Sierra County Schools for Adults Highlights Growth and Impact at Joint Board Meeting
A presentation on Sierra County Schools for Adults (SCSA) was delivered at the joint meeting of the Sierra Plumas Joint Unified School District (SPJUSD) and the Sierra County Office of Education (SCOE) on December 9. Director and Principal Wendy Jackson led the presentation, introducing her team and outlining the program’s mission, growth, and future goals.
Jackson explained that SCSA’s mission aligns closely with that of the school district: to support and encourage every adult participant in a safe and equitable learning environment while equipping them with the skills and tools needed to succeed in today’s job market. The program supports adults in completing high school diplomas, gaining short- and long-term skills and certifications, and connecting with local and regional businesses to expand employment opportunities.
SCSA began with initial funding from the Feather River Adult Education Consortium (FRAEC) in 2018 and officially opened in January 2019 with just 21 students and two programs. Since then, the school has expanded significantly. Today, SCSA operates out of its own two-building location, serves approximately 200 students, and offers five major programs: Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Hospitality, Digital Literacy, Go Teach, and High School Diploma and GED preparation.
Primary funding for SCSA comes from the California Adult Education Program, with secondary funding through the ELL Healthcare Pathways program, which supports English Language Learners in gaining skills for high-demand healthcare careers. Additional funding is provided through numerous partnership grants, which include financial support as well as tangible resources such as instructors, equipment, plants, and seeds.
SCSA maintains strong partnerships with SPJUSD, the State of California Department on Aging, Sierra County Digital Literacy, neighboring counties collaborating on food education and distribution, north and far-north counties for ELL healthcare funding, and Eastern Plumas Health Care (EPHC).
13 students enrolled in the High School Diploma and GED program. Of those, 11 have completed the program, with two students currently still working toward completion.
The Digital Literacy program, which is fully grant funded, has served more than 107 seniors over the past three years. Courses focus on essential computer skills, internet use, and online safety.
The EMS program is currently SCSA’s largest and most successful offering courses include Emergency Medical Responder (EMR), Emergency Medical Technician (Basic), and Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT). A total of 92 students have participated across Downieville and Loyalton, with a 100 percent program completion rate. Additionally, 91 percent of graduates have passed the National Registry for Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) exam and are now working in the field. Jackson noted that the program now attracts students from across the state, combining online interactive coursework with in-person skills days and final examinations. All EPHC staff also complete their required continuing education trainings through SCSA.
The Hospitality program offers guest services boot camps in partnership with resort owners and provides students with stackable credentials. Meanwhile, the Go Teach program is a three-year mentoring and coaching initiative supporting professionals in the Early Childhood Education (ECE) career pathway. Recognized at both the state and federal levels, the program has achieved a 100 percent success rate in participants earning at least 12 ECE college units, with 90 percent continuing into two- or four-year degree programs.
Jackson concluded by stating, “Our program is really doing amazing things,” emphasizing that SCSA’s success reflects positively on the school district as a whole. She also outlined future goals, including expanding partnerships with SPJUSD to offer additional Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, increasing grant funding, adding a greenhouse, strengthening regional hospitality partnerships, and launching a paramedic program.
SCSA’s Executive Chef Brett Kee was then introduced to discuss the upcoming culinary program. Kee, who brings extensive experience and holds CTE credentials, shared his passion for bridging the gap between high school and workforce readiness through hands-on culinary education. The program is designed to prepare students for entry-level food service jobs while building essential food safety skills.
The 15-week culinary program will include five modules, with weekly classes offered in both morning and evening sessions. It will be open to adults and students ages 16 and older. Participants will gain industry experience and earn a Food Handler’s Card as well as ServSafe Manager Certification. Kee is a registered ServSafe instructor.
The program’s goals include delivering foundational culinary and food safety training, strengthening the local workforce, supporting equity through flexible scheduling, and offering stackable credentials. Kee emphasized his hands-on teaching approach, incorporating demonstrations, team projects, and guest chefs. He also expressed interest in developing SkillsUSA CTE partnerships and hopes to see Loyalton High School students compete in future culinary competitions.
Pending final approval, registration is expected to open soon, with the first module scheduled to begin in January.
PLUMAS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT sent out a letter on bus transportation to staff and families of PUSD on December 22, shown below.
At this time, PUSD finds itself in a critical situation. For several months, the District has been forced to cancel bus routes due to an ongoing shortage of bus drivers. Unfortunately, this situation has continued to worsen. We are currently without a transportation supervisor or mechanics and continue to experience a significant bus driver shortage. As a result, the District will be unable to consistently meet required safety and compliance obligations under state and federal transportation laws.
We understand how concerning and disruptive this is for our students, families, and staff. Please know that we are working closely with our transportation team and district leadership to determine our next steps and explore all available options.
Our immediate priority is to maintain transportation services for our legally required programs. We hope to preserve at least one bus route per community, if staffing allows. We are doing everything possible to stabilize transportation services and will continue to communicate updates as plans develop.
Thank you for your patience, understanding, and continued support as we navigate this difficult situation together.
Sincerely,
Plumas Unified School District
On Tuesday, December 29th, the District provided a follow-up stating, “Based on our current staffing capacity, PUSD will reduce general education transportation to one route per community, starting 1/5/26.” Updated bus routes are on Parent Square and the District’s website. PUSD will continue to explore solutions.
A presentation on Sierra County Schools for Adults (SCSA) was delivered at the joint meeting of the Sierra Plumas Joint Unified School District (SPJUSD) and the Sierra County Office of Education (SCOE) on December 9. Director and Principal Wendy Jackson led the presentation, introducing her team and outlining the program’s mission, growth, and future goals.
Jackson explained that SCSA’s mission aligns closely with that of the school district: to support and encourage every adult participant in a safe and equitable learning environment while equipping them with the skills and tools needed to succeed in today’s job market. The program supports adults in completing high school diplomas, gaining short- and long-term skills and certifications, and connecting with local and regional businesses to expand employment opportunities.
SCSA began with initial funding from the Feather River Adult Education Consortium (FRAEC) in 2018 and officially opened in January 2019 with just 21 students and two programs. Since then, the school has expanded significantly. Today, SCSA operates out of its own two-building location, serves approximately 200 students, and offers five major programs: Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Hospitality, Digital Literacy, Go Teach, and High School Diploma and GED preparation.
Primary funding for SCSA comes from the California Adult Education Program, with secondary funding through the ELL Healthcare Pathways program, which supports English Language Learners in gaining skills for high-demand healthcare careers. Additional funding is provided through numerous partnership grants, which include financial support as well as tangible resources such as instructors, equipment, plants, and seeds.
SCSA maintains strong partnerships with SPJUSD, the State of California Department on Aging, Sierra County Digital Literacy, neighboring counties collaborating on food education and distribution, north and far-north counties for ELL healthcare funding, and Eastern Plumas Health Care (EPHC).
13 students enrolled in the High School Diploma and GED program. Of those, 11 have completed the program, with two students currently still working toward completion.
The Digital Literacy program, which is fully grant funded, has served more than 107 seniors over the past three years. Courses focus on essential computer skills, internet use, and online safety.
The EMS program is currently SCSA’s largest and most successful offering courses include Emergency Medical Responder (EMR), Emergency Medical Technician (Basic), and Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT). A total of 92 students have participated across Downieville and Loyalton, with a 100 percent program completion rate. Additionally, 91 percent of graduates have passed the National Registry for Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) exam and are now working in the field. Jackson noted that the program now attracts students from across the state, combining online interactive coursework with in-person skills days and final examinations. All EPHC staff also complete their required continuing education trainings through SCSA.
The Hospitality program offers guest services boot camps in partnership with resort owners and provides students with stackable credentials. Meanwhile, the Go Teach program is a three-year mentoring and coaching initiative supporting professionals in the Early Childhood Education (ECE) career pathway. Recognized at both the state and federal levels, the program has achieved a 100 percent success rate in participants earning at least 12 ECE college units, with 90 percent continuing into two- or four-year degree programs.
Jackson concluded by stating, “Our program is really doing amazing things,” emphasizing that SCSA’s success reflects positively on the school district as a whole. She also outlined future goals, including expanding partnerships with SPJUSD to offer additional Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, increasing grant funding, adding a greenhouse, strengthening regional hospitality partnerships, and launching a paramedic program.
SCSA’s Executive Chef Brett Kee was then introduced to discuss the upcoming culinary program. Kee, who brings extensive experience and holds CTE credentials, shared his passion for bridging the gap between high school and workforce readiness through hands-on culinary education. The program is designed to prepare students for entry-level food service jobs while building essential food safety skills.
The 15-week culinary program will include five modules, with weekly classes offered in both morning and evening sessions. It will be open to adults and students ages 16 and older. Participants will gain industry experience and earn a Food Handler’s Card as well as ServSafe Manager Certification. Kee is a registered ServSafe instructor.
The program’s goals include delivering foundational culinary and food safety training, strengthening the local workforce, supporting equity through flexible scheduling, and offering stackable credentials. Kee emphasized his hands-on teaching approach, incorporating demonstrations, team projects, and guest chefs. He also expressed interest in developing SkillsUSA CTE partnerships and hopes to see Loyalton High School students compete in future culinary competitions.
Pending final approval, registration is expected to open soon, with the first module scheduled to begin in January.
PLUMAS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT sent out a letter on bus transportation to staff and families of PUSD on December 22, shown below.
At this time, PUSD finds itself in a critical situation. For several months, the District has been forced to cancel bus routes due to an ongoing shortage of bus drivers. Unfortunately, this situation has continued to worsen. We are currently without a transportation supervisor or mechanics and continue to experience a significant bus driver shortage. As a result, the District will be unable to consistently meet required safety and compliance obligations under state and federal transportation laws.
We understand how concerning and disruptive this is for our students, families, and staff. Please know that we are working closely with our transportation team and district leadership to determine our next steps and explore all available options.
Our immediate priority is to maintain transportation services for our legally required programs. We hope to preserve at least one bus route per community, if staffing allows. We are doing everything possible to stabilize transportation services and will continue to communicate updates as plans develop.
Thank you for your patience, understanding, and continued support as we navigate this difficult situation together.
Sincerely,
Plumas Unified School District
On Tuesday, December 29th, the District provided a follow-up stating, “Based on our current staffing capacity, PUSD will reduce general education transportation to one route per community, starting 1/5/26.” Updated bus routes are on Parent Square and the District’s website. PUSD will continue to explore solutions.
