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North Harrison board authorizes district-run virtual school program
Summary
The North Harrison Community School Corporation board voted unanimously May 6 to authorize a resolution to start a district-run virtual school program, citing enrollment losses and a planned partnership with Edmentum (EdOptions); details on student eligibility, extracurricular participation and finances are still being worked out.
The North Harrison Community School Corporation board voted unanimously May 6 to approve a resolution authorizing the district to start a virtual school program.
Board President Josh Bowen moved to adopt the resolution; the motion was seconded and passed 5-0. Board members then asked Mr. LaGrange to outline the plan.
Mr. LaGrange said the district has considered the option because ‘‘almost every school corporation in the country has to kind of consider’’ virtual programming and because North Harrison has recently lost students to other options. ‘‘We have lost, probably 65 kids, that left enrollment here and went to either homeschool or a virtual option,’’ he said, citing that decline as part of the rationale for a district-run program.
LaGrange said the district plans to partner with vendor Edmentum and use the vendor product EdOptions to deliver coursework. ‘‘So as you may know, the state of Indiana pays a full time virtual student about, well, they pay 85% ... of ADM money,’’ he said, describing a model in which the district would pay a vendor a set amount and retain a net balance.
Board members pressed for operational details. In response to a question about extracurricular participation, LaGrange said virtual students would generally be ineligible for sports but could participate in some ECAs; he said prom attendance and walking in graduation are ‘‘certainly’’ under consideration and that virtual students would potentially receive a North Harrison diploma. The board was also told the district intends to provide supports that ‘‘other virtual programs don’t’’ and that staff, counselors and administrators have been consulted while details are finalized.
LaGrange said materials for families — including a flyer and an FAQ — will be released soon. He added that the district is still ‘‘working out a lot of details’’ and that some provisions may vary by family based on needs.
The board’s vote authorizes the district to begin the program planning and vendor partnership; the motion passed 5-0. The board did not adopt a detailed policy or funding schedule at the meeting; members indicated more information will be provided to the public as plans are finalized.
