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Hyrum program bridging language barriers to teach parenting and high school classes By
Jamie Baer
HYRUM -- It started when E A Miller in Hyrum wished to overcome the language barrier in the workplace, an idea that lacked availability and money. Today it's a thriving community program teaching more than 60 families how to speak English and Spanish, a program to earn their GED, a parenting class, and workshops to keep the children busy while the parents learn. When the idea for Communication, Literacy, Enrichment and Readiness was first dreamed up, the outlook was bleak. Problems were found at the very beginning, preventing the program from being successful. Many parents were unable to attend regularly because of small children at home, and the program lacked the funding to hire teachers and extra help. E A Miller met with Lincoln Elementary principal Kevan Kennington and brainstormed for ideas. After a lot of hard work, Dana White, Kennington, and E A Miller were awarded a one-year Communication Development Block Grant by Hyrum Mayor Gordon Olson, and issued $102,000. CLEAR, as the program is referred to, had found its beginning. With the new money to help fund the program, Monica Jimenez, the sight coordinator for CLEAR, was able to hire two teachers to teach English to Spanish-speaking parents, one to teach Spanish to those who wish to learn, one to teach a parenting class, and one to help parents that never finished high school earn their GED. "We tried to get the very best we could," said Kennington. The grant money also helped pay for new computer programs to assist in teaching English, a program the parents love to work with. While the parents are in their classes, they don't need to worry about where their children are. There is also entertainment provided for the children who are separated into three groups, the nursery, early childhood, and elementary age, and taken to separate parts of the school to participate in games and activities. So far, Family Literacy Night has proven successful. The city requires the program involve at least 40 families, or 140 people, in order to continue the grant. Since starting last September, CLEAR has attracted more than 160 people and is still growing. Principal Kennington said Mayor Olson is impressed and more supportive than anyone. He has even brought the City Council and attended an evening's classes. The city grant is only for one year, but if things keep going like they are, there are hopes for future grants. "We are using adult education now, hoping we'll get financing from the city," said Kennington. Family Literacy Night is open to the public, and free for all classes and activities, except the Spanish class, which costs $25 per semester. Classes are every Tuesday and Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lincoln Elementary, and the GED class is at Mountain Crest High School. Contact Monica Jimenez for more information at 755-8644.
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