HomeMy WebLinkAbout012 01
tt!' :J.e, t~·~. },j, -01
ð,o-uf' ~
/
STATE OF WASHINGTON
COUNTY OF JEFFERSON
In the Matter of Support for Continued }
State Funding of the Higher Education }
Demonstration Project (HEDP) and }
Extend the Jefferson Education Consortium }
Pilot Project for Two (2) Years }
RESOLUTION NO. 1 ?-nl
Whereas, Jefferson County has been identified as among the most poorly served areas in the
state's higher education and vocational education system. The county's participation rate in adult
education programs was found to be almost half the state average by a 1998 study by MGY of
America, Inc. authorized by the Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB); and,
Whereas, the loss of traditional resource-based industries in Jefferson County has had a serious
negative impact on economic prospects for families throughout the county. Public officials and
business leaders have identified the availability of adult education opportunities as key to the economic
future of the area; and,
Whereas, Jefferson County is losing its young people. In spite of the fact that the Office of
Financial Management (OFM) has determined that Jefferson County is Washington's second-fastest
growing county over the past 10 years, the county is recording an actual out-migration of young adults
between the ages of 15 - 24; and,
Whereas, the lack of an adequate adult education network has been identified as one of the
reasons young people are leaving; and,
Whereas, the Comprehensive Plans of both Port Townsend and Jefferson County include
chapters that support the growth of adult education as part of the economic and educational future of
this county; and,
Whereas, there have been several adult education entities active in Jefferson County, such as
Peninsula College, WSU, the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding, Centrum, Chapman
University and the Port Townsend Marine Science Center. However, each entity worked essentially
alone and few residents recognized local education options; and,
Whereas, the Jefferson Education Consortium (JEC) has been active for over a year in
expanding adult education opportunities in Port Townsend and Jefferson County. The JEC is
supported by a strong local board of advisors and by an extensive network of civic, business and
educational entities; and,
Whereas, the JEC has succeeded in increasing the number of adult students enrolled in
programs in this county by 8.6 percent, and similar growth is projected during the next 12 months.
New programs and prospective new programs range from carpentry to advanced nursing degrees; and,
~
. RESOLUTION NO. ..l2.=DJ!'e: Continued State Funding of the Higher Education Demonstration Project (HEDP)
Page: 2
Whereas, the JEC has succeeded in creating an interactive classroom that allows distance
learning to take place in the county. The classroom is being used by public and private non-profit
education providers; and,
Whereas, the JEC's paid coordinator has created new programs, brought education providers
together into a functioning consortium, effectively marketed the existence of adult education options to
local residents and counseled individual students to achieve their goals; and,
Whereas, the JEC is an experiment in delivering higher education to rural areas without the
expense of capital facilities, and is overseen by the HECB. To date, the experiment is proving
successful. It was created as a two-year pilot program by the 1999 Washington State Legislature; and,
Whereas, the JEC deserves two more years of state funding to ensure that additional questions
are answered for use by state policy makers, and to allow the local community to create an independent
base of financial support.
Therefore Be It Resolved that the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners calls upon the
Washington State Legislature to extend for two years the Jefferson Education Consortium pilot project
to ensure the maximum benefit for both the residents of this county and place bound adults across the
State of Washington.
Adopted this 5th day of February, 2001.
,.. :.. ..", "
~. .....
..fiY ~ f) It " '..
.'" . < . ~ ..
,/ '. .....<\:"..:....., 0, "
I~~:k:'·~ .. \'" ~..~. \
Vl . ,. ,
. 'I \ - , ,
SEAL: .., . ''''''' ~;~. / .,
. ' ). , '
~~:.~
~ L. Delaney ~
Clerk of the Board Ó
JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD
OF COMMISSIONERS
&gfO ô, Ch
M
......
Dan Titterness, Member
(Excused Absence)
Richard Wojt, Member