Expanding Educational Opportunities
Identified Need: There is an identified need to expand educational opportunities for technical and trade skills training in this area. Expanding these training opportunities will provide those living in poverty with access to the training and skills development necessary to enable them to find gainful employment. Expanding training opportunities to local business leaders with help those businesses survive, thrive and expand helping to create more local employment opportunities for those living in poverty.
Short Term Goals:
- Build effective partnership including, but not limited to, School District #10, Anaconda/Deer Lodge County Government, Anaconda Local Development, Montana Job Service, Anaconda PCA, and other organizations, individuals, and agencies to expand educational and training opportunities in the area.
- Offer the first cooperative opportunities in Basic Business Accounting and Quick Books Operation during February-March, 2008, to local contractors and business leaders through the local high school.
Outcomes:
- Offered a five week Basic Accounting Practices Course through Anaconda High School with Russell Biniek, AHS Business Teacher, as instructor beginning February 5 and ending March 4, 2008. A total of 16 local residents register for the course with 11 completing all five sessions. Those attending included several local business people and several interested in starting businesses.
- Offered a five week Basics in Quick Books Course through Anaconda High School, using the High School’s computer lab with Russell Biniek, AHS Business Teacher, as the instructor. A total of 25 residents, (the maximum possible) registered for the class with a about 18 completing all of the sessions. A waiting list of 17 residents was generated for a follow-up course should one be offered. Again most of those who took the course were local business people working to improve their business performance.
- A good working relationship involving several new partnerships was developed through these course offerings with Anaconda High School providing the instructor and the classroom space as well as access to the computer lab facilities. Money for the instructor’s stipend was leveraged out of hold over funds from the Horizons Project and Community Action and Coaching Funds were used to purchase the licensing agreement for use of the QuickBooks Program materials as well as textbooks for both courses. Anaconda Local Development provided registration time and personnel and the Anaconda/Deer Lodge County Superintendent of Schools provided advertising in the local newspaper and flyers for the project.
- At least 11 local business people and perspective business people received instruction in basic business accounting and at least 17 local business people and perspective business people received instruction in the use of the Quick Books Program for computer-based business accounting. As a result of these training efforts local businesses are more likely to thrive and expand creating more job opportunities for those in poverty.
Next Steps: The Expanding Educational Opportunities Sub-committee will be meeting soon to address next steps which may include:
· Working with Anaconda High School to offer one or both courses again during the late fall.
· Working with Anaconda High School, and the School District #10 Adult Education Program to expand course offerings to include courses on basic computer skills, basic construction techniques, and/or basic welding.
· Working to leverage funds through the Youth Build Program and the Northwest Area Foundation to relocate and expand the School District #10 construction and welding shop facilities to accommodate more skilled trades training.
· Working with Anaconda Local Development and School District #10 to develop a computer lab to be used for distance learning opportunities in cooperation with the Montana University System.
· Other possible directions…