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Board limits Rutherford County virtual school enrollment to county residents, allows current out-of-county students to finish
Summary
The board removed Rutherford County Virtual School as an exception to residency requirements but preserved completion rights for existing out-of-county students; language clarifying that current nonresident students may finish was added and approved.
The Rutherford County Board of Education approved a change to policy 6.204 on nonresident student attendance that removes the Rutherford County Virtual School as an exception to residency requirements for new applicants and allows current out-of-county students already enrolled to complete their programs.
Doctor Sullivan and other administrators told the board the virtual program began near the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and included some out-of-county enrollments. Sullivan said the district now wants to focus virtual high-school courses on Rutherford County teachers to improve high-school performance and avoid paying extra per out-of-county seat. “We're going to focus it just for Rutherford County residents,” Sullivan said.
Board members agreed to add explicit language allowing students already enrolled from out of district to finish their program. The board adopted the amended policy language on a voice vote. “Any current students from out of district can complete their schooling through our [virtual school],” said Monica (a district staff member who proposed the clarifying phrasing). The motion passed without recorded roll-call counts.
Administrators said the district could consider tuition or other approaches later but noted that permitting tuition for one group could require allowing it for others. The policy change was approved at the meeting and takes effect for new applicants going forward.
