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Danville board hears plan for phased virtual school using Canvas; administrators urge careful selection
Summary
District staff outlined a proposed virtual-school program distinct from emergency e-learning: phased roll-out (start with upper elementary or high school), Canvas-based instruction, semester enrollment, state-required attendance tracking (five hours), and a student-application/selection committee to ensure likely success.
Danville CCSD 118 staff presented a proposal to establish a district-run virtual school that would operate differently from emergency e-learning used on weather days.
"This would be, as I like to call it, not brick and mortar," the presenter said, describing a program delivered by district teachers via Canvas with live teacher presence. The committee recommended starting the program with students who are already readers (third grade or above) and phasing-in secondary grades; high-school implementation could be the easiest initial step.
Staff emphasized selection and accountability. Applicants would be screened by a committee and accepted semester-by-semester; if a student struggled, the district would return them to in-person classes. The district noted state rules require verified instructional time and attendance accounting (teachers must document about five hours of student work for attendance credit in virtual settings).
Board members raised questions about eligibility, extracurricular participation and cost. The presenter said eligibility follows state policy and that virtual students could still participate in extracurriculars depending on locally adopted decisions. The district is working with the Illinois Learning Technology Center and plans to negotiate details with the teachers'union on staffing and schedules before implementation.
The presentation was informational; no implementation vote was held. Administrators said they will continue planning and return with details, including staffing models, eligibility criteria and cost estimates.
