Students can earn college credit next year

MARIA STEIN - Marion Local High School students enrolled in computer classes will earn college credit next year thanks to a dual credit-post secondary option.

Superintendent Mike Pohlman told board of education members Monday night the new program is possible through an agreement between James A. Rhodes State College and the school district. The board unanimously approved the required memorandum of understanding.

"It's a win-win situation for everybody," Pohlman said this morning. "Students would earn four hours of college credit without leaving the high school, and the district would be reimbursed for tuition costs the following year."

Rhodes College would make the reimbursements in mid-November of the following year.

Pohlman added school officials also are looking at adding an English class for dual credit next school year. The dual credit program requires a Marion Local teacher to hold a master's degree in the specific content area and follow a curriculum approved by the college.

Marion Local also offers students post-secondary options that entail taking classes at area colleges.

In other business, the board:

• Hired Jenny Dippold as high school guidance counselor effective Dec. 12. She replaces June Wuebker, who is retiring after 35 years of service - 11 of those at Marion Local. The other personnel issue involved the resignation of groundskeeper Jay Homan.

• Recognized English teacher Paula Hemmelgarn for earning the "master teacher" distinction. Eligible educators must score exemplary in at least four of the five criteria as set by the Ohio Department of Education. They include consistent leadership, focused collaboration, distinguished teaching with a focus on students and environment, distinguished teaching with a focus on content, instruction and assessment and continued growth.

• Learned parent-teacher conferences are scheduled 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 15 and 3:30 to 6:30 Nov. 17. Additional conference times for grades K-4 will be Nov. 18, with no classes for students in those grades that day.

• Heard a Race to the Top update. Committee members Patty Lefeld, Christine Schlater, Margaret Kuck, Julia Sommer and Karen Post attended the first state conference Nov. 1 in Columbus.

• Learned insurance rates will increase an average of 6.24 percent following action taken recently by trustees of the Mercer/Auglaize Benefit Trust. Pohlman noted the consortium has done a good job holding down costs in recent years.

• Reminded area residents of the senior citizen luncheon at 1 p.m. Dec. 9 at the high school gym.

• Changed the date of the next meeting to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7 in the board room at the middle school.