Mary Redmond-Luce, director of adult education for RSU 9, shared exciting updates on program expansions and workforce initiatives during a recent board meeting in Farmington, at the Mt. Blue Campus pictured here. File photo/Franklin Journal

FARMINGTON — Mary Redmond-Luce, director of adult education for Regional School Unit [RSU] 9, shared exciting updates on program expansions, workforce initiatives, and community partnerships during a recent board meeting, highlighting the growing impact of adult education in Franklin County.

“So one of the things I am really excited about is our collaboration with Central Maine Community College [CMCC],” Luce said. “It is an hour one way for people in Franklin County to get to [Lewiston] and back. Thanks to CMCC, we can do something with adult ed in our community, in these tech programs.”

One program she highlighted is a fiber optic technician training. “When you attend this four-week, full-time program – or part-time for eight weeks – you get $800 just for attending,” Luce said. “At the end of the class, companies looking for fiber optic technicians will come in and hire right from the class. So that is really exciting.”

Luce also emphasized the importance of local partnerships to bring high-demand programs closer to the community. “We’d like to bring the Class B driving program here because there is high demand in this area,” she said. “But that’s pretty expensive. So we’re working with companies to perhaps use their truck.”

She outlined three core pillars of adult education: high school completion, workforce investment, and enrichment. “Paramount, the first thing is high school completion,” she said. “And it’s free in Maine. We are the only state in the nation where getting this is free, so that’s really exciting.”

On workforce investment, Luce praised the variety of opportunities available, from medical training to technical certifications. “The range is $24 an hour to about $50 an hour, depending on, of course, what certificate they get. That is entry level,” she said. “This is a big part of what’s going to come out in our spring catalog.”

Luce also touched on the program’s ongoing commitment to digital literacy and outreach. “Yes, we are in every single library in Franklin County,” she said. “We’re in SeniorsPlus and some other community agencies. We are working with Western Maine Community Action to help people access resources like heating assistance through the computer.”

The adult education program continues to grow and adapt to meet community needs. “Sometimes people think, ‘What is adult ed?’” Luce said. “I think the first thing is high school completion, right? Then workforce investment, and the third thing is enrichment – the fun stuff.”

For more information on available programs or to enroll, visit the Franklin County Adult Education website.