salary costs of the Director and Secretary. Partial support for these positions had been in the Regional budget until a number of reductions became necessary in 2004-5. A public hearing was convened in December, and was followed by the presentation of the ccace's annual report. District residents addressed the Regional School Committee about ccace and how it benefits individual citizens, the schools, and the fabric of life in the towns. ccace has a unique funding challenge. The recovery of administrative costs, as well as program costs, relies upon the tuition and fees paid for classes and services. This resource has relatively limited potential for generating revenue, and may or may not be sufficient to pay the salaries of public employees in the long term. Increases in course fees hopefully will close the funding gap by 2008.

The most important contribution of Adult & Community Education is not easily measured. Thousands of local citizens visited their schools, and took advantage of the facilities for their own education when the k-12 day was complete. Many would otherwise not have a direct connection with their local schools. These personal experiences help people become informed stakeholders, as Concord and Carlisle plans for the education of future generations. ccace ensured that access to their high school at night was well organized, safe, accountable, and educational.

Village University “The Mailroom” Jim Stoessel. Don Bracco, and Elliot Ring prepare a mailing about upcoming Village University courses.

ccace received several significant donations. The Concord-Carlisle Community Chest provided for Concord and Carlisle residents who were unable to pay their course fees and who needed assistance. The Concord Home for the Aged made it possible for senior citizens in the School District to receive an announcement about The Village University. cc Pops helped families with children enrolled in music lessons. Online registration was implemented, and was the newest cost-saving investment to help Community Education and its financial stability.

The Adult & Community Education Advisory Committee works with ccace and the School Committee, representing the interests of both towns on community education matters. Appointed by the Regional School Committee, Advisory Committee members ensure that ccace is sensitive to community needs and manages its resources to best advantage. Citizens are urged to contact Committee members, and to share ideas and volunteer, so that our schools may respond to community needs, further enrich the towns, and achieve our educational goals.

Concord-Carlisle Adult & Community Education
~a school service for the community since 1954~
~everyone teaches, everyone learns in the community schoolhouse~
120 Meriam Road, Concord
318-1540 weekdays 318-1432 nights
ace@colonial.netwww.ace.colonial.net