A program that hopes to further interest in college education among younger children was presented to the Manchester Community School Board Tuesday. The Wabash County Promise hopes to increase the number of children who invest in the Indiana College Choice 529 Savings Plan in an effort to encourage discussion and interest in further studies after High School. The Wabash County Promise intends to target grades K-3 by encouraging the students in those grades to open up a 529 account. Clint Kugler, director of the Wabash County YMCA, explained to the school board that only 6 percent of students in Wabash County have school savings accounts. “For students who have no savings the decision to go to college is that much harder,” he said. After the students raise $25 the community will support their efforts by matching it with $75. “This is a great way for the students to start raising money from individuals and for the community to get behind these students and to encourage them to attend college,” stated Kugler. Kugler also told the school board that 50 percent of students in Wabash County come from families where none of the family members have ever gone to college. With a partnership between the YMCA and Manchester University the Wabash County Promise hopes to expose younger children to the excitement of going to college. “This will be a great asset in allowing the students to see the value of a college education,” Kugler explained. In other business the school board completed its first reading of new board policies. Updates are being made to some older parts of the policy, while new sections are also being added in an effort to condense the policy handbook. And approval was granted to allow Manchester Schools to use gift cards as rewards for student achievement. New state policies dictated that school boards should approve such decisions. The Next Manchester Community School Board meeting will be July 2 at 5:30 p.m.
