By Larry Persily / Wrangell Sentinel

Wrangell homeschooled students are adding to their math and reading skills with classes in financial management and online security.

“They want to discuss how to safely navigate online spending,” Marisa Fulgham, Wrangell branch manager for Tongass Federal Credit Union, said of the class set for Monday, Oct. 27, at the Irene Ingle Public Library.

It’s the credit union’s second free class offered this fall for homeschooled teenagers, she said. The first one, last month, was a basic financial overview. It drew nine students.

The Oct. 27 session will cover online banking and financial management, digital banking and security, how to spot fraud and how to protect against it.

Credit union staffer Hannah Bean will lead the session, which is maxed out on enrollment for the small classroom.

The class also will try to get youngsters excited about saving, Fulgham said.

Tongass Federal offers similar financial skills classes in all of its communities, she said. The credit union was established in 1963 by teachers in Ketchikan. In addition to Ketchikan and Wrangell, it has branches in Klawock, Sitka, Haines, Petersburg, Metlakatla and Juneau.

“It’s difficult for anybody to get a financial education,” yet the skills, particularly online security, are increasingly important as people spend more time and money online, Fulgham said.

This month is the first time Tongass Federal has offered the classes for homeschooled students in Wrangell. The staff used to go into classrooms at the high school to lead sessions, but that was before the coronavirus pandemic shut down such programs.

Credit union staff would explain to students how to buy a house, how to build credit, how to manage their finances. “They were all like, ‘How do you do this?” Fulgham said.

They also offered courses for adults several years ago through The Salvation Army.

The credit union is willing to set up sessions for any group in town that is interested; call 907-874-2500 for more information.



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