Susie Childs, Representing Junior Achievement of Central Ohio was invited to share with the partnership, details of the Jr. Achievement Program. Ms Childs wrote a grant through the Appalachian Regional Commission to provide funding for all 5th grade classrooms in the twenty-nine Appalachian counties for 1999-2000 school year. All nineteen 5th grade classrooms in Adams County are participating.

Ms. Childs gave a brief overview of the Jr. Achievement Program. Its main purpose is to educate and inspire young people to value free enterprise, business and economics, to improve the quality of their lives. Ms. Childs also indicated that JA programs have been developed with proficiency test outcomes in mind and are an excellent way to provide support to students and teachers in this area. Junior Achievement differentiates its programs by providing sequential and integrated K- 12 programs as well as providing volunteer role models with diverse backgrounds to support all classroom activities.

It was the general consensus of the group that Jr. Achievement was an excellent way to sustain the efforts of the partnership since it provides such a strong connection between the district's classrooms and the business community.

A lengthy discussion followed about expanding the program in Adams County and how to finance it. Ms. Childs indicated that she will be writing the grant for the 5th grade for the coming year. The group decided that we would try to expand to the 4th grade as well. JOGS Coordinator, Karen Faust indicated that she would like to do the unit "The Economics of Staying In School" in the district's JOGS classrooms in the 9^th grade. Gene Toole indicated that he would like to do one pilot project at the high school level during the next school year.

The projected cost of this expansion will be approximately $12000. The next few weeks will be spent exploring ways to secure funding.

Dave McChesney, ACSTWAP Chairperson announced that state STW director, Susan Streitenberger has resigned that position due to the fact that the state STW office will be closing this summer. Mr. McChesney also indicated that there was nothing new to report on the Workforce Investments Act.

The meeting was adjourned