BATESVILLE — Batesville Community School Corp.’s upcoming partnership with Ivy Tech Community College is “really exciting from our standpoint,” superintendent Dr. Jim Roberts told trustees May 21.
“We’ve been using the term K-14, but we’re ready to change it to K-16” because when Ivy Tech expands in the Forethought building, a four-year college program will be created in Batesville.
He added, “We are spending a lot of money to make this happen.”
BCSC President Chris Lowery pointed out, “We’re going to become co-owners” of the Ivy Tech facility. “Look at the benefits to the taxpayers, especially future students and parents. It’s very significant. Once underway, each senior could leave with a year’s credit transferable to any state university for a fraction of what you would pay at the state university.”
According to a brochure about the initiative, “Batesville’s approximately 120 college-bound seniors each year could save about $1 million per graduating class via free (Ivy Tech college and high school) dual credits.”
Teachers are serving on an Ivy Tech curriculum advisory committee, according to Roberts.
City administrators, business leaders and citizens are collaborating on the partnership.
A fundraising effort by the Ivy Tech Foundation to pay for the $6 million college expansion has begun.
Businesses, organizations and individuals may make tax-deductible contributions at www.ivytech. edu (scroll down and select Giving on the left side). Supporters also may contact resource development executive director Paula Heiderman at 800-403-2190, Ext. 4233; or pheiderm@ ivytech.edu.
A new school corporation group called Ripley County Education Leaders has met for the last few months “to develop new and better ways of doing things,” according to the superintendent. Roberts and two trustees at a time attend “lively discussions” that April 30 included teacher evaluations and compensation models, 1:1 computing, transportation, online course requirements, Ripley-Ohio-Dearborn Special Education Cooperative and drug use.
He reported Jac-Cen-Del officials are considering a uniform dress code. “There is a lot of research that supports” students wearing the same clothes.
South Ripley leaders have proposed a student drug testing policy using a reasonable suspicion model. Roberts said he has questions about its legality.
Johnson: Don't Blame Islam or UK Policy
Raw: 80-Year-Old Climbs Mount Everest
Wash. State Man Arrested Following Ricin Scare
Chain-Reaction School Bus Crash Injures About 50
Raw: Scuffles in London After Hacking Death
Texas Students Coach Teachers on Fitness
New Forecasting Tool Eyed for Hurricane Season
Meet MJ, the Bike Riding Tabby Cat
Britain Attack Believed Linked to Radical Islam
Raw: Kevin Durant Tours Moore After $1M Pledge
Man Shot While Questioned in Boston Probe
Weiner Launches Bid to Become NYC Mayor
Okla. Teens Get Video of Deadly Tornado Overhead
School Storm Protection Spotty in Tornado Zones
9-year-old Tornado Victim Loved Family, Singing
Moore Native Toby Keith Tours Tornado Damage
Oklahoma Survivors, Heroes Survey Damage
Raw: Aftermath of Deadly Attack in London
Paperless Scanner, Vision of the Future
