The Stillwater Area Public Schools Board of Education voted to approve a package of proposed high-school courses the district said are intended to broaden student options and help recapture enrollment by offering a district-run online academy.

Administrators presented the package and described the online academy as a set of required courses students commonly take offsite; offering them with district teachers, they said, is intended to keep students—and state average daily membership—within the district. Principal Rob Bach explained the economics course had been presented separately and will be formally acted on at the next board meeting; he reported about 29 students had enrolled in the economics course last year, roughly the size of one section.

Board members asked questions about timing, financial risk and tradeoffs. Multiple directors described the proposal as an “investment” intended to diversify class offerings, provide career pathways and potentially increase open-enrollment revenue; others urged caution about the budgetary risk and timing. Administrators said the course list aligns with an intended change in the high-school schedule and earlier planning carried out since 2023.

After discussion, the board approved the proposals. The board recorded the motion, second and a unanimous vote in favor. Staff confirmed the online economics course will be the subject of a formal action at the next meeting; administrators were asked to provide current capture rates, historical enrollment by semester and any other data board members want ahead of that vote.

Board members and staff emphasized the courses are intended to expand career pathways—examples cited included certificate and associate-degree pathways and a nursing assistant course—and to encourage students to remain in-district rather than enroll with outside online providers. Administrators said materials for registration preparation already are underway and that new online sections will be scheduled only after board approval.

The board’s approval covers the package presented at this meeting; no change to required state approvals was reported at the meeting. Staff will bring the online economics course back as an action item at the next public meeting so board members can take a formal vote.