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The Lifelong Learning College, disbanded late last year, will rise again under a new name.
District Manager Janet Tutt speaks to the VHA South on Monday evening

District Manager Janet Tutt speaks to the VHA South on Monday evening.

District Manager Janet Tutt made the announcement Monday evening at a VHA South Area meeting at the Rohan Recreation Center.

The Enrichment Academy will fall under the Recreation Department.

Village Center Community Development District supervisors are scheduled to discuss the plan at 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 12 at the District Office at Lake Sumter Landing.

The Enrichment Academy will focus on community education and enrichment. It will provide and operate fee-based extra-curriculum courses, and offer a variety of courses that will enhance and expand learning opportunities for participants.

The budget has been developed. Startup funds are coming out of the VCCDD General Fund, with the understanding that when the Enrichment Academy is up and running, those funds will be reimbursed back to the general fund.

An August expo will be held for course sign up, with core courses beginning in October. Core courses are defined by areas such as dancing, foreign languages, art, dance, technology, history and science. Recreation Centers throughout The Villages will be used for classes. The courses will not disrupt any activities at the Recreation Centers. Courses are geared to residents and anyone 30 years or older may register.

The Enrichment Academy welcomes those with a passion for teaching to complete and return an application for curriculum consideration. For Phase I, all instructors will need to meet the criteria of being a Villages resident. Applications will be accepted starting Spring 2017. All instructors will be paid on a per person rate, based on a percentage of the course fee.

This new program will provide and operate fee based extra-curriculum courses, and offer a variety of courses that will enhance and expand learning opportunities for students. Instructors will be paid by contract and will be based on a 60/40 split, with the District receiving 60 percent of the registration fee. It will complement the existing resident led lifestyle volunteer and recreation services offered in the recreation centers, and provide residents even more choices to fulfill their passions in learning.

The budget is set at $500,494 with revenue coming from the three counties which make up The Villages. This includes a payroll of $133,020; contractual services of $281,734; management fees of $35,953; professional fees of $49,670 and Health, Life and Disability of $45,167.

You can read more about The Enrichment Academy at this link: The Enrichment Academy

In regard to ADA compliance, Tutt said that liability falls back to the VCCDD. Once the website is launched, it will identify full compliance with ADA and all other considerations pertaining to accommodating participants.
The lettering has been removed from the former home of the Villages Lifelong Learning College.

The lettering has been removed from the former home of the Villages Lifelong Learning College.

The Lifelong Learning College was challenged by a group of Villagers with hearing impairment because interpreters were not being provided at courses offered. After attempts to work with the Lifelong Learning College and a dispute about providing accommodation that would allow deaf individuals to equally participate in the courses offered, the group believed there was no choice but to file a lawsuit, Louis Schwarz, one of the lawsuit participants, said. This lawsuit led to the closure of the Lifelong Learning College, which more than 18,000 Villages residents took part in.