History teacher Skip L’Heureux described a proposed deal between Boothbay Region High School and the University of Southern Maine as a “win-win” for both the schools and students during the Feb. 10 Community School District committee meeting.

L’Heureux, who teaches an Advancement Placement U.S. History course, has discussed teaching a dual credit course beginning next year. Students would earn credit toward their high school graduation requirements and six college credits. The course would cost $85 to $100 per credit hour, comparable to the cost for the Advanced Placement courses now offered to students.

AP students can earn college credit by earning either a 4 or 5 on the final exam, according to L”Heureux. But he believed the dual credit course would provide students a guaranteed college credit.

“It’s really a no-brainer,” L’Heureux said. “If you maintain an A average all semester long in the AP course, then for some reason don’t do well on the final exam, you don’t get college credit. But if you maintain 75 grade in the dual credit course you’ll earn six credit hours, and because it’s on a USM transcript, it’s transferable almost everywhere.”

BRHS would be the first high school USM would have an articulation agreement with providing students an opportunity to earn college credit. L’Heureux explain that USM wanted to use the agreement with BRHS as a “guinea pig” before offering it to more schools.

Under the proposal, only a teacher with a master’s degree could teach the college level course at the high school. L’Heureux told the school committee he was close to earning his master degree this year and would be able to teach the course beginning next fall. He also explained the discussions with the USM history department was a unique experience.

“It was more like a job interview for the position I already had here,” he said. “They went over my educational background, what I taught,  and how I expected to teach the course.”

Parents asked L’Heureux if it would be feasible for students to take both dual credit and AP courses. L’Heureux believed taking both wouldn’t be beneficial. He believes the dual credit course is the best option for students.

“The dual credit course really gives the student a chance to experience what is expected in college. And it grades the students on a year’s worth of work which I think is more fair.

CSD Committee Chairman Larry Colcord supported the possibility of teaching a college level U.S. History course next year.

“This may open up other avenues to our students,” Colcord said. “We all know how expensive college is so this may become an incentive for our students.”

The articulation agreement between BRHS and USM hasn’t been finalized. L’Heureux expects to receive an update soon as USM officials iron out the details.