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By Macie Lee Mahan, Austen Farver and Stuart Hoegh
This is Part I of a multi-part story exploring the Cass County Educational Opportunity Center (CCEOC).
On March 22 the AHS Intro to Journalism class took a trip to the Cass County Educational Opportunity Center (CCEOC) to find out about what students do, how they are taught, and what they learn.
Instructor Justin Williams explained what the CCEOC is all about. This is his fourth year at the school, and his third year running the building. He made clear that the CCEOC was used for many different circumstances. Some students need to recover credits while some need a different atmosphere. The center also offers substance abuse and parenting classes. Students can apply if they think the CCEOC might fit their educational needs. However, the students must be accepted in to the CCEOC to attend.
Next year the students will have a choice: they can attend a full day of school, or they must have a job in addition to their school work. Williams added, “It’s like MO on steroids.” Williams referred to the choices available at the CCEOC as a “buffet of options.”
Williams said, “My job is to make [students] feel safe and protected here.” He explained that the work load is not easy: ”The CCEOC students use more paper then the high school could ever dream of.” There are around 38 students in the CCEOC. They come from towns such as CAM, Griswold, Atlantic, Elk Horn, Exira, and Adair-Casey.
Next year the CCEOC will be changing buildings to the other side of town for the old Clarinda Company building that is much smaller. The CCEOC building will be used by preschoolers. This is a concern to Williams and all the students attending the CCEOC.
- This student-made poster greets students at the CCEOC entry.
