With contractual agreements in place with a dozen organizations, The Learning Community is off and running in its quest to brand this community as one that highly regards lifelong learning.

The organization that became the 12th signatory this week is a significant addition to the group's effort and status. Daviess County Public Schools is the first school district to sign a contract with The Learning Community. The school board approved the contract Thursday.

It is entirely fitting that this community's largest educational system align itself with the goals of a campaign that is trying to change the way the community thinks about itself in terms of the value of education and the importance of lifelong learning in people's lives.

As Superintendent Tom Shelton said, "Their concept is what we should all be about -- an endorsement of learning at any level."

The contract with the school system is similar to contracts The Learning Community holds with other organizations. It lists eight areas in which the district will support lifelong learning, including offering employees tuition reimbursement up to $140 per class and on-site training opportunities.

Several district officials, Shelton among them, have already joined The Learning Community committees. The school district will join large and small employers, public agencies and other educational institutions that have signed contracts with The Learning Community.

As more businesses, public agencies and educational institutions link with The Learning Community, we hope that the idea of lifelong learning becomes contagious in Daviess County. When that happens, thousands of people will be better equipped to deal with a rapidly changing society and the career challenges and opportunities that come with those changes.