On the move

Kathrine Alderman
ECB Publishing, Inc.

The Jefferson County Homeschool Association, Inc. (JCHAI) has had a lot going on recently, when it comes to where they're going to be stationed. The activity began when they were told by the school board to leave the old high school administration building.

They then called on the community to help them in finding a creative alternative for this important community work. It didn't take long for the County Commission's office to offer them a new location, which would be the old Supervisor of Elections office. They're excited to have a more permanent space in the works and are patiently awaiting the cleaning and repairs needed at the new location prior to move in.

They are unsure of when they will be able to move in, though they are certain their original goal of April 1 will not be met. So, they began moving everything out of the space at the old school administration building into a storage unit on Saturday, Feb. 27.

Members of the Association, mostly teens, came out to help with the move and were able to get everything taken care of. They worked hard to clean out the old building and get their furniture and supplies moved into a storage shed which included things such as a piano, couches, a few bookshelves and all the materials from their resource library. In the meantime, JCHAI is using multiple locations to make sure the school year continues without interruption. They host classes at various members houses and hold their music classes at The Monticello Opera House.

When they first learned that they were losing their original space, they were unsure if band would be able to continue due to the space needed for such a class. Mike Herrin at the Opera House graciously offered the space which has allowed them to continue their popular music education program. Through member cooperation, the Association has been able to keep their classes active, though they have unfortunately paused their resource library. They currently lack the space to accommodate the storage and accessibility needed for it to remain open. Tammy Brookins, President of JCHAI, says they've had several requests for material that they have had to turn down while they are waiting for the new space to be available for move in.

There is much to look forward to for these local homeschoolers and their families. Brookins and the Association eagerly await their move in date and are appreciative of everyone in the community who have helped them get this far. The best is truly yet to come.