ANDERSON — With Ebbertt Education Center’s move nearly complete, it will be a whole new ball game at the Wigwam.

The vocational school’s relocation from 38th Street to the Wigwam Complex at 12th and Lincoln streets should be completed early next week. The move should result in more activity in and around the building most recently used as Anderson Community Schools’ administrative offices.

Ivy Tech Community College plans to offer programs at the 38th Street site.

“Obviously the Wigwam is a well-recognized and good association for the Anderson community,” said Tim Holbert, Ebbertt principal and director of vocational services. “But we gain many, many more additional resources that help our program.”

For example, the Wigwam’s auditorium will allow Ebbertt to stage shows and presentations, and invite all parents for meetings, Holbert said. The gym and neighboring track west of John Street will be used for training and competitions by cadets at Ebbertt in the Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps.

About 350 to 400 students take courses at Ebbertt, which serves not just Anderson and Highland high school students, but those from neighboring school districts as well.

Another 150 or so preschoolers at Ebbertt also will use the Wigwam, and some 150 alternative program students will be served at the new site. Adult GED programs that were offered at 38th Street also will move to the Wigwam.

“We’re happy to be able to grow and expand our programs,” Gail Specht, Ebbertt registrar and secretary to Holbert, said Wednesday as movers unloaded trucks outside her office.

“We’re looking forward to using this building, every inch of it, to the best of our ability,” Specht said.

Relocation of Ebbertt to the Wigwam Complex was a recommendation adopted from the Anderson 2010 Challenge that reorganized city schools in the face of a $5 million deficit. The ACS administration office has moved from the Wigwam to the former South Side Middle School. That school was closed, as were Robinson and Southview elementaries.

“The exciting thing for us, with this more central location, it gives us an opportunity to do much more networking,” Holbert said, because city, county and social service centers are nearby. “It’s the core area of the city.

“It’s just a good place to be, basically in the community that we serve to a large degree,” he said.

Vocational offerings at Ebbertt range from welding to health professions programs. In many cases, graduates can be qualified for entry-level positions with the successful completion of courses, some of which also provide credit at Ivy Tech.

While the level of enrollment at Ebbertt is expected to stay about the same next year, Holbert said the program provides a valuable service, particularly in a tough economy.

“We have kids in this community, many of them need to work right out of high school, or in high school,” he said.

“They can walk right out of the classroom and get a job.”

Contact Dave Stafford: 648-4250, dave.stafford@heraldbulletin.com



ACS board meetings relocate

ANDERSON — School board meetings will move to a location at Anderson Community Schools’ new Administration Center beginning with the July meeting on Tuesday.

The board will meet in the cafeteria of the former South Side Middle School, 101 W. 29th St., at 6 p.m.

The board will elect new officers for the coming year at the meeting.