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District reviews Imagine Learning/Edgenuity proposal for virtual 'Hernando Flex' program; board requests more analysis
Summary
A vendor presentation proposed a flexible virtual‑instruction program to capture homeschool and other off‑campus students and offer courses not available in the district eSchool; the board asked staff for further analysis of costs, FTE capture, contract terms and alternatives before any procurement.
Hernando County School District staff and a vendor representative described a proposed virtual‑instruction program—branded in the presentation as a possible "Hernando Flex"—at the Sept. 9 workshop and the board asked staff to return with additional analysis on pricing, FTE capture, contract language and alternatives.
John Morris, director of secondary programs, introduced Matt Davenport from Imagine Learning/Edgenuity, who said the platform provides certified Florida teachers, on‑demand tutoring (8 a.m.–10 p.m. Monday–Friday in the vendor’s model), a broad catalog of state‑approved courses including AP offerings, and an enrollment workflow that can route course requests to school guidance counselors for approval. The vendor asserted the model could recapture FTE that currently flows to out‑of‑district providers and homeschool pathways while providing flexible options for credit recovery, expulsions and AP course access.
Morris said the proposal was informational and not a recommendation to purchase at the workshop. He described the program as a tool districts have used to capture students who formally leave the district or choose homeschool options, noting that Florida Virtual School and other vendors have offered similar services. Matt Davenport described teacher mixes, on‑demand tutoring and a sample website enrollment flow that routes course requests to counselors for approval before enrollment.
Board members raised a series of substantive questions. Mrs. Duvall and others asked whether the district could instead expand its existing Hernando eSchool to provide the same flexibility; Morris and staff said eSchool has enrollment and course‑offering constraints (notably limited AP options) and that some districts use a hybrid approach. Board members also asked about the vendor’s pricing, a price quote in the packet, purchasing compliance language stamped by district purchasing staff, termination provisions (including a 90‑day cure period in one draft contract section), student‑teacher ratios the vendor proposed, and whether the district would capture full FTE and school‑grade points for students who take AP courses through the program.
Several board members asked for comparative bids and competitive procurement analysis. Mrs. Duvall argued the board should consider multiple vendors and examine whether the district could expand its current eSchool instead of contracting for a new platform. Board members also sought clarity on how homeschool students would be reported for accountability and acceleration points and whether the district would receive AP score/point benefits under different reporting scenarios.
Morris and vendor staff said the program could be used for credit recovery and expulsions, and stressed that some students currently take Florida Virtual School (FLVS) courses while physically on district campuses but the district does not capture the related FTE. The vendor representative said the model could generate net positive FTE for the district under certain enrollment scenarios and that billing was usage‑based—if no students enroll, no bill is generated—but board members requested a detailed, scenario‑based FTE and budget analysis.
No procurement decision was made. Multiple board members asked staff to return with additional analysis, including comparisons with FLVS, eSchool capacity, competitive vendor pricing, contract compliance with school board procurement rules, reporting/accountability impacts (FTE and school grading points), termination remedies, and proposed marketing and enrollment workflows. Staff said they would gather the additional information and return for further discussion.
