For many of the students in Lake Orion Adult Education, completing the program means much more than just earning a high school diploma. For many, it means self-confidence, a better paying job and a better life.
“I left my husband and I have two children,” said student Dawn Borill. “I needed to find a life and without an education, there’s not much life out there.”
Borill is currently enrolled in the LO Adult Education Program at the Community Education Resource Center (CERC), and said she would like to go on to Baker College after she earns her diploma.
“Education is empowering,” she said.
Students currently enrolled in the program and those who might like to attend in the future might not have the opportunity any longer if a proposal made by Governor Jennifer Granholm becomes law.
According to Mary Anne Thorndycraft, Assistant Director of Community Education for Lake Orion Schools, a proposal made by the governor to help trim the state’s budget would leave only $20 million for adult education for the entire state.
“Before we were getting $850 per FTE (FTE is equivalent to 450 hours of instruction and serves about 1-8 students),” she said. “Right now, it’s just a proposal…we don’t want it to become law.”
Thorndycraft said the adult education program in Lake Orion has been around since the 1970s. The program offers high school completion, GED preparation and testing site, English as a Second Language (ESL), adult basic education (basic reading and math) and adult special needs.
“We service over 300 students a year,” she said. “We also have classes for students at the high school doing make-up credit. We have over 100 classes that they take.”
ESL students can take both beginner and advanced courses. Thorndycraft said the popularity of Lake Orion’s program has grown with the influx of foreign companies moving into the Oakland County area.
“Now we have both day and evening classes,” she said. “We always have a waiting list.”
Adult education offers morning, afternoon and evening classes.
“Most students work and some are young mothers,” said Thorndycraft. “We offer licensed child care while they are taking classes here. We have around 30 students with children (in child care at CERC).”
The GED program serves over 100 students a year, according to Thorndycraft. Funding for the adult education program comes from several areas, including state aid.
“We get two federal grants,” said Thorndycraft. “Students have been writing to our legislators and newspapers…it’s kind of cool to see some of the letters and packets legislators have been giving them.”
Vicki Fairbotham is a recent graduate of the adult education program and said she came back to get her diploma after losing her job. Her daughter Christina is also in the program.
“It’s helping out the system…when you go for a job and they tell you that you need a diploma or college,” said Vicki. “I’m 46, and now I have to find another job.”
“I came from alternative education,” said Eric Faust. “I screwed up a couple of times. When you turn 18, (public schools) just kick you out. If there was no adult education, I wouldn’t be able to graduate.”
Faust pointed out that students in the program are there because they want to be there, so the money spent on the program is going to good use.
“(Lake Orion) is the only adult education program around…I drive 45 minutes to get here,” he said.
Marie, 33 years old and in the program, said she quit school when she was 15 and got involved in drugs.
“I have a three-year-old daughter now, and I’m three years clean,” she said. “This education means a lot to me and my daughter.
“I’ve been here almost a year and a half and I still have that long to go…it’s very depressing with the time I’ve put in, to see they might stop this,” she said.”Everyone needs a second chance.”
Fairbotham said she has a friend who is 65 years old and in the adult education program, hoping to go to college after she graduates.
“She can’t really afford to come here,” she said. “She gets here two days a week. She’s tried so hard…and she’s talked to me about going to college…they should keep (the program) open.”
Adult education graduate Maria Cassavoy said she was always pushing her children to do well in school, so she figured she should come back and get her diploma. She now works for the child care program at the CERC building and is enrolled at Baker to become an ultra sound technician.
“The experience I had here has been great,” she said. “The students are very close. I even got close to the high schoolers next door and was pushing them to finish.”