By By JAMES COLLINS / Niles Daily Star
NILES -- Officials from the Niles Adult Education program made a presentation to the Niles Community Schools Board of Education concerning the status and importance of adult education in Niles at Monday night's meeting.
Adult Education Director Rich Klemm called it "a very active program" with 215 students currently enrolled.
There are three facets of the adult education program: basic adult education, high school completion, and GEDs.
Last year, the program graduated a total of 62 students. Thirty students were awarded high school diplomas and another 32 received their GEDs.
Dawn Rouse, an instructor aide at Cedar Lane and success story of the current adult education program, spoke on its behalf.
She said that the program has benefitted her in numerous ways including making her a better parent.
The school board also approved four new teacher contracts and announced a number of grants that were awarded to current Niles teachers.
Niles High School will have two new teachers: David Belden will teach Building Trades and Megan Comerford will teach Special Education. Christine Engman will be the new English teacher at Ring Lardner and Ballard Elementary will welcome Tervonda Goins to its staff.
Paula Cook, Michelle Asmus, Ed Ellis, Maureen O'Hara and Alicia Ruff have all received Teacher's Wish Grants from the Niles Philadelphia Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Oak Manor Behavior Specialist, Yvonne Wideman, has received a grant from the United Way for a parent education program.
School Board President Mary Crayton said it felt like Christmas as the board graciously accepted two donations.
They welcomed a $5,000 donation from the Howard-Ellis PTO for the school library to purchase Accelerated Reader books, curriculum videos, and computer software.
The board also officially accepted Muhammad and Lonnie Ali's $115,000 donation for the construction of a new baseball field and approved the lease agreement which would allow the Niles Junior Baseball League to build and maintain the field on a portion of the Howard/Ellis Elementary property.