BETHEL — The SAD 44 board is considering a pilot program that would allow eligible Telstar High School seniors to attend Central Maine Community College in Auburn next fall and earn up to 15 credits per semester.

“It would be dual enrollment for seniors,” Superintendent David Murphy said. “Many have completed or nearly completed all the courses they need. They could be graduating seniors and have taken college courses.”

The district would pay the first year’s tuition and seek benefactors willing to help foot the costs after that, he said. Students would pay for books and fees.

“This seemed like a good opportunity for our kids,” he said. “It’s too far to travel for students to take just one course. It would be a great step. Students could knock off a year of college.” 

Credits earned at community colleges in Maine are transferable to branches of the University of Maine System, as well as to other colleges.

Eligible Telstar students now can earn up to six CMCC credits at the high school in Bethel.

If the plan works out, eligible seniors would attend CMCC during the day and return to the high school for afternoon activities or sports.

“We’re still in the talking stage, but this is exciting,” Murphy said.

He said representatives from CMCC are expected to attend the April 22 board meeting to continue discussion.

Also at Monday’s meeting, the board approved using E-Rate funds from this year and the past couple of years to purchase iPad tablet computers for kindergarten students. Murphy said the cost will be between $30,000 and $40,000, contingent on the number of kindergartners who register for the upcoming school year.

“This will be a tool, not a replacement for everything else taught in school,” he said.

The district’s five kindergarten teachers and some administrators attended a three-day workshop last fall to learn the benefits this technology could offer to young children.

In another potential boost to SAD 44 education, Murphy said Woodstock Elementary School fifth-grade teacher Tonya Prentice has been chosen to attend a weeklong, all-expenses-paid trip to Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy in Jersey City, N.J., in July.

The academy offers a chance to network with other elementary teachers from around the country and learn new and innovative methods of instruction to teach science and math to students.