Library offers diploma program
Craig Clark found a way to stand up for Boynton Beach residents after a veto from Gov. Rick Scott.
Boynton Beach’s library was one of about 20 statewide to offer residents a chance to obtain their high school diploma through the Career Online High School. It is an accredited, online, private high school program that allows students 19 and older to earn a diploma. The residents’ schooling is paid for by the state through scholarships. But Scott vetoed the bill that would have paid for the program for this year. Each student costs $1,295.
“It’s heartbreaking. There are a number of reasons why people didn’t graduate from high school and some of the stories are really sad,” said Clark, the director of Boynton Beach’s library.
But Clark believed in the program, and found another way to come up with money through a state grant. Besides Boynton, the Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach, Jacksonville and Safety Harbor are some of the other Florida libraries to offer the program.
Boynton has five spots available.
“It’s just important to keep the momentum going so that’s why I made the decision to continue with the program,” Clark said. “There were a lot more libraries that wanted to continue with it. But particularly the small libraries could not come up with the money.”
Clark hopes a bill to pay for the program will pass this year.
Already, the library has had three graduates. The most recent is Padma Jadunandan, who received her diploma in November, earning a 4.0 grade point average. She said the program offered her “convenience and balance” to complete the program in one year — her personal goal.
Two others also graduated Boynton’s program while one student is expected to finish soon and five others are still working, Clark said.
“Ultimately when you get somebody successfully through that program you’re going to improve their life and they’re going to spend more money here so it’s a boost to our own local economy,” Clark said.