Carroll students may be able to take specified college level courses in high school and receive college credit for them if enough interest in the concept is shown by students and their parents.

Guidance director Kristen Seward explained the Advance College Project (ACP) to Carroll School Board members at their March 4 meeting.

The project is possible through the school's collaboration with Indiana University, specifically IUK. Seward said potential students who would take the college courses offered would get both high school and college credit, if they earn a grade of C or better. They would receive transfer credit to Indiana University or to any other college or university that accepts IU transfer credits. The courses would be taught by Carroll's own teachers.

Seward said the cost of these college-level courses is only a third of what they would cost if actually taken in college. Students would be responsible for buying their own books.

To qualify, students (mostly college-bound seniors) must rank in the upper half of their high school class. Other qualifications are based on GPA, SAT scores, and endorsements from teachers and the guidance director.

Seward will discuss the program with students and parents and see if there is enough interest for Carroll to offer ACP courses next school year. Although a number of courses are available through the program, Seward said Carroll would start out with college math and English.

She will report back to the school board at its second meeting in April, and then a determination will be made if the college courses will be offered.

Another presentation was given to the board by Dana Wannemacher and Brian Walker of Barton-Coe- Vilamaa, Architect and Engineers. They gave updates on the planned air conditioning piping project at the junior-senior high school.

The board gave approval for advertising for bids for the project. Besides the base bids, the board will also ask for alternate bids for air conditioning the auxiliary gym and cafeteria. Cost estimates for the project, not counting any alternates that could be added, total $1.97 million. Superintendent John Sayers said the project may start before school is out this year, but work will be done when students are not in the building.

The board also approved the purchase of computers for the junior-senior high school, totaling $12,734. The purchase includes 19 computers for Project Lead the Way and 11 computers to replace classroom workstations that no longer function properly.

Basketball coach Jeff Hodson was given permission to hold a Spring Cougar Clinic at the Carroll Elementary School gym for first, second, and third graders in March and April.

Steven Breedlove was hired as a custodian, and Peggy Oakley was hired for a temporary teaching position. Oakley, who has been a substitute teacher in the Carroll School Corporation, will teach temporarily in third grade to replace a teacher who is having surgery. The vote to create this temporary teaching position was 4-1, with board member Dave Lambert casting the opposing vote.

Permission was given to the German Baptist Youth Group to use the high school gyms and cafeteria on Sunday, April 19.

The time and place of the next board meeting have been changed. The meeting will be at 1 p.m. March 17 in the media center at Carroll Jr.-Sr. High School. A short business session will be followed by the annual joint meeting of the board and students at 1:30 p.m.