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Board debates virtual‑school plan as state scrutiny intensifies
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Summary
Trustees discussed the future of the district's virtual school after hearing that about a dozen virtual programs statewide face possible closure; board members argued the local program functions as a safety net for students and tasked staff to tighten eligibility procedures and produce an improvement plan.
Board members spent substantial time on the district’s virtual school, its role for at‑risk students and how to show academic growth under increased state scrutiny.
Legislative liaison Mister Tate said the state is reviewing virtual programs and that ‘‘about 12’’ were being evaluated for possible closure; he urged the board to treat the Henderson County virtual program as a model rather than assume closure. "Virtual school has been a big subject...I felt like ours is worth saving," Tate said, noting the program would graduate roughly 31 students this year.
Trustees stressed the program serves a different population than traditional schools and should be judged on both growth and achievement metrics. Board members asked district staff to tighten eligibility procedures and to prepare a plan showing expected growth outcomes; academic staff (referenced as Mister Forney) are building a data dashboard and growth‑oriented interventions for the program.
The board did not take formal action to change program eligibility at the meeting but directed staff to prepare a clearer plan and procedures for review.
