FARMINGTON – Over the past three years 428 people either completed certificate courses to obtain a job or upgrade skill sets for a job they have through the Franklin County Adult Education Program. Ninety-five percent of them are employed, Director Ray Therrien told the RSU 9 school board Tuesday night.

“Of the 428 people, we trained 151 (certified nursing assistants) throughout Franklin County,” he said.

A CNA makes $8.82 an hour and if the person works 2,080 hours a year, it equals $18,345.60, he said.

“Each of these people is a contributing taxpayer,” Therrien said.

Among the other statistics, according to his information, are 27 people were trained as CNA-medication technicians, 16 were trained as dental assistants, six in medical transcription, 10 in medical billing and coding, 12 in medical terminology and eight as pharmacy technicians.

According to U.S. Department of Agriculture 2012 data, Therrien said Franklin County ranks fourth in poverty in Maine. The poverty rate is nearly 18.8 percent, he said.

Another 474 people were served through the Adult Basic Education Program in 2012-13, he said. Forty-eight of them completed their GED and another 19 received their Adult Education high school diplomas this year, he said.

Of that number there were 196 from Farmington, seven from Kingfield, three from Salem Township, 14 from Temple, 19 from Chesterville, 81 from Wilton, six from Carthage, 13 from Rangeley, and 14 each from Strong and Industry. Other towns that had people participate include Jay, Avon and Eustis.

Therrien gave the board an overview of his proposed $372,111 budget for 2014-15 for adult education program and adult and continuing education. It reflects a decrease of $98,920 from the current budget. The decrease is because of a one-time moving cost put in the current budget to have the adult education center moved from rented property to the Mt. Blue Campus where the high school is located.

The adult education program serves residents countywide, he said.

He said the program also generated $115,493 in revenue through credit recovery services for people age 16 to 20. That money went into the general fund, he said.

The program also generated about $134,500 in soft money or grant money, he said.

They also have a lot of irons in the fire when it comes to supplying businesses the services they need including training and upgrading of skills for their employees, he said.

“For a very small budget you do an incredible job, RSU 9 board Chairman Mark Prentiss said.

Prentiss thanked him for what he does to make the program successful.

dperry@sunjournal.com