Case for Support

Background

In a conversation between James Lee Stevens, Superintendent of Hopkins County Schools, and Judith L. Rhoads, President of Madisonville Community College, they discussed the possibility of every high school graduate, who meet certain criteria, get a scholarship to go to Madisonville Community College. Madisonville Community College, Hopkins County Schools, Dawson Springs Schools, Madisonville Rotary Club and many other businesses are implementing a program called "School Counts!" in Hopkins County. This program will change the way people view and value education. The program will have an ongoing impact on economic development, quality of life, and the level of education in our county. The "School Counts!" program could change the entire county’s attitude toward education which is currently flawed at best. At the present, 49 percent of the county residents do not read above the 10th grade level, the scale used to define illiteracy. Also, only 14 percent of our population goes on to receive college degrees, well below the state level of 17 percent and the national level of 27 percent.

The three public high schools in the county, approximately 301 businesses who have signed on to promote School Counts!, and the college are all working on the program. The citizens of Hopkins County are willing to continue to give to this project over time to ensure its sustainability. The college is committed to raise any funds beyond the $1.5 million needed to secure the future scholarships.

In the past, Hopkins County was a coal mining community. There has been about two decades since the coal mining jobs started vanishing and currently there are less than 900 coal-related jobs remaining in a county of 46,000. We must break this degenerative cycle of low educational levels by changing the attitude to one that higher education is necessary for the majority of the population.

A local plant manager addressed the reality of competing with other employers for a qualified workforce: "We don’t need someone who checks his or her brains at the door; we need more highly skilled employees than ever before. We need to increase access to higher education because it’s the right thing to do." The total endowment amount that will be needed to fund this comprehensive workforce ethics and scholarship program is $1,500,000, which will yield $90,000 in interest income annually to support tuition costs.

Funding of this amount for the "School Counts!" program in Hopkins County is the right thing to do because...

• The need is real...
  • The percentage of people in Hopkins County with college degrees is 14.7%. The statewide average and national average are 22.1% and 30.7% respectively.
  • The local unemployment rate is 4.6%.
  • 38.3 % of adults age 25 or older in Hopkins County do not have a high school diploma or its equivalency.
  • Per capita income $17,382; statewide the income average is $18,093, and $21,587 nationally.
  • 13.6% of total population in Hopkins County lives at or below the poverty rate; the statewide and national averages are 12.7% and 9.2% respectively.
• Business and Industry are demanding a more educated workforce...
  • There is an immediate need to develop a multi-skilled, well-rounded workforce that can best be educated at the Associate of Arts degree, Associate of Science degree, Associate of Applied Science degree or certificate level. In the next five years, half of all workers throughout the nation will hold new jobs which will require an education or training beyond high school and in the future 80% of all new jobs will require two years of post-secondary education. How can Hopkins County compete for jobs if it cannot offer an educated workforce to a prospective employer?
  • Local employers were asked, "What is the greatest concern of your company/organization when hiring entry-level workers?" They responded that communication, math, and English skills were the greatest concerns. The second greatest concern was a perceived lapse in the importance of attendance and a willingness to learn.

The Goal

The Madisonville-Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce and area employers have formed a partnership with the Hopkins County Board of Education, Dawson Springs Schools, and Madisonville Community College to develop better-prepared students for the workforce and for college. This partnership designed the "School Counts!" criteria.

Every Hopkins County high school freshman can sign up for the "School Counts!" program. The student is then required to meet four (4) workplace criteria FOR EACH YEAR THEY ARE IN HIGH SCHOOL. The program criteria includes:

• Quality—obtains a 2.5 cumulative GPA each year of high school..."My work does not have to be repeated."
• Attendance—Achieve a 95% attendance and punctuality record in each year of high school..."I show up for work."
• Persistence—on schedule to complete high school in eight consecutive semesters..."I finish what I start."
• Rigor—takes more than the minimum number of credits required for graduation…"I go the extra mile."

After each year of high school, students enrolled in School Counts! who continue to meet the above criteria are awarded employability certificates. The goal is for approximately 300 employers to agree to publicly support School Counts! and agree to give a student who completes School Counts! criteria an interview for any applicable job opening. As of today’s date, over 301 area businesses have pledged that support. The reward for four employability certificates upon graduation will be a (MAXIMUM) $1,000 per semester award for up to four semesters at MCC. The award will be applied after ALL other financial aid and KEES money alternatives have been exhausted. We believe that this financial alternative provides incentives to the student who would otherwise have real restrictions to postsecondary education opportunities.

Return on Investment

It is the goal of the college and the community to change the level of education in the county. Last year a record number of adults passed the GED test in the county. The college enrollment over the last three years has increased by 7.4 percent full-time equivalent (FTE). The vision of the college is that in five years, Madisonville Community College will be counted as one of the nation’s outstanding comprehensive community colleges. Communities served by MCC will be strong advocates for an institution that is truly western Kentucky’s college of choice.

The School Counts! program will ultimately lower poverty levels and increase literacy rates in western Kentucky while enhancing regional economic development efforts. This School Counts! model can change attitudes toward postsecondary education forever. The School Counts! program is the first of its kind in Kentucky. As hard as the college works, it is difficult to change the attitude of parents in our county. School Counts! will let grade school students know that if they work hard and meet the criteria, they can go to college. The School Counts! program offers hope to those who have had little hope in the past.

We urge the citizens of Hopkins County to consider a gift to the School Counts! initiative. Simply, we need your support to be successful.

This is a unique opportunity for you to help a community which has time and again helped itself.

Recognition of your Generosity

A contribution of this amount would help bring total pledges to School Counts! to the $1.5 million endowment goal.

The college has established donor recognition levels for those contributors who support School Counts! the most. This "table of donors" will be recognized permanently in a future recognition area devoted to successes associated with Fulfilling the Promise. The giving levels for School Counts! are:

• $1,000,000 - Official Naming of School Counts! Program
• $500,000 - Corporate Circle
• $250,000 - Pacesetter
• $100,000 - Founder’s Circle
• $50,000 - Chairman’s Circle
• $25,000 - President’s Circle

You would be recognized appropriately in all media sources, and in a statewide media release. You would be recognized on all School Counts! related literature and materials; as the program grows and continues to support deserving students, and because the endowment is permanent in nature, recognition of major donors would be on-going over a long period of time.

Almost 90 percent of Hopkins County high school freshmen have enrolled in the School Counts! program. Our public school system is now raising money for School Counts! through an internal campaign. The Madisonville Rotary Club continues to work for School Counts! through its annual auction, and has committed $100,000 for initial program investment. We hope you see the permanent value that School Counts! brings.

Thank you very much for your consideration of this request. If you need more information, contact Judy Rhoads or Judy Moore, Madisonville Community College, 2000 College Drive, Madisonville, KY 42431; or call (270) 821-2250; or e-mail at judith.moore@kctcs.edu.