News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The Jackson County School System will expand dual enrollment programming through a partnership with Vol State.
Director of Schools Jason Hardy told the schools board Thursday night that he hopes the program would allow students to receive an associates degree before even graduating high school. He said the system already has a great relationship with Vol State through the variety of services they offer to school districts in rural counties.
“This would be more of, really, a path for our kids that when they get to their junior year, they’re not going to have to worry about taking their high school credits,” Hardy said. “Everything would be a dual enrollment. So they’re getting their high school credits and their college credits.”
Hardy said the system already offers dual enrollment but this expansion could be a game-changer. He said he looks forward to watching Putnam County Schools go through the program this year to get a better feel for the challenges and benefits.
“That leads to jobs or going to get their bachelors or just more opportunities,” Hardy said. “I think it’s going to be a good thing, and we’ll have a lot of eyes on how it works.”
He said one important detail to work out is how to balance satellite options versus on-campus options. He said if more travel to Vol State for classes is required, that could create transportation difficulties.
“The logistics of four different school systems who all have different bell scheduled and have different things,” Hardy said. “So, just little things that we can iron out and work out between the directors and Vol State administration, but looking forward to trying to get it to where our kids can have an opportunity.”
He said while there are still more kinks to be worked out, he is excited about the future of the program and hopes to institute the change starting next school year.
In other business, the board approved bus contracts for the 2023-2024 fiscal year. Board Chair Mark Brown said the contract is the same as it has been over the past several years for the four busses.
