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Concord School Board approves student handbooks, Trine dual-enrollment MOU and on-campus counseling pilot
Summary
The board approved the 2026–27 student handbooks, a dual-enrollment MOU with Trine University priced at $99 per student, an on-campus counseling pilot with Maple City, and a Love Way partnership to bring 'pony pals' to campus. All measures passed by voice vote at the May 4 meeting.
The Concord School Board on May 4 approved a package of routine and program agreements, including student handbooks for 2026–27 and several memoranda of understanding intended to expand academic and counseling options for students.
Jeannie Hawkins, representing the handbook committee from Westside, presented revisions that included an overhaul of the technology section; the board approved the handbooks as presented by voice vote. "We are proposing these handbook changes for the 26–27 school year and ask for you to consider and approve these changes," Hawkins said.
On partnerships, a district staff member described an MOU with Trine University to bring dual-enrollment courses to Concord campuses. Staff said the courses will be asynchronous, include a college professor plus a district support person to check student progress, and cost the district a minimal fee; staff stated the per-student charge is $99. A board member noted that credits taught by a college professor generally transfer better out of state than credits earned through the district's existing Ivy Tech arrangement; staff said the Trine arrangement should improve transferability for students.
The board also approved an MOU to pilot on-campus counseling with Maple City 2 so therapists can meet with students at school to reduce access barriers such as insurance, transportation and long booking times with existing providers. Staff emphasized that campus visits would require parent permission and that referrals would come through Maple City.
Separately, the board approved expanding a partnership with Love Way to bring a "pony pals" program to campus to serve life-skills students; trustees asked staff to confirm logistics, such as whether the program would use a parking-lot area or the gym for activities.
All motions on these items were made, seconded and passed by voice vote. The board also approved its consent agenda earlier in the meeting, which included minutes and claims.
