Education

Investing in a college education is always worthwhile; in this economy, it is even more crucial.

Over a working life, the typical worker with a four-year college degree earns in excess of 60 percent more than a worker with only a high school diploma. When you invest in something this important, you want to be sure it’s worth your time and money. One way to do that is to make sure the college and the program you choose are “accredited.”

Another precipitous drop in state revenues is bad news for local public schools, Superintendent Bob Hastings told the Levy County School Board at a Feb. 2 meeting.

Hastings said no one knows what will happen with the state budgets when the Legislature’s session begins on March 2. “It’s anybody’s guess,” Hastings said.

But he noted that the revenue estimate for the state’s coffers is down by $3 billion overall which translates to $1 billion less in state money for schools.

 The Central Florida Community College Levy Center will offer its first guided Ecotourism Field Trip on Saturday, Jan. 23. The trip is part of the Ecotourism Business Workshops program that begins on Jan. 11.

 The trip is open to the public and includes visits to both Manatee Springs State Park and Fanning Springs State Park, with lunch in Fanning Springs. Participants will also visit Point of View Gifts & Antiques and Dakotah Winery.

In a General Fund budget review, the School Board of Levy County on Tuesday was warned that so far this school year, spending has only decreased 3 percent from last year, rather than the required 7 percent.

Director of Finance Bob Clemons, speaking to the board, said at the current rate of spending, the school district would be about $1.4 million over the approved budget by the end of the school year.

Both Clemons and superintendent Bob Hastings said that all options were being considered as to how to stay within budget.