Adult school to host open house

Burbank Adult School will host an open house Wednesday to introduce new and returning students to its course offerings, Principal Joseph Stark said.

Information sessions will take place from 10:30 a.m. to noon and 6 to 7:30 p.m. Students who register on the spot will be given a $10 registration discount. Senior citizens are eligible for a $15 discount.

Classes available during the spring term include English as a second language, photography, information technology and nursing. Fees range from $29 for one-day workshops to $500 for nine-week technical trainings.

“Our mission is to meet the diverse needs of the community by empowering life-long learning to [help students] reach their professional, personal and family goals,” Stark said.

Last year, the school served 6,000 students. Its biggest program, English as a second language, attracts as many as 2,000 students each year, said instructor Marianne Noss. Students need to be proficient enough in English to fill out applications and to communicate with employers and customers, she added.

“Many people are in construction; they are drivers for Porto’s; some people clean houses, and they need to communicate with the people they work for,” Noss said.”English as a second language is an essential.”