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Teachers and parents press board to reconsider closing Leon County Virtual School
Summary
A teacher and a parent urged the board to reconsider the superintendent's recommendation to close Leon County Virtual School, citing the program's role in course completion, unclear projected savings, and long-term enrollment impacts.
Two public commenters and multiple board members used the Feb. 10 meeting to press the district for fuller analysis before dismantling Leon County Virtual School (LCVS).
Kelly Pagan, a 26-year veteran science teacher at Leon County Virtual School, told the board LCVS "is not merely an alternative program but a collaborative resource that supports traditional campuses in cost effective and student-centered ways," and urged the board to weigh how closing LCVS would affect access and district FTE funding. "Closing Leon County Virtual School would eliminate a proven model that expands access, supports staffing challenges, and meets student needs without increasing district cost," she said.
Lauren Prince, a parent, asked the board to be cautious because closing a school is permanent. She said the district’s provided P&L did not show how enrollment breaks down between full-time virtual students, part-time course enrollments and in-district learning-lab partnerships, and asked whether projected savings would persist beyond one year. "We cannot continue to save money by closing the same school more than once," Prince told the board.
The board discussed enrollment drivers, with Member Smith citing a longer-term decline she described as about 6% over 15 years and urging creation of a citizen review team to study enrollment trends, school consolidation and revenue options. Several members questioned whether an ad hoc committee would duplicate district subject-matter expertise; the motion to convene a citizen review team to report by year-end failed on a recorded vote (motion failed 2-3).
District staff said they are validating comparative enrollment numbers with Florida Virtual School (FLVS) and will provide grade-level, school-level comparisons once confirmed. The superintendent also explained LCVS has faced financial challenges and that some students opt for FLVS; staff said guidance counselors have been asked to discuss Leon County Virtual as an option when students consider virtual courses.
Next steps: staff will validate FLVS comparison data and circulate the results to the board; the superintendent’s March 24 recommendation on budget cuts will include any updates related to LCVS.
