Family Enrichment Center holds Town Meeting

More than 60 people gathered recently at the Jenkins County Agricultural Center for the annual Town Meeting hosted by the Jenkins County Family Enrichment Center (JCFEC). For more than 10 years, JCFEC has coordinated the event bringing together community leaders and area residents to discuss issues and develop strategies to improve the quality of life for local families.

The unexpected announcement that Metal Industries will close its doors in about a month reinforced the need to identify a resource person that could help the community better understand and cope with this pending loss. Recruited for the task was Dr. Stephen D. Dolinger, president of the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education. Dr. Dolinger shared with the group the latest research on "The Economics of Education."

During his presentation, Dr. Dolinger made this fundamental point: A healthy, thriving economy is rooted in a strong, successful school system. He emphasized the importance of making sure that children have the skills to succeed in kindergarten and to master the material at each grade level until they graduate. To make this happen, he noted that concerned parents and well-qualified educators must work together so that high academic achievement, in all subject areas, can become a reality at all the schools. Dolinger added that with a team approach, a community can leverage resources successfully and prepare young adults entering the workforce to get good jobs and build careers.

As a bonus, Jenkins County school principals updated the group on their plans for the current year and beyond. Their priorities included goals to improve the performance of minority students and position the school system to make adequate yearly progress (AYP). In her remarks, the school superintendent, Joan Blackwood, proudly highlighted the fact that the 2006 -2007 academic term was the first time that the entire system had achieved AYP in over five years.

To close out the meeting, Julie Chance, JCFEC's executive director, applauded the community's efforts in partnering with the schools to support and strengthen student achievement. Chance stated that since jobs for those who have not completed high school are rapidly declining, the community has to set its sights on educating a workforce that can help attract industries back into the area that require higher levels of academic and technical proficiency. She invited the attendees to become more actively involved in implementing workforce development and education initiatives already underway by participating in the bimonthly collaborative work groups or volunteering to serve as mentors. The evening ended with refreshments provided by the Millen Women's Club.

For more information on these initiatives and other resources available through the Resource Center, please call (478) 982- 8004, Monday through Thursday, from 8:30 - 5 p.m. and Friday, from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.