Area 30 considers admitting outside students

Picking back up a discussion had a year ago, the prospect of admitting students outside of Area 30 Career Center’s five sending schools was broached Tuesday morning.

In bringing the consideration to the Area 30 Board for input, Executive Director Chad Nunley first noted that home-school students have been enrolled before. However, this pertained to students outside of Greencastle, North Putnam, South Putnam, Cloverdale and Eminence, as well as from online schools.

Nunley prefaced on the prior discussion that no action was taken because it involved a request for a course that was full. He said he has received one request this year for an online student from the Indiana Connections Career Academy to attend on-site, noting that they live in the area.

“I just wanted to bring this topic back up again with you,” Nunley said. He added that he had consulted with the online school’s assistant principal about admitting the student after Area 30’s typical enrollment period, as well as the school covering the student’s tuition.

“There would have to be a deadline to make sure that we have that students that we’re going to have,” South Putnam Supt. Corey Smith said as to a concern about displacing local students. “There’d have to be a definitive timeline on how that would work.”

As to determining when a cutoff point for their enrollment would be, Eminence Supt. Wesley Hammond provided that online students have more flexibility with making changes. More broadly, he suggested that admitting online students could be advantageous.

“From a society standpoint, if the student did well, we’d be putting another person out there to be productive,” Hammond said. “On the other side, we’re helping our competition.”

Nunley indicated that he would calculate a per-student cost, knowing that Area 30’s next budget is to be approved in May or June, with enrollment being looked at in August. As to a memorandum of understanding between Area 30 and the online school, the board asked for a sample to be run by legal counsel.

“I don’t know that I’m largely in favor of it, but I understand what you’re saying,” North Putnam Supt. Nicole Allee said for her part. “There’s a way for us to help ourselves.”

In other business:

• The board heard from instructor Ruben Hinners about Area 30’s computer systems networking program. He noted that students can earn 22 dual credits through Vincennes University within two years, along with earning different certifications.

• Nunley reported that 230 students have enrolled in Area 30 for the 2023-24 school year.

The board also approved hiring Jerod Welton as a part-time student services/career specialist assistant and Dreama Cash as a part-time culinary arts program assistant. Cash is to cover the termination of Journey Logan.

While Asst. Director Sharon Bone and Cloverdale Supt. Greg Linton were absent, Treasurer Cindy Burnham and Greencastle Supt. Jeff Gibboney were also in attendance at the meeting.

The next regular meeting of the Area 30 Board is set for Tuesday, April 11 at 9 a.m. in the Old National Trail boardroom.