BURBANK : District Offers Job Training Classes

The Burbank Unified School District will offer employment-skills training classes for adults, beginning Jan. 30.

Six new courses are being offered for the spring term: cosmetology, fashion design, law enforcement, computer applications, education aide and cinema/video production.

The classes will be offered at both Burbank and John Burroughs high schools.

Over the last 20 years, the school district has been offering the adult classes under the county Regional Occupation Program.

Program counselor Cindy Mercer said that even though the classes--which are either free or available for a low tuition fee--are “the best deal in town,” they are seldom filled to capacity.

“I know people out there need jobs and new job skills,” Mercer said. “But because of the more transient nature of life in Southern California the last couple years--people losing jobs and being forced to move around--it’s much more difficult to get the word out.”

Course registration is free to those seeking a high school diploma. Registration is $40 per course for all others, though that fee may be waived in part or whole for special circumstances.

Most of the classes in the program are held on weekdays, but late-afternoon and Saturday classes are available for current high school students.

For more information on courses at Burbank High School, call (818) 558-5492. For John Burroughs High, call (818) 558-5490.