By Bobbie Washburn Ruhnow Correspondent
CULVER — Sue Wilson, director of school partner-ships at Purdue University North Central, spoke to the Culver Community School board of trustees regarding a dual credit concurrent enrollment program offered by Pur-due/North Central.
The program is an opportunity for students at Culver to receive college credit through a university by taking courses that are approved and offered at the high school during the regular school day.

The courses would be taught by qualified high school teachers. Students use the books provided by the high school, and teachers follow very similar curriculum, assignments and testing as their college faculty counterparts.The program allows students to get a jump start on college credits and is a good transitional medium.
There are financial advantages for parents in reduced tuition costs at the high school level versus college level at $89 per credit hour.
Free and reduced lunch students who qualify would get free tuition.
There would be no additional fees, no book fee, activity, lab, or transportation fee. Credits earned by the students would be transferable.
Presently, there are 27 schools participating and the comments have been extremely favorable, Wil-son said.
In other news:
• Brad Schuldt, superintendent, discussed a change in the alternative education program presently in effect for Culver.
Instead of transporting students to Plymouth who are in the alternative program, Culver would have their own JESSE teacher who would teach approximately 15 students in two classes daily. The board concurred and Mary James, an 8-year veteran teacher in the JESSE program, was hired for the coming school year. The program gives students who are destined to fail in a regular school environment an opportunity to transition back into the regular curriculum, Schuldt noted.
• Book rental fees are set for 2009-2010 as follows: K - $104, 1st - $130, 2nd - $136, 3rd - $129, 4th - $126, 5th - $116, 6th - $123, 7th - $70.45 plus art supplies and 8th - $76.30 plus art supplies. High School fees depend on courses chosen.
Breakfast and lunch fees will be raised .05 per meal with reduced breakfast fees at .30 and lunch at .40.
• The trustees approved refinancing the 2000, 2001 and 2002 bond issue at the suggestion of H. J Umbaugh.
Instead of reducing the present interest rate of 5.25, 5.02, and 4.93 respectively, they decided to take the money produced by the refinancing of approximately $190,000. Schuldt said this money could be used toward the elementary gym renovation saving the funds remaining in the Capital Projects Fund. This will be the second refinancing of the bond issue which is due to mature in 2023.
• A Title 1 grant application in the amount of $342,295.10 was approved.
• Ongoing budget battles in the present session of the state legislators was noted by Schuldt.
A possible shortfall of $1 million for the Culver school system has been projected. “Local control of the school budget has been lost in the last few years.” Schuldt said. “Unfortunately, budget issues have been taken out of the hands of the local people who deal with the issues on a daily basis.” he continued.
The next meeting of the board of trustees will be June 20.