Frenchman BOE approves concurrent enrollment invoice

Twenty-two Fleming High School students are taking college classes through Northeastern Junior College this semester through the concurrent enrollment program. Those 22 students are enrolled in 84 credit hours at the local college.

The Frenchman Board of Education in Fleming voted in a Oct. 22 meeting to approve an invoice with NJC for concurrent enrollment for $14,204 for those 84 credits. According to Fleming Superintendent Steve McCracken, the majority of the classes are held on NJC's campus, however several students do take classes in the high school building via web-based technology.

"Mrs. Rylie Salyards is also teaching two college business classes in our building, too." McCracken said.

The concurrent enrollment program provides high school students the opportunity to enroll in postsecondary courses and earn college credit at no tuition cost to them or their families.

According to the Colorado Department of Education, data shows that Colorado students in concurrent enrollment programs are more likely to enroll in college within one year of high school graduation; complete their postsecondary education; and have higher workforce earnings after postsecondary completion.

In May 2009, the Colorado Legislature passed the Concurrent Enrollment Programs Act. In doing so, school districts are required to use per pupil revenue to pay the tuition for the postsecondary courses at a resident community college rate directly to the institution on behalf of the student.

"The district must enter into a cooperative agreement with a qualified institution of higher education that outlines how credits will be awarded, the negotiated tuition rate and the establishment of an academic plan of study for students to support ongoing counseling and career planning," the CDE website states about the program and how districts pay for tuition.

During his report the Board, McCracken gave members an update on the construction of the greenhouse project. The Superintendent said construction is coming along nicely and estimates the process to be 80-90 percent complete. Plans are to offer a greenhouse class next school year.

In other business the BOE:

• Approved Samantha Swan and Ashley Overturf as substitutes;

• Approved overnight travel for state volleyball Nov. 14-16;

• Approved an invoice from Expert Electric for $5,597 for miscellaneous repairs including the installation of a new garbage disposal a new heater/AC unit in the kitchen;

• Approved a bid from Code Red Audits to maintain the computer network;

• Approved a subscription to Turf Tank for the football field painter;

• Approved the following list of coaches: Jessie Cochran, girls' junior high head basketball coach; Ashley Unrein, girls' junior high assistant basketball coach; Phillip Chavez, boys' junior high assistant basketball coach; Whitney Chintala, assistant high school volleyball coach.