Early college planned at University of Mount Olive
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on June 10, 2015 1:46 PM
Wayne County Public Schools is pursuing adding another early college high school at the southern end of the county, possibly by the fall of 2016, on the University of Mount Olive campus.
The school board's curriculum and instruction committee met recently with Dr. Tommy Benson, division chairman for the education department at UMO.
Dean Sauls, acting superintendent for curriculum and instruction with WCPS, said discussion began earlier with UMO officials, and they have toured the site of an early college high school on a private college campus and began investigating the process.
"All of this has been going on for more than a year," he said. "We have been accepted (by the state Department of Public Instruction) but the ball's in Mount Olive's court."
A potential challenge for the private college could be funding, Benson said.
"We want to make the application but there are lots of things that we'll have to work out before we can do an implementation of the whole thing," he said. "I think there's only two other private colleges that are involved (with early colleges).
"The state will not pay private colleges for tuition. That's why we're very interested in partnering with Wayne Community (College)."
Wayne County Public Schools has two schools that offer the college credit component through its relationship with WCC. Wayne Early/Middle College High, located on the WCC campus, opened in fall 2006. Wayne School of Engineering, housed at Goldsboro High School, opened as a high school in the fall of 2007 and has since expanded to include middle grades.
Interim Superintendent Dr. Sandra McCullen said officials at UMO had been actively pursuing the partnership, with its president, Dr. Phillip Kerstetter, expressing an interest in creating an agriculture-focused program.
"We're the only private school in the state that has any type of ag program," Benson said, explaining its three focus areas -- training ag teachers, ag business and ag production.
The program is growing in popularity, he said, even among those who did not grow up on a farm but may have a developing interest. It has helped, he added, that the college was recently gifted with a working farm. UMO also has a greenhouse and is developing an arboretum.
Officials at the university believe it will be an asset to the southern end of the county, Benson said, adding one caveat.
"We don't want the high schools in Wayne County to feel like we're trying to siphon off the best and brightest kids," he said.
Pat Burden, chairperson of the curriculum and instruction committee, said she did not believe that would be the case.
"I think what it does is give students who work better in a smaller environment, (it) shows you their potential and they can reach their potential," she said. "I don't see it hurting if those programs are growing. It would help us give our students another opportunity."
Board member Jennifer Strickland said her concern is about getting the word out that there is another option. She said she fully supports parental choice and would want parents to choose what is the best school environment for their child.
"Going forward, we're an open enrollment county. We can select where our students go," she said. "I would like to see more of that information (publicized) so parents know where the programs are to pursue their futures."
Applications to proceed with the early college are due to the state by summer's end, Benson said.
"As we figure out some of the funding issues, at least we'll have our foot in the door," he said. "We don't know what funding issues are going to be like at the state level.
"If we can make it work, we want to make it work, but we'll need a lot of support."
Mrs. McCullen said the district, as well as WCC officials and principals at both WSE and WEMCH have all agreed to assist with the effort.
Board member Rick Pridgen praised UMO for its interest as well as intent to incorporate agriculture into its programs.
He said its location -- in the heart of four agriculture-rich counties, Wayne, Duplin, Johnston and Sampson -- broadens the scope.
"I don't see this as just a Wayne County thing. I see this as a regional thing," he said. "I think it's a positive thing."
It helps, he added, that WCPS already has a successful track record with its other two programs. Both Wayne Early/Middle and Wayne School of Engineering have a waiting list for students each year.
The schools, like their counterparts around the state, also boast higher graduation rates, some maintaining 100 percent.
"The unique thing about this, we already know the public is going to buy into it. The parents are going to buy into it," Pridgen said.