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District examines cyber-charter costs and promotes Greyhound Virtual Academy amid rising enrollment and special-education expenses
Summary
Officials reported rising cyber-charter enrollment and tuition costs that have increased total cyber spending from roughly $1M in 2019–20 to an estimated $5.5M in 2026–27; the district described rebranding and outreach efforts for its Greyhound Virtual Academy to retain students.
District staff told the board that cyber-charter enrollment and tuition have risen since the COVID period and are a noticeable driver of special-education and overall budget costs.
The presentation said regular enrollment increased district-wide, while cyber charter enrollment—especially among secondary students—saw substantial gains. Administration reported roughly 103 special-education students enrolled in external cyber programs and said that cyber tuition rates and enrollment growth together have driven cyber expenditures from about slightly over $1 million in 2019–20 to an estimated $5.5 million for the coming year.
Board members probed grade-level distribution and motives for choosing cyber charters. Staff said reasons include attendance problems, negative peer interactions, struggles in the school environment, mental-health needs, or work commitments that make online scheduling more attractive. Administration noted the district's response: rebranding and marketing the district’s own virtual option (Greyhound Virtual Academy), sending postcards to families, and providing in-district staff supports (notably named staff members who support virtual learners at high-school and K–8 levels).
The district also discussed financial tradeoffs: while external cyber providers avoid costs for bricks-and-mortar (transportation, facility maintenance), districts still face tuition or staffing responsibilities depending on whether virtual instruction is delivered in-house. Board members requested more granular data—particularly how many students identified as special education before leaving district schools—to assess the financial and educational impact of return-to-district scenarios.
