BRANCH COUNTY — English as a Second Language classes with Branch Intermediate School District has a waiting list of over 55 students, but the Adult Education is already over its budget by $36,000, Superintendent Kris Jenkins said Wednesday.
The state of Michigan will provide BISD with $299,000 for its adult education program for the 2024-25 school year.
Longtime educator Jan Storrs heads the program as the only full-time staff member. There is a part-time administrative assistant and 15 part-time teachers.
Jenkins said there are 55 students on a waiting list and a list of teachers ready to be hired if the program can find more funds.
Jenkins expects to bring the Adult Education budget into line with minor cuts, snow days, and other adjustments by the end of the school year. "I think we'll be okay, but right now, our budget is in a deficit, so we cannot hire anyone else, and we can't service those people who are on the waiting list."
The growth in ELS came over the last five years, with legal foreign workers drawn to Coldwater for jobs. Students are not just workers but their families.
When Storrs took over five years ago, Adult Education had three classes: one GED and two English as a Second Language.
Jenkins said, "We've really grown the program. It's grown into a big machine from our immigrant population. They just need help...We hope some of our community partners will step up to help with the program."
Storrs said the students are in classes to learn. "They are wonderful people who came to our community to work."
Jenkins agreed, "They're so good to work with. They're so appreciative of our services."
The 15 local teachers in the ELS classrooms teach between 10 and 30 students.
"We pay them well. They deserve to be paid well. Most of them work all day in the classroom and then do this three nights a week," Jenkins said.
Classes started at the end of August, but the number of students enrolled in the program remains unsettled.
Jenkins pointed out that the state requires a three-page enrollment form for each student. Because of communication difficulties, the process takes time to complete.
Then, each ELS student must be tested to determine their level of English proficiency, from Level I, which has limited or no understanding of English, to Level IV, which has students who are more fluent in English and able to speak well.
Jenkins said one of the 219 ESL students earned English language proficiency last year. "That means that they scored out of Level IV and are considered proficient English speakers."
Coldwater High School hosts the largest classes on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
Kellogg Community College Grahl Center holds classes on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. until noon.
There are two classes at the Lincoln Learning Center, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.
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Jenkins said these are just the ELS classes. "We also have GED. It's quite a big one," with 164 students last year.
BISD teaches GED in addition at Michigan/Works and Union City.
Contact Don Reid: dReid@Gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: BISD Adult Education program over budget with high demand for English language classes
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