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Online program teachers warn district that staffing shortfall threatens course completion and graduation rates
Summary
Staff from the district’s online program told trustees the program is operating far above planned capacity; teachers said caseloads have risen to levels they cannot sustain and urged the board to allocate additional staffing based on documented growth.
Teachers and program leaders for Lyon County School District’s online (distance education) program told the board the program has rapidly outgrown its original staffing plan and warned the board the district could miss course-completion and graduation targets unless more staff are assigned.
An online-teaching representative presented detailed caseload figures: the program has enrolled roughly 510 students this semester (up from a 2020 planning assumption of 350). Staff said the program currently operates with the equivalent of 3.5 certified teachers and one classified teacher; presenters reported the certified teachers’ combined class load exceeds 3,000 course enrollments this semester. Officials said a teacher’s case load in one example reached 146 students and another 125 students, with course-counts per teacher reported in the 700–800 class-completion range.
Program presenters said historical three-year enrollment averages should be used for staffing planning and asked the board to consider funding additional certified positions; they said online enrollment has been climbing by roughly 150 students per semester in recent years and that the online program is physically housed in limited space (noting a portable building).
Board members and HR staff acknowledged the volume and asked the presenters to submit historical enrollment data. The board agreed to accept the information and to consider staffing and enrollment trends in forthcoming budget and staffing decisions; trustees said the district would review three-year averages for sustainable funding and staffing allocations.
No formal vote was required; presenters asked that the board give priority consideration to the online program when allocating staff and budget for the 2025–26 year.
