County High School teachers are doing the College’s job in dual enrollment classes

Commentary

Is it time for high schools in Yavapai County to be adequately compensated for teaching community college dual enrollment courses for Yavapai Community College? A dual enrollment course is taught by highly qualified high school teachers to qualified students in high schools throughout the County.  Students in a dual enrollment course simultaneously obtain both high school and college credit for their work in the course.  Dual enrollment is allowed by state law and has been growing in acceptance for a decade. Most of the costs associated with dual enrollment courses are absorbed by the high schools with only a minimal financial help from Yavapai College.

1. First, the high schools act as a marketing arm for Yavapai College.  Through these courses, Yavapai College has direct and almost exclusive personal contact with high school students in the County.  This is an unparalleled recruiting opportunity for Yavapai College.
2. Second, the high schools bear the cost of searching out and providing qualified teachers for the dual enrollment courses. Not just any high school teacher may teach them.  The College sets the requirements for a teacher but plays no other significant role in hiring and retaining qualified teaching staff at high schools. 
3. Third, dual enrollment courses require oversight by County High School administrators. The oversight is provided free to Yavapai College.
4. Fourth, the College pays nothing to rent space from the high schools for the dual enrollment courses such as English. This cost is completely absorbed by the high schools.
5. Fifth, the College does not pay for utilities such as heat, light, and air conditioning of classrooms.
6. Sixth, the College does not pay for installation, maintenance and use of classroom technology.
7. Seventh, the College encounters no cost for desks, chairs, whiteboards, etc. used to teach the dual enrollment courses.
8. Eighth, the College encounters no maintenance costs associated with the classrooms used to teach dual enrollment classes.
9. Ninth, the High Schools provide free counseling related to dual enrollment courses.
10. Tenth, the dual enrollment courses are provided without additional charge to all qualified high school students, i.e., the students via their parents have already paid for them in their support of the high schools and the Community College through their property taxes.  

While County high schools are constantly struggling to make ends meet, the Community College is awash with money from County taxpayers. It reported in December a $25 million dollar reserve; millions above Governing Board requirements.  It receives from $43 to $45 million each year in property tax revenue from County taxpayers.  Measured by a per full-time student equivalent, this is double the average of other community colleges in Arizona. It receives a state stipend that goes toward any costs it might incur in the dual enrollment program. It raises tuition and property tax rates at its discretion; something completely foreign to high schools.

Given the huge revenue surplus enjoyed by Yavapai Community College, and its constant property tax revenue stream, it seems to me it is time that it begin paying the County High Schools an adequate stipend to compensate them for providing fully accredited post-secondary college courses to County students.  After all, the high schools are doing the job that most think should be the College’s responsibility.