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Board questions $900,000 virtual-school expense and seeks completion data
Summary
Board members pressed the superintendent for enrollment, completion and per-student cost figures for the district's virtual-school program after a member cited a $900,000 figure for roughly 300 students; the superintendent said enrollment appeared to be over 300 but she did not have exact completion or per-student cost details and offered to follow up.
The Upshur County Schools board questioned the cost and outcomes of the district's virtual-school program during its regular meeting, with a board member citing a district expenditure of "$900,000 for 300 kids" and reports that roughly 30% of students complete the program.
Superintendent (name not provided) told the board she did not have exact per-student cost or completion-rate figures available at the meeting but said enrollment "was over 300" and that she would check and report back. "I do not know the exact number, but I do know it was over 300," she said.
Board members asked whether the contract is annual or multi-year; the Superintendent said the virtual program contract is renewed yearly. A member pressed for data on how many students passed the virtual program, saying he had heard completion rates as low as 30% and expressing concern about the program's fiscal efficiency.
The discussion occurred during a broader review of purchase orders and procurement items, where the Superintendent outlined planned purchases that included new school buses, a K-8 math curriculum and assessments required by the Third Grade Success Act, professional learning, a maintenance inventory system, and Google Workspace for Education Plus for students.
Board members also asked about procurement rules after the district announced Leggett Refrigeration as the successful bidder for HVAC services for the 2024-25 school year; the Superintendent confirmed the district is required to accept the lowest qualifying bid.
The board did not take immediate action to change the virtual-school contract during the meeting. The Superintendent said she would provide exact enrollment, completion and cost-per-student figures at a future meeting.
