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St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Lee Enterprises

Wednesday, July 1, 2009 10:42 AM CDT
State budget limbo
shuts down MAAEC

By JG-TC Staff

MATTOON -- A local adult education center made history today by closing its doors for the first time due to state budget cutbacks, said Mattoon Area Adult Education Center Director Mark Nelson.

With state lawmakers and the governor not coming to an agreement on a new state budget, Nelson said the MAAEC main building shut down today without any guarantee of funding. This is a milestone since the education facility opened 44 years ago.

"We have been threatened with shutdowns before but it never got to this point," said Nelson during a telephone interview this morning. "We've mothballed the building until someone tells us different. We are closed because we have no indication we have money to operate for now."

The shutdown also affects the Lake Land College adult education program connected to MAAEC, Nelson said. The shutdown results in the layoff of eight employees for now. It also ended the scheduling of any summer classes for GED or other programs, he said. Throughout the year, MAAEC helps with education and training for scores of people in East Central Illinois. It also provides child care for many students.

Nursing aide classes are still maintained in a separate building to the north of the main MAAEC facility because those classes have a different source of funding.

Nelson said the duration of the layoffs and shutdowns are uncertain at this point. He predicted the shutdown through a message on their sign in front of the building two weeks ago. He had hoped elected officials in Springfield would prove it wrong.

"I'm still hopeful we'll have funding approved, but for now we'll have to wait and see," Nelson said.

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gringa wrote on Jul 1, 2009 3:12 PM:

" Cheap theatrics, in spades! Too bad the layed off employees will be unpaid, but I'm betting Nelson will not see any interruption to his paycheck. Like I said, a cheap trick! "