Greene County Community Learning Center 'safe' from closure for now

"At this point, it's somewhat up in the air, but the (state) legislature is committed to having six learning centers (in southern Indiana) and Greene County is one of the six," Cam Trampke, who serves as director of the CLC of Greene County said Tuesday morning. "There are conversations in progress now that will hopefully avert that (the closing of the centers in Martin and Washington counties)."

State-wide, there are more than 40 community learning centers.

Trampke says the local CLC location benefits from its close association with the White River Valley School District and its location in classroom space provided at White River Valley High School in Switz City.

"Those locations that have independent buildings may be forced to make some adjustments," Trampke said. "We're one of the most cost-effective centers when it comes to those budget items. Through the graciousness of WRV (White River Valley) we've had a long-lasting relationship."

In late September, Indiana State University, which serves as the fiscal agent for six area CLCs, operated by South Central Indiana Community Learning Centers, stated plans were to close the centers located in Salem and Loogootee, effective Dec. 31.

Trampke says other area learning centers in Jackson County (Seymour), Lawrence County (Bedford), and Orange County (Paoli) will continue operations.

The Greene County CLC opened at WRV in December 1998.

Over the years, the center has served more than 3,000 students -- including some who have completed their entire college degree requirements taking classes through the Switz City location.

Greene CLC provides access to post-secondary education and job-skills training through a cooperative with Indiana public colleges and universities. Courses are delivered at the site by instructors, or through distance learning, such as two-way interactive video and the Internet.

College level courses are currently delivered by a number of state institutions including: Vincennes University, Indiana State University, Ivy Tech Community College, Indiana University, Ball State University, Purdue University, and Indiana Wesleyan College.

Trampke is also excited about some new certificate course offerings with Microsoft and a payroll accounting certificate course through Ivy Tech Community College that starts in January.

"Ivy Tech is offering the entire program here (at Switz City) face to face so people can actually complete a certificate. Putting those together we worked with some of the NSA Crane contractors trying to come up with short-term job ready kind of training because there is a local demand for it," Trampke explained.

The CLCs were initially started through funding from Lilly Endowment CAPE grants. That funded ended in June. The state provided some funding through the Indiana Commission on Higher Education. However, that funding has been reduced as well.

Indiana State officials say efforts to secure additional funds weren't successful.

"ISU is very disappointed that the two centers must be closed," said ISU Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Jack Maynard. "But with the economic challenges we all are facing in these difficult times, we are convinced that this is the best course of action."

The centers in Loogootee and Salem are staffed by two employees each, who have been notified that their contracts will end effective Jan. 4, 2010.

ISU remains committed to assisting students in rural communities who have educational goals they are determined to fulfill, Maynard said.

"We recognize the many challenges that our rural citizens face in attempting to complete a college degree," Maynard said. "We hope that through the services provided by the remaining learning center sites that we can meet most of the needs of the students who are impacted by these closings."