Amador County – Community college classes in Amador County will continue in Fall 2011, but changes may come after that, including loss of federal funds, or advent of an online distance learning center.

Supervisor Chairman John Plasse, Chairman of the Amador Community College Foundation, said in June that Cosumnes River College is still offering classes through next fall, though a federal grant that has been funding the program runs out at the end of that year. He said it is not clear if that funding will continue, or if the Foundation and the School District want to continue with the CRC agreement, which brings college instructors to Amador County for about seven college-level classes.

Plasse said the long-term for the ACCF includes looking at possible locations for online, virtual classrooms, where students can take “distance” classes, via audio-video online interaction. He said the Amador Health & Human Services building in Sutter Creek has been looked at as an ideal spot for the distance classes, as the building is fully equipped with the fiber-optic high-speed computer connectivity necessary for the classes to be successful.

Plasse said American River College, a member of the Los Rios Community College District, does not have a presence in Amador County. Cosumnes River College does hold classes and commit teachers to come here. Amador County has federal grant funding to pay for the classes, but that may not be extended after the next school year.

Karen Dickerson, a member of the Amador Community College Foundation board of directors, said “American River College does not offer classes in Amador County. Cosumnes River College does,” and has a fall schedule planned, including seven classes.

Dickerson said the “ACCF board is discussing various options for higher education in Amador County presently,” but wanted to correct a report from a school board meeting saying ARC was ending classes, because “we would like the classes to be full in the fall.”

Cosumnes River College will have classes in the fall of 2011 at Independence High School in Sutter Creek, including Introduction to Business; Principles of Macroeconomics; Basic Emergency Medical Care; College Composition and Advance Composition & Critical Thinking; Beginning Digital Photography; and General Principals of Psychology.

For class information, call (916) 691-7411.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.