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Liberty Hill ISD board approves plan to pilot virtual program for upper high‑school students
Summary
Assistant Superintendent Heather Stoner and coordinator Lisonbee Sullivan presented a new virtual program nested within Success Academy that will start with about 10 eleventh‑ and twelfth‑grade students, use Edgenuity for coursework, and pair asynchronous learning with mentor check‑ins; trustees asked about expansion, out‑of‑district transfers and accountability.
The Liberty Hill ISD Board of Trustees heard a detailed plan Tuesday for a small, district‑run virtual program aimed at reengaging high‑school students who have withdrawn or need flexible scheduling. Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Heather Stoner told trustees the district is pursuing a virtual program after state law changes (Senate Bill 569) expanded public‑school virtual options.
District officials said the program will begin as a component of the Success Academy at Liberty Hill High School and initially target 10 students in grades 11–12. Coordinator Lisonbee Sullivan said students will do primarily asynchronous coursework through Edgenuity, with required synchronous mentor check‑ins once or twice weekly and additional tutoring when needed. Tests and state assessments will still be taken on campus.
Stoner said the district chose the “virtual program” model rather than a fully virtual school so it could begin small, use existing staffing and supports, and limit fiscal risk while continuing the Success Academy’s in‑person options. Sullivan said entry criteria will include credit status, prior EOC performance and demonstrated readiness for independent online learning; staff proposed a fluid enrollment policy that would allow openings as students graduate or complete requirements.
Trustees pressed staff on likely growth and policy implications. One trustee cited a neighboring district that has about 70–75 virtual students and asked whether Liberty Hill could scale to that size; staff said the district is open to growing but will monitor capacity and outcomes. Trustees also asked whether the district could permit out‑of‑district students to enroll only in the virtual program; staff said that would require a board policy change and careful parameters.
Stoner and Sullivan emphasized monitoring and accountability: mentor teachers will check daily progress in Edgenuity, post weekly grades and lock or gate assignments if academic integrity or pacing concerns arise. The board did not take a vote to open enrollments at Tuesday’s meeting; trustees asked staff to bring additional policy and capacity details to future budget and policy workshops. The presentation and subsequent Q&A were part of agenda item 5a and are expected to return to the board for further policy decisions and enrollment rules.
