Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Classes for General Educational Development Diplomas began for the female population of the Kosciusko County Jail last fall. Eight inmates participate in the program, offered through the Mental Health Association of Kosciusko County.
MHA office manager Savanah Ryan conducts spelling tests, collects homework and assigns essay topics each week.
"I arrange lessons at the office, take attendance, make assignments and keep all the documents together," Ryan said. "We make sure they are prepared to take the GED test so they aren't disappointed."
A single GED tests costs $60, a fee passed on to each student.
The 14 women incarcerated in Block A at the jail have a wide range of educational backgrounds. Eight of them are taking advantage of the GED program.
"After my third year in eighth grade, I'd had enough," said Mary Blankenship of Mentone. "Now I've got a 14-year old and a 12-year-old and I'm trying to better myself. If my daughters want a better job, they have to stay in school."
"The value of a child's education increases when the parent is educated," said MHA school program coordinator Darlene Redinger. "It's an opportunity to turn things around."
Jody is 32. She quit school in her senior year in high school with two credits remaining toward a diploma.
"I'm taking the GED to refresh my mind. It's been years since I was in school," she said.
Women enrolled in the program do get a sentence reduction. County prisoners usually have sentences of a year or less and receive a one- to two-week reduction. Department of Corrections prisoners get a reduction of six weeks. They have sentences of a year or longer.
The Zimmer Foundation has provided a grant to offset testing fees. The Hand and Dekko foundations also have provided funds.
Funding for the male inmates' GED program is provided by a Federal Fathers and Families grant.
At times the noise level in Block A grew so loud the person across the table couldn't hear what another was saying. The women study in the same area where everyone else gathers. They'd like access to a quieter room for the weekly instruction, which the men have.
Donna Bower is a licensed GED administrator. She began teaching the classes in 1992, while the Warsaw School Corp. sponsored the program.
GED testing covers knowledge of writing, science, social studies, reading and math - with and without a calculator.
Bower oversees the testing, offered when the students are prepared to take tests. Preliminary testing is given before studies begin, to determine where a student should start lessons in each subject. Tests are given again when the lessons are complete.
Warsaw School Corp. used to administer the program until the federal funding was cut.
"The classes have changed since WCS sponsored GED. The materials were more up-to-date then. But Sandra (Frush, MHA director) has found the money for the materials," Bower said.
The Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department pays Bower's fee of $25 each week to monitor testing.
The women help each other with their lessons. "If somebody has a difficult time with spelling. everyone helps her. We don't belittle her," said Kelly Morgan, who has a husband and young daughter on the outside.
A woman named Vickie was identified by the others as mentor for the younger women. She has a college education.
"She (Vickie) always comes through with help. If you need anything, she asks for help or she'll find out," Kelly said.
"They make me sound like I'm a saint ... and I ain't," Vickie said.
"Our purpose at Mental Health is to prevent problems and educate families. That education should start here, not when they're out on the streets with other distractions," Redinger said.
Maggie doesn't plan to stop her education with a GED.
"I want to go to college and become an accountant," she said. "I want to do something better with my life and prove to my parents I can be something."
Mental Health Association director Sandra Frush also brings drug and alcohol and parenting education classes to the jail.
"We're very fortunate Sheriff Rovenstine allows these programs in the jail," she said. "He and his father (Al) are supportive. This is an opportunity for the inmates to better themselves and that's one of their goals."
Rovenstine is glad to have the programs to offer.
"I really appreciate the instructors coming in. Sandra Frush offers a strong program and it gets better each year," the sheriff said. "If we can do anything to make the prisoners successful members of the community, we will. Our goal to make sure they're not back here."
The jail has 24 female inmates. Seven have been granted work release and are housed in another area of the jail.
