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RSU 22 board hears overview of adult education partnership; director says program supports diplomas, workforce and college access
Summary
Rebecca Cross, RSU 22 adult education director, told the board the district’s partnership with two neighboring districts and Riverside Adult Ed runs enrichment courses, high school completion and career-certification training; enrollment and program counts rose in the past six years, officials said.
Rebecca Cross, adult education director for RSU 22, told the school board Wednesday that the district’s adult education partnership with two neighboring districts and Riverside Adult Ed provides a mix of enrichment, high school completion and career-preparation programs for community learners.
Cross said the program offers lifelong-learning courses (health and wellness, arts and digital literacy), literacy and high-school completion services, and career certificate programs such as CNA and phlebotomy; she said Bangor-area partners offer CDL training. “This is really sacred and important work,” Cross said, describing both academic services and wraparound supports for learners.
Why it matters: Board members were shown enrollment and outcome numbers that, board presenters said, tie adult education to workforce participation, health indicators and family outcomes. Cross cited state-level public-health data (maine.govhealtheducationandhealth as reported at the meeting) to show disparities for adults without a high-school credential and noted a statewide estimate that about 55,000 Maine residents still lack a high-school credential.
Details presented and local numbers Cross said RSU 22’s enrichment program has run 26 classes this year and planned 35 more for the spring, with about 250 community members registered so far. She described growth in RSU 22’s high-school completion program: six years ago the program enrolled two students; last year 29 students were enrolled, this year 34 were “actively engaged” and 41 were enrolled overall (Cross said 34 was the count of actively engaged students). She said 24 current learners are ages 16–22, 10 are ages 23–50 and the program expects roughly 12–15 graduates this cycle.
Cross also described supports that aim to move learners beyond a diploma toward employment or college: the district participates in a Maine College and Career Access grant for first-generation college students and provides intake planning that sets 3-, 6- and 12-month goals for new learners. She described success stories to illustrate multiple-generation effects: one family who earned diplomas through the program later enrolled in college-access programming and vocational training.
Board reaction and next steps Board members praised the program and Cross’s direct engagement with students. No formal action or vote on funding for the adult education program was recorded in the transcript; presenters thanked the board for support and invited questions about the program’s budget allocations.
Sources: Presentation and remarks by Rebecca Cross to the RSU 22 school board; state health data website cited in the presentation (referenced as maine.govhealtheducationandhealth).
