I still remember the day, about 20 years ago, when I realized how much easier computers could make one of my projects. A newsletter to school alumni required a personalized greeting. How could this be done for 2,000 different alumni? Miraculously, it was found my computer word processor could actually work with a database to merge names and addresses into my letters. It was a discovery that made the formidable task of personalizing the letter to thousands of people quick and easy. For an hour or so, I felt like I had suddenly become a genius. Of course, a few mistakes in other areas soon brought me back to reality. However, getting the computer programs to work together was a great new source of improvement in time, money and efficiency.
This same concept is true in community services where different agencies, public and private, work together to bring efficiency and better results for citizens and their families. One such example of this is the work between Central Community College and our local high schools. Some classes that are provided at Columbus High School, for example, can be taken for both high school and college credit. These classes can be taught by either high school or college teachers. They can even be taught by a combination of teachers from both levels. This partnership creates great advantages for students.
As a result of this joint effort, many students leave high school with college credits. This is true in academic areas such as English and in technical areas such as electronics. The more our high school and college campuses work together the greater the advantages to students.
Another area where college and high school partnerships can work is in sharing teachers. For example, if a part time position is open in a high school and a part time position at the college level, these jobs can be combined to create a full time position. This combination can make it possible to find a better candidate for both positions.
Distance education is another area of partnership that exists between high schools and colleges as well as between different high schools. Many high schools, such as CHS, have the equipment to send video classes from their schools to others. It is also possible for CHS to receive such classes from other high schools. Colleges, such as Central Community College, can also telecast classes to high schools.
This technology helps smaller high schools offer classes they could not otherwise present to their students. It also helps larger high schools to add students to classes with less than adequate numbers of their own students. For example, imagine CHS offers an advanced physics class, and only five students sign up. It would be financially unwise to run this class for five students. However, if 20 students from smaller high schools also sign up and take it via distance technology, the class is no longer a financial liability.
As you can see by the examples above, partnerships between educational institutions can benefit students and help the schools be effective financial stewards of their resources. These are just a few ways educational institutions have experienced the advantages of working together. This is true not only of educational cooperation, but it is also true when non-educational agencies work together with schools to meet the needs of youth and families.
Many more examples could be given. Suffice it to say that working together across institutional lines creates a win-win for all involved. It is a strategy to provide better services for students. Financial efficiencies are also found when organizations work together. This latter fact benefits taxpayers when institutions work together to meet public needs.
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