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Parent and resident urge district to boost student retention as cyber charters draw enrollment
Summary
A resident and parent told the board that cyber charter schools are enrolling local children and taking significant state funding away from the district; he urged improved marketing and a stronger district cyber offering to retain students.
During public participation on May 19, resident and parent Steve Ertle urged the board to take retention of students seriously and to invest in marketing and programming to compete with cyber charter schools.
Ertle said cyber charter schools are enrolling local students and diverting state funding — he cited district outflow to cyber charter operators and argued the district’s online/cyber offerings are not marketed or presented at the level parents see from for‑profit cyber operators. He asked the district to strengthen the district’s cyber academy presentation and communications so parents can readily compare options.
Ertle noted that special‑education funding rates to cyber and charter providers can be high and that the district loses revenue when students enroll elsewhere. He asked the district to consider the business perspective of competing for students and to prioritize retention efforts in the budget and communications planning.
