About Adult Ed
In September of 1966, several concerned citizens of Manhattan called a meeting of representatives from various community organizations to decide how to proceed only to be informed by the Kansas State Department of Education that the funds for that year had already been committed elsewhere. This did not stop these determined community members from several church organizations, League of Women voters, Extension Offices and the American Association of University Women. Since USD 383 already had an adult education program in place, with a part-time Director, Art Post, the school agreed to take on the fledgling program and provided meeting facilities. The new program had its first class at the Senior High School Building on February 14, 1967 with 13 students and 5 volunteer tutors.
Assured of federal funding in 1967, plans moved ahead to use the junior high school cafeteria facilities and staff was hired. However, 2 weeks before the program was to begin the State Department of Education advised the program that they would not fund any new centers that year. The tutors continued to work voluntarily with 30 students that fall. The school system continued to support the program by providing facilities and used textbooks and in October, the Riley County Mental Health Association contributed funds for additional educational resources. Finally, in the fall of 1968, under a cooperative agreement between USD383 and KSDE, the adult education program was funded and a Director of Adult and Continuing Education was hired, Robert Verschelden, who worked with Mary Border as a coordinator, a position she had held since the program’s inception. Three teachers were hired part-time and 60 students were enrolled. For the 1st time, there were also students who wished to work on their GED and 20-30 community volunteers worked with faculty and students under the guidance of a lead teacher.
By the fall of 1971, two certified teachers were hired and over 300 students were enrolled from Manhattan and many surrounding communities. In the fall of 1972, Manhattan Adult Learning became a regional testing center for GED. Before becoming a regional testing center, students had to travel to Topeka, the closest testing site. In 1974, a mobile learning center enabled the program to reach out to surrounding communities, but by 1979 funding became an issue for the program. Again, the Manhattan community stepped up to pass a mill levy, making Manhattan the second community in the State of Kansas to successfully pass a levy supporting adult education or alternative school programs in 1988, Derby being the first. The program was located at Strong Elementary from 1973 to 1991 at which time it was relocated into its own building on Poyntz Avenue where it remained until 2001 when it moved to the Upper Level of the Kansas Workforce building on fourth street.
In July of 2018, the Adult Learning Center was moved from USD 383 oversight to Manhattan Area Technical College. This move was a complete revonation of the program including new staff, new curriculum geared toward career and post-secondary education, and a new building located on MATC’s Campus.
Through the collaborative efforts of Manhattan community organizations, qualified Manhattan citizens willing to volunteer, Manhattan businesses and the Chamber of Commerce, USD 383, and MATC, Manhattan has consistently dedicated its energy and talents to provide for the needs of all adult learners in this community.
