Grant may provide expansion for Jasper Teaching Center
By JIMMY GALVAN

THE PROPOSED MILLION DOLLAR EXPANSION of the Jasper Learning Center will emphasize vocational training like welding to fill job opportunities in Jasper County, according to Karen Kipp, president of Jasper Higher Education.

In order to better reach and serve students in the Jasper region, the Jasper Teaching Center - Angelina College is in the process of applying for an (EDA) Economic Development Administration grant to allow expansion of the school.

"There are still a group of students that we do not seem to be reaching and these are students who will not go on to college," said Jasper Higher Education board president Karen Kipp. "Those are the students that we feel would be best served with technical or vocational training."

The EDA is a part of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The grant would fund the construction of a new building on Jasper Independent School District land at the corner of Springhill Road and Bulldog Avenue on land already leased to Angelina College.

The grant is a matching grant and Kipp has sought to receive funds from JEDCO, the city of Jasper and the county for the project.

At the Feb. 12 commissioners' court meeting, the court approved a resolution of support for Kipp to proceed with the grant application. They also committed to in-kind services to prepare the site and provide fill dirt. Kipp said some fill dirt was left from the original construction project, so the expense to the county might run $25,000.

Most EDA grants are a 50-50 match, but since Jasper is located in a declared disaster area, Kipp believes the center will receive different consideration.

"We feel pretty certain that the grant will be an 80- 20 matching grant because we are located in a disaster area," Kipp said.

The grant would fund an 8,200-square foot building estimated to cost $1.2 million.

Kipp gained a $200,000 pledge from JEDCO for the project and she said the remaining funds might have to be found through grants written by Jasper Higher Education.

She noted that the center has reached students with computer and nursing programs but constructional trades have been left out.

Kipp told the commissioners, "As much as we learned after (Hurricane) Rita, we see the need for construction classes."

Jasper County Precinct 3 Commissioner Willie Stark agreed. "If only 13 per cent of our seniors who graduate go on to college, we're missing the boat for the other 87 per cent who still need higher education."

Jasper city council also gave their stamp of approval on the project by approving a resolution for $15,000 in in-kind services for the project.

The Jasper vocational training center has grown over the past seven years. Kipp said 305 students are enrolled at the campus taking the majority of their classes from the campus.

"I have good news in that we are filled to the brim," Kipp said. "I also have bad news is that we are filled to the brim."

There are presently 85 dualcredit students at the campus. These are junior and seniors of Jasper High School who are receiving high school and college credits. They can earn up to 30 hours of college credit while in high school.

Of the graduating class of 2007, 51 of 168 seniors are taking advantage of the dual credit courses.

"That is 31 percent of our seniors taking these courses and that is something that Jasper can be very proud of," Kipp said.

There are 13 classrooms at the Jasper campus in use, two being labs.

She said the new project would include classes in the construction trades but not be limited to just those types of classes. Kipp told commissioners that she plans to consult with the Workforce to determine what skills are most in demand in Jasper County.

"The main thing we want to do is not be confined where we can't add when we need to grow," Kipp said. "We have been able to use the building we have by having various classes. We want a functional building that can be changed. I don't want to build something now that is not good for this community in 10-20 years."