Dual credit program a boon for students, school district, Mitchell Board of Education hears

Apr. 8—MITCHELL — The Mitchell Board of Education heard positive feedback concerning the Mitchell School District's dual credit program, but took no action regarding establishing new board of administrative policies in regards to the program.

The meeting Monday night was held at the Mitchell Career & Technical Education Academy.

"I think everybody is in agreement that it's a great deal, but I think it's important that we have a policy to say what we're going to do," Terry Aslesen, a member of the board of education, said at the meeting.

Aslesen was referring to questions he had regarding the dual credit program, which gives qualified high school students an opportunity to enroll in public universities in South Dakota to earn credits for both their high school diploma and college degree. Through the program, students only pay one third of the total cost per credit hour if they meet the System General Education requirements at all six regent institutions, according to the South Dakota Board of Regents.

The program is relatively widely used by students in the district, enrolling in classes that allow them to earn college credit at one of six South Dakota schools overseen by the South Dakota Board of Regents. Those six schools are Black Hills State University, Dakota State University, Northern State University, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, South Dakota State University and the University of South Dakota.

Following commentary from several district administrators from both a professional and parental standpoint, Aslesen wondered if official board policies are needed to be put in place to ensure the system is being used to its best effect and in the best interest of the students. Issues about the program raised at the meeting included concerns that students were taking speech courses or physical education courses via online dual credit offerings.

Joe Childs, superintendent for the Mitchell School District, said nearly all Mitchell High School students took traditional speech at some point, and any instance of a student taking an online physical education course for dual credit occurred long ago and is not standard practice.

Still, Aslesen said he thought policies to guide the program at the district level could be useful.

"Those are the kinds of things I think the board needs to look at and say one of our major responsibilities is curriculum, and this is huge amount of curriculum, we're talking about more than a year's worth of the four years the kids take with us is curriculum, and how much control do we have over it or know about it?" Aslesen said. "I certainly think we need to look at what we're giving credit for to make sure we're happy with everything we're doing."

Commentary from administrators in attendance spoke generally in favor of the advantages the program lends to students and the district itself. The cost of taking dual credit courses is a fraction of what credit hours cost when taken outside the program, which encourages students to enroll who may not otherwise have the financial means to do so.

That accessibility, along with exposing students to college-level classes while still in high school, can lead to students who may not have planned on moving on to a college or technical school after high school to consider doing so. It also makes the Mitchell School District an appealing option for enrollment.

John Tyler, principal at Mitchell Middle School, said his children had taken advantage of the program since their move to Mitchell from Wagner.

"My oldest daughter graduated from Wagner while we were still down there, and many of the smaller school districts do put restrictions on dual credits, Wagner being one of them. When we moved up here, our twins were entering their sophomore year and started taking dual credit courses. They both graduated last spring with 42 college credits under the belt," Tyler said. "I know their big sister was extremely jealous of just the opportunity. I see if we continue this program allowing dual credits as we do now I can see that being a big draw for our district to maybe pull some students. Every parent wants opportunity for their child, and I think this is a great opportunity for our students."

Aslesen iterated that despite his concerns about potential policy changes, he supported the program and acknowledged the good it did across the board.

Deb Olson, president of the Mitchell Board of Education, was hesitant to rush into developing board policies or administrative rules regarding the program beyond what was already established.

The board also made the following personnel moves at the meeting:

* The new certified hires of Chaydon Metzger, volunteer softball coach, $1; Maggie Kattner, 7th/8th grade math teacher at Mitchell Middle School, $53,100; Amanda Miiller, special education teacher at Mitchell High School; Janesa Vanden Hoek, ELA teacher at Mitchell High School/Second Chance, $50,100; Shelby Fray, language arts teacher at Mitchell High School, $50,100; Jacey Puetz, 4th grade teacher at Gertie Belle Rogers Elementary, $50,100; Brooklyn Boetel, 1st grade teacher at Gertie Belle Rogers Elementary, $50,100; Amy Uher, 3rd grade teacher Gertie Belle Rogers Elementary, $50,100; Abigail Vermuelen, 2nd grade teacher at L.B. Williams Elementary, $50,100; Myah Roggenbuck, 5th grade teacher at L.B. Williams Elementary, $50,100; Mary Hanson, 5th grade teacher at L.B. Williams Elementary, $50,100 and Parker Grotjohn, 4th grade at L.B. Williams Elementary, $50,100. All hires are effective for the 2024-25 school year.

* The new classified hire of Brett Hofer, maintenance worker, $21 per hour, 8 hours daily, effective April 1, 2024.

* The transfers of Ashley Brua, 1st grade teacher at Gertie Belle Rogers Elementary to K-1st looping teacher at Gertie Belle Rogers Elementary and Traci Wilson, 3rd grade teacher Gertie Belle Rogers Elementary to 6th grade ELA/social studies at Mitchell Middle School. Both transfers are effective for the 2024-25 school year.

* The resignations of Katelyn Clement, K-1st looping teacher at Gertie Belle Rogers Elementary, effective the end of the 2023-24 school year; Zack Clement, 6th grade social studies/ELA teacher, effective end of the the 2023-24 school year and Kent VanOverschelde, head softball coach, effective end of the 2023-24 school year pending suitable replacement; Stephanie Baldwin, paraeducator at Mitchell Middle School, effective April 12, 2024 and Teresa Zirpel, 4th grade teacher at Gertie Belle Rogers Elementary, effective end of the 2023-24 school year.

* The Mitchell Technical College retirement of Dixie Herll, human services technician instructor, effective end of the 2023-24 academic year.

* The Mitchell Technical College resignations of Keah Munsen, Farm Ranch Management instructor, effective end of the 2023-24 school year; Kelile Nielsen, student success coach/counselor, effective June 30, 2024 and Kristina Tebay, Registered Nursing instructor, effective end of the 2023-24 academic year.

Also at the meeting, the board is expected to:

* Approved of the Mitchell Middle School Student Handbook.

* Approved for the renewal and participation agreement with the Associated School Boards of South Dakota for Workman's Compensation Pool Group for the 2024-25 school year.

* Approved of the renewal and participation agreement with the Associated School Boards of South Dakota Protective Trust for the South Dakota School District Benefits Fund for the 2024-25 school year.

* Entered into executive session for the purpose of preparing for contract negotiations or negotiating with employees or employee representatives.

* Heard the boat rigged by Mitchell Technical College would be sold privately after receiving no bids. The boat carried a minimum bid of $44,500 when offered up for bids.

* Heard board member reports.

* Heard the superintendent report.

* Heard public commentary.

The next meeting of the board of education is scheduled for April 22.