By Jolene Farley
Hills-Beaver Creek Superintendent Dave Deragisch is hoping to expand the list of Community Education classes available in the district.
At a March 18 meeting, Hills residents and Deragisch brainstormed on ideas for classes to offer.
The many ideas discussed included computer labs, fishing classes, card or board games, soccer league, farm marketing classes, snowmobile safety, motorcycle safety, CPR classes, driverÕs education, golf for youth, baby-sitting classes, bus to Gopher games, a health fair, girlsÕ softball, computer classes, gun safety, diet/nutrition classes, cooking classes, T-ball, bus to Canaries games, and 55 and older driving classes, according to Deragisch.
"One of the things that I need is information from people to tell us what they would like us to offer for Community Ed classes," he said.
He would like to begin new classes for both children and adults.
In the past, Community Education has offered a small number of classes, often limited to sports such as basketball, summer baseball or softball and sponsoring the ski club.
"We are just basically starting from ground zero and trying to get it built up," Deragisch said. "We are looking at expanding. We are trying to find classes people are interested in so we can expand."
Six-year Community Education board member Robert Wassenaar is involved in the process.
"We can always use more input," he said. "We are always open to new ideas."
Wassenaar said everyone is invited to the next Community Education meeting set for 6 p.m. Monday, April 18, in the high school library.
"Anyone that has an idea, weÕd be happy to hear it," he said.
Wassenaar hopes Community Education will be able to offer more bus trips. "The bus trips are one of my pets ... along with any type of continuing education. If people are looking for something, we'd be happy to oblige," he said.
Wassenaar also thinks something should be offered to keep kids occupied after school until their parents arrive home from work.
Deragisch's goal for Community Education is "to provide an opportunity for everyone from the very young to the very old, to provide them with opportunities for enrichment."
Community Education receives some funding from the state but is for the most part expected to be a fee-based, self-supporting organization, according to Deragisch.