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Board approves one-year DCC college-credit pilot course funded by DCC Foundation grant
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Summary
The board unanimously approved a pilot college-and-career planning seminar for 2026-27 that will offer optional Dutchess Community College credit; the first year is grant-funded (DCC Foundation donation of $50,000) and trustees asked how the program would be evaluated and funded after the pilot year.
The Wappingers board approved a new college-and-career planning seminar for the 2026-27 school year that will allow high-school students to earn optional Dutchess Community College (DCC) credit during a pilot year.
Trustee Meggitts said the course supports the state's evolving "portrait of a graduate" requirements and will give students a way to demonstrate postsecondary skills through college-level coursework. The board learned the pilot year is funded by a donation from the Dutchess Community College Foundation and that Dutchess Community College will cover the DCC credit cost for the pilot.
"This is not something that students are obligated to take. This is something that we are allowing students and their families to freely choose, and we are offering this to them without the burden of paying tuition credit for it," the superintendent said, describing the $50,000 award from the foundation and characterizing it as a donation to cover the pilot year.
Board members raised sustainability questions for subsequent years. Trustee Cappellari asked how the district will measure success and whether the district would be responsible for tuition costs if the grant is not renewed. Doctor Banck reiterated that the grant covers the initial year and said, "What's it gonna look like next year? I'm not exactly sure, but we'll have to make that decision then."
Trustee Morgan noted the grant could cover up to 700 students for the pilot; trustees also discussed typical enrollment patterns (roughly 200 students in a similar course in prior years) and the board approved the pilot by unanimous vote.
Next steps: the district will implement the pilot in 2026-27, report back on outcomes and evaluate funding and sustainability after the grant-funded year.
