THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 26, 1996 TAG: 9605240215
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SUSIE STOUGHTON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FRANKLIN LENGTH: 80 lines
ONCE A WEEK, Linda Beatty is late from lunch, but she knows her boss at Union Camp Corp. doesn't mind.
Beatty, office manager of the company's particleboard plant, is among a group of employees who have an extra 30 minutes of paid leave each week because they tutor in various area schools.
Instead of being reprimanded for tardiness, the tutors are applauded for their volunteer work. Each week they help students at the three Franklin schools - J.P. King Jr. Elementary, S.P. Morton Middle and Franklin High - and Hunterdale Elementary in Southampton County.
``We couldn't do it if the company didn't allow us to do it,'' Beatty said.
With the extra time, she has about 50 minutes to work with her student. Then she grabs a quick sandwich and returns to work. The tutors work in nearby schools.
``We have to consider travel time,'' said Ann Stephens, chair of the company's Team for Educational Excellence. ``Our folks get an extra 30 minutes lunch break or release time. If you spend the whole hour and a half traveling, there isn't enough time to work with the child.''
In previous years, Beatty's supervisor - Jack O'Leary, general manager of the particleboard plant - had tutored at nearby Carrsville Elementary School in Isle of Wight County. But that school has been closed this year during construction of a new facility.
Recently, Union Camp honored the volunteer tutors at a picnic as part of this month's special emphasis on education.
The company has had 19 volunteers this year - the smallest number since the tutoring started in 1989, Beatty said.
``We started with 35 and got as high as 60,'' she said.
Part of the decline this year is attributed to the loss of Carrsville Elementary School.
The company's Team for Educational Excellence oversees the tutoring and other programs to promote educational opportunities for employees and the community.
``The company has really pushed our group to broaden our horizons and get into other things besides tutoring,'' said Beatty, who has been involved since the program started seven years ago.
Other initiatives include:
Lifelong Learning Program, which teaches employees basic skills to complete a GED or to help with changing job requirements or demands of a new position.
``Some people were hired in lumber when all they had to do was turn lumber,'' Beatty said. ``Now, everything is on the computer.''
A pre-college grant program.
About $40,000 a year is given to local schools for various projects in kindergarten through 12th grade.
An industrial technology program, a pilot project with Franklin and Paul D. Camp Community College.
In September, ninth graders will be offered the career opportunity program.
``For some, this can be an alternative to college or it may lead to four-year college,'' Stephens said. ``It prepares them for work in high-technology industry.''
The students are given summer jobs at Union Camp. After graduation they are offered permanent employment if they pass an entry test and are drug-free.
``We see it as a viable alternative for those students who don't choose to go to college,'' Stephens said. ``The program provides the individual the skills they would need in technical jobs.''
A business-education partnership with Franklin City Schools and Paul D. Camp Community College.
The program is being developed to work toward having the best schools, not only in the area, but overall, Beatty said.
``I'm a Tree'' and other programs in individual schools to promote awareness of careers such as forestry.
Choices, a career exploration program for seventh-graders.
A shadowing program this year in conjunction with Lakeland High School in Suffolk. A student followed selected electricians on their jobs for a day.
The company's employees are willing to invest their time and efforts into the various educational programs, Stephens said, because of their commitment to the community.
``The secret is so many of us at Union Camp live here,'' she said. ``This is home.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Ann Stephens is chairperson of Union Camp's Team for Educational
Excellence. by CNB