Butler Community College and Hillsboro Industries are looking to begin this two-year welding program at Hillsboro High School.
The program would be available for high school students as well as adults.
Organizers hope to enroll 12 students, but will offer classes even if the enrollment is as low as five.
Dale Honeck, Hillsboro High School principal, said this program would enable students to work half-way toward their associate?s degree.
But he did express some concern.
Area high school students already have several options to learn to weld at Newton and Marion.
?It?s going to be a tough sell,? Honeck said.
Board members had an extension discussion about the 2008-09 school calendar.
Among the issues discussed were the length of the school year, the number of days for spring break and staff development, and the impact these decisions have on the quality of education.
No final decision was reached.
In other business, the board voted unanimously to accept the bid of $47, 920 from EPM, which specializes in computerized temperature-controlled systems.
The board also approved extending their support to the city of Hillsboro for a spring tele?vision promotional campaign for the community. Clint Seibel, executive director of Hillsboro Ventures, Inc., asked the board for its support.
Besides endorsing the campaign, the board allotted up to $400 toward the project.
The board met in executive session to discuss issues related to personnel and employer/employee negotiations.