Board to decide about dual enrollment

For some years now, Acadia Parish’s dual enrollment programs have been growing.
Academically, high schools have offered college math and English courses to college-bound seniors.
Meanwhile, the parish has also been offering vocational dual-enrollment courses like its special welding classes at Iota High and Rayne High. Graduates of that class and program leave high school not only with a diploma but as a Level I welder with the option to enroll to become a Level II welder.
All of that, in large part, has been able to occur due to the state providing funds for the program – SCA (Supplemental Course Academy) and CDF (Career Development Fund) funds to be exact. As with many things in the state, though, that funding appears to be ending.
“The last two years, the state kicked in some money, and because of that we expanded the program,” said Steve Duplechin, supervisor of federal programs as well as secondary/vocational education for Acadia Parish. “Particularly, with JUMP START coming along, we knew we’d need to expand some things in the vocational area.
“Things have changed with the budget situation, the state has cut out the SCA money and the CDF money. So, now, as a district, we have to look at what are we going to do about our dual enrollment program.”
In a report to the Personnel, Insurance & Curriculum Committee Mondays, about dual enrollment and JUMP START, Duplechin cautioned the board that it will soon be time to figure out how it will address this problem moving forward.
No one seems to have a clear answer, either. Some districts Duplechin contacted are considering shifting some or all of the cost to parents; others are considering sucking up the cost as a district.
There is some good news on the Acadia Parish front. ABC Welding School, which has helped with the creation of the welding dual-enrollment classes at Iota and Rayne, has agreed to absorb the cost for one of the two classes next year.
“They’re kind of using our two schools as the poster child for the program, because it’s going so well,” said Duplechin.
Realistically, that will account for an estimated $40,000 of a roughly $160,000 bill.
The benefits of the program are lengthy, attributing to its growth, and the school board has made sure that the dual enrollment courses high school students are taking are accepted throughout the state.
No action was taken Monday night during the meeting.
The committee did take action during another report, though, this one by Child Nutrition Program Supervisor Adrianne Vidrine.
Every April 1, the district has an opportunity to revisit its free breakfast and lunch program, review the latest numbers and see what schools qualify. Currently, 19 of the parish’s 26 schools are a part of the program. But, after looking at the numbers this year, it appears a 20th is eligible and will be added next year – Evangeline Elementary.
Since implementing the Community Eligibility Program, the parish is sitting at 47 percent participation in breakfast and 86 percent in lunch, both up from pre-program implementation. The numbers then were 34 percent and 84 percent, respectively.
“Looking in the area (the current numbers) are pretty good,” said Vidrine. “We had a great increase in breakfast.”
On a motion by Milton Simar and a second by Doug Lacombe, the committee recommended the full board add the school to the mix. Next year, roughly 7,700 students will be eligible and be participating in the program.
Meanwhile, the non-related after school snack program has been a rousing success at high schools and may see growth into the middle schools soon.
“We get a good reimbursement (rate) for this program, and the cost is minimal (now),” said Vidrine. “We’ve already got the equipment, we’ve already got some supplies, and the menu is a little different and a little more flexible.”
The program is designed to give students staying after school for school events – sports, clubs, tutoring, etc. – a snack meal. Implemented at the high schools this year, middle schools, which see some of the same level of activity, would also benefit from the program.
There are still a few questions to be answered at some schools – Church Point Middle, for example, doesn’t have a large freezer space – but it seems the district is poised to bring its four middle schools on board.
The program has been especially popular at Iota High School. Of the 48,665 meals handed out as of Monday, over 17,000 were done at Iota High, or roughly 35 percent.