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SECTION D. EDUCATION
The purpose of the
education subcommittee was to examine education issues as related to county
government and make recommendations of additions or changes to current
programs the Board of Supervisors should address.
The methods used to obtain
data are as follows:
- Interviews with
administrators of all Lee County school districts
- Requested and
received reports from Lee County agencies and County Departments of
their current educational programs, the expenditures and funding sources
- Results of
Comprehensive Planning Committee's public survey
- Personal knowledge and experience of the
diverse and well qualified committee members
- Received one (1)
detail recommendation from an interested Lee County resident
- Committee member's
peer groups
The following are areas the committee recommends the
Board of Supervisors address, to improve the educational environment of Lee
County. Each area will be identified followed with a reason or reasons and a
brief suggested action plan. The action plan will be general in nature, as
the committee does not have the intimate knowledge of the mechanics of our
county government to make detailed recommendations. The order of issues has
not been prioritized.
ISSUE #1: PROMOTE
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A CENTRALIZED JOB-TRAINING PROGRAM
REASON:
- With
the diverse ever-changing demand in the labor market, it is difficult
for the existing programs to stay abreast of projected needs. With the emphasis
on technical training, it is cost prohibitive for existing programs to
maintain current state of the art equipment.
- With
existing programs duplication can and does occur.
ACTION PLAN
- Work
with community and educational leaders to develop a plan with existing
sources (high schools, Southeastern Community College, etc.) to
consolidate these programs to one training curriculum.
- Involve businesses and industry to both
determine long-range labor needs and help off set the cost by using
existing technology and equipment.
- Establish a communication program so the
residents of the county understand the benefits of this approach.
- Apply
for state, federal and private grants to help defray costs.
ISSUE #2: ENHANCE
THE EDUCATION BUDGET OF EXISTING COUNTY AGENCIES AND COUNTY SUPPORTED
SERVICES (I.E. HEALTH DEPARTMENT, CONSERVATION, PUBLIC SAFETY, MENTAL HEALTH,
AND AMBULANCE SERVICE).
REASON:
- Although
these agencies are currently involved with educational programs, with
the fast pace of increase of knowledge, and the fact that some of these
topics are not taught in school curriculum there is an expanded need to
transfer this knowledge to many of the residents of Lee County.
- Also
it is apparent that schools use these agencies, as they have no other source
for some topics, and would use them more if available.
ACTION PLAN:
- Establish
a program to determine what area of educational programs need to be
added or are in need of change (i.e. some conservation programs could be
taken to schools rather than busing students).
- Prioritize
the needed additions.
- Apply
for state, federal and private grants, to help defray costs.
- Make
long-range budget considerations for educational growth.
- Establish
a communication system that makes knowledge of the existence of these
programs more available.
ISSUE #3: INCREASE
SUPPORT OF LIBRARIES IN LEE COUNTY
REASON:
- Next
to schools, libraries are the comer stone of education.
- Recently libraries have been put toward the
bottom of the list of budget priorities.
ACTION
PLAN:
- Explore
the possibility of in-kind assistance (i.e. internet access, technology
equipment*) thus reducing library costs.
- Establish
the ability to do joint purchasing to reduce cost of quantity purchases.
- Make
long-range budget considerations for library support.
*Give old equipment, as it is replaced, to the
libraries
ISSUE #4: ESTABLISH A 501.3C NON-PROFIT CORPORATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF
APPLYING FOR AND ADMINISTERING GRANTS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES.
REASON:
- The committee has been advised that there are
a large number of private grants available for education. However, the
grants must be awarded to a non-profit organization.
ACTION
PLAN:
- Develop an organization based on the above
goals
- Apply for non-profit status
- A separate board of directors would be
required - advice received is that for government non-profit approval
a.
The directors should contain:
i.
No more than one or two elected officials
ii.
One or two county employees
iii.
The balance being interested county
resident volunteers
ISSUE #5: ESTABLISH A BROAD BASED COMMUNICATION POLICY TO INCLUDE, BUT
NOT LIMITED TO, INTER-DEPARTMENTAL, INTER-GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES, SCHOOLS,
BUSINESSES, INDUSTRY, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
REASON:
- Education
is based on good communication
- We have discovered that which the county does
and/or provides is not always communicated clearly
- In some cases lack of information inhibits the
use of available services
- Some
information is left to the option of a news reporter, with no formal
release
- Without
a strong policy inter-departmental communication can also be stymied
- Communication is receiving as well as sending
information
- We found no on going mechanism for this
ACTION
PLAN:
1.
Review any policies or lack of policies
that affect communications
2.
Adapt a policy that hold individuals or
groups of individuals responsible to gather and disseminate information
inter-departmentally to:
- Schools
- Businesses
- Industries
- Governmental Agencies
- And the Public (including media) in a formal
way
3.
Make the policy also responsible for
seeking and receiving information from these same sources.
ISSUE
#6: ENLARGE THE GRANT WRITING
CAPABILITIES OF LEE COUNTY
REASON:
- Part
of the action steps of many of the foregoing issues suggest that grants
are available and would assist in covering the costs. There will be an
on going need to continue to write for grants in existing programs. This
need may increase with time. With the increase need to write grants
administrators will have more time taken from their primary duties.
- Writing grants in house would be more cost
effective than contracting for this service.
ACTION
PLAN:
- Review
the possibility of expanding the use of the existing capabilities for
the purpose of writing the additional grants for Lee County.
- If
any or all of the above needs to write grants cannot be accomplished by
the existing capabilities, then consideration should be given to
establishing a grant writing and coordination staff. It is felt that
either of these options will pay for themselves in a very short period
of time.
ISSUE #7: EXPAND THE TECHNOLOGY CAPABILITIES OF LEE
COUNTY GOVERNMENT
REASON:
- Technology
has become the key to the growth of business, education and
communication. To stay abreast of today's world, technology must grow.
ACTION PLAN:
- Survey
present capabilities
- Compile
projected future needs both short range and long range
- Check
for possible grants available to help cover costs
- Develop
a long-term budget plan to cover costs of updating
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