Posted: 6:07 p.m. Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Academy students can take classes at Cincinnati State

By Rick McCrabb

Staff Writer

MIDDLETOWN — 

In a move called a “win-win” for the Middletown community, its school district and Cincinnati State, about 150 students will be moved out of the Manchester building to the former Butler County building downtown.

The district signed a five-year memorandum of understanding with Cincinnati State to house Middie Academy students in a building next door to Cincinnati State on Central Avenue, starting the 2015-16 school year.

Cincinnati State will be responsible for maintenance and utilities for the building, while the Middletown district will pay $3,600 a month rent for three years, then $1,500 a month during years four and five of the contract. The rent can be offset by $50 for each course enrollment by Middie Academy and Middletown High School College Credit Plus students, the contract said.

The deal was praised Monday night by school officials and staff, but Board President Marcia Andrew questioned the possible added cost of the program, which had 150 students enrolled, if that number increases during the 2015-16 school year. So wondered what would happen if say, 50 percent of the MHS students, signed up for the program.

Treasurer Randy Bertram said after talking to Lee Day, one of the high school counselors, he estimated the cost of the program may jump from $65,000 to $100,000 to $125,000 this school year for college tuition and textbooks.

The district first considered moving Middie Academy students out of the Manchester building after it decided to renovate the high school, said Superintendent Sam Ison. Now, he said, MHS students will be moved to the Manchester building periodically during the remodeling that is expected to begin sometime in 2016.

MHS students will be able to take on-line classes at MHS and Middie Academy students can take on-line classes in the former Butler County building. MHS Principal Carmela Cotter said since most of the academy students take public transportation to school, the Middletown Transit System can drop them off at the bus terminal, located across the street.

Ison called this “a joint relationship” between the district and Cincinnati State and Cotter said it’s the first one in the area. Ison said the program may also draw students —those attending charter schools — back to the district. Middletown’s enrollment has dropped more than 200, from 6,737 in 2009-10 to 6,510 last year.

Cotter said the on-line classes at the high school also will allow students there to receive college credit and still afford them an opportunity to take electives like band and orchestra.

She said most Middie Academy students have a “layered” approach to education, starting with a certificate, two-year program, and four-year program.

Anna Bowman, an assistant MHS principal and director of Middie Academy, said most of the students are first generation college students. She believes the deal with Cincinnati State will “help guide them through their path” toward college.

The Rev. Greg Tyus, school board vice president, liked the idea because the district has the responsibility to provide educational opportunity for all students, not just those attending Ivy League schools, he said.

17% of that amount goes to the school district.  The remaining 83% is divided between the district and the higher education institutions based on where the student takes classes.  

Through ORC 3365, the state sets the price-tag for cost - between $40 - $160 a credit hour.  There are default amounts based on where and how the course is delivered.  If a student takes a college class on the campus or online with the college instructor, the default amount is $160; if the class is in the high school taught by the college instructor, the default is $80; if the class is in the high school taught by a high school teacher credentialed by the college, the default is $40.  

Some area higher education institutions have made agreements with local school districts to accept something other than the default amount established per delivery mode.  For example, a higher education institution might agree to accept $40 per credit hour regardless of delivery mode.  

Also, schools cannot charge students (nor districts) any additional fees or costs.  So, in the past, a higher education institution could collect an application fee from a PSEO student applying to participate.  Now they cannot.   That's important, because students can apply to as many colleges and universities as they want - for free - and those applications need to be processed.  Students need to complete any required placement testing.   Colleges and universities are absorbing these costs.   

The state default amounts are generally much less than what a college or university would receive per credit hour for a fully matriculated student.   

The districts and non public schools with students participating are responsible for textbook costs.  I have a feeling the state will need to examine whether it provides additional funding to districts to help offset these costs.  

Higher education institutions are receiving compensation from the state for educating a district's students.   I would not characterize it as the districts "paying" the colleges.   As I wrote at the beginning, it's a pie that is being divided by the state based on what institutions are educating a student.  

Overall, I think it's a tremendous opportunity for many students and a fantastic way to build partnerships between institutions of higher education and districts.   But I also think it's an incredibly complex program with ramifications that we are only beginning to discuss.