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Helix Board approves AAOT pathway with BMCC; superintendent says district will absorb costs
Summary
The Helix School Board approved an AAOT agreement with Blue Mountain Community College to give Helix students a pathway to earn an AAOT while attending Helix; Superintendent Brad Bixler said the district will cover program costs so students pay nothing.
The Helix School Board voted on Oct. 8 to approve an agreement with Blue Mountain Community College to create an Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer (AAOT) pathway for Helix students.
Mark Browning, president of BMCC, described the pathway as a chance for Helix freshmen and sophomores to begin work toward an AAOT while remaining enrolled at Helix. "Students need every opportunity," Browning told the board as he explained the proposal and how it could broaden postsecondary options for small-district students.
Superintendent Brad Bixler said the district would cover costs associated with the pathway so there would be no direct charge to participating students. The board approved the agreement by motion; the minutes record the motion as carried.
Board members also discussed enrollment trends: Bixler reported 188 students enrolled early in the 2025–26 school year and noted the district had budgeted for 195. He flagged planned partnerships and the possibility of pre-admission and pilot programs with BMCC and other institutions as part of the board's broader goal to expand CTE and academic opportunities.
The board asked staff to return with implementation details, including program eligibility, scheduling, and how dual-enrollment credits will be posted to student records. The agreement approved Thursday sets a framework for the pilot pathway; final operational details will be managed by the superintendent's office and partners at BMCC.
