In a continued effort to give Dawson County students the best education possible, the board of education has renewed its contract with a local college.

During its July 1 work session, the board voted unanimously to renew the dual enrollment program contract with Lanier Technical College.

According to Jeff Fitzpatrick, high school coordinator for Lanier Technical College, Dawson County Superintendent Damon Gibbs is no stranger to Lanier Tech or its dual enrollment course.

"Dr. Gibbs is a product of our dual enrollment courses," Fitzpatrick said. "We are very proud that he is a product of our system and finished a certificate with us even before graduation from high school. He also taught adjunct with us and now he's superintendent here."

The program allows students to takes courses from a state public or private college while still enrolled in high school and receive credit at both levels, providing an opportunity for the high school to expand curriculum at no extra cost and offers high school students an opportunity to jump-start their college education and career skills.

"We have a lot of Dawson County High School students every year that complete certificates before even graduating," Fitzpatrick said. "I'm very pleased at the number of students Dawson County provides us with."

According to Fitzpatrick, each year the Georgia Technical College System and State Department of Education require a new contract between schools and colleges annually.

"If all of our schools offered as many students to us as Dawson County did, we wouldn't be able to keep up with the program," he said. "It's such a wonderful thing that you offer us and we appreciate the support."

The agreement is one that the board said it is not likely to turn down any time soon.

"Thank you for the ongoing relationship," Gibbs said "We appreciate what [Lanier Tech] offers our kids in Dawson County and we look forward to extending this relationship."

The board voted 3-0, with Roger Slaton and Elaine Wilson absent for the meeting, to renew the contract.

"We appreciate the Dawson County Board of Education for its ongoing support," said Lanier Tech President Ray Perren. "Ninety-eight percent of students who go through a dual enrollment program graduate from high school, so this is a win-win for everyone involved, most importantly the students."

For more information about the college, call (770) 531-6300 visit www.laniertech.edu.