Board hears exploratory plan for a micro‑school pilot but takes no vote

Dr. Wright presented an exploratory idea to pilot a micro‑school model in a district elementary school to reach families who choose homeschooling or micro‑school options. She emphasized the discussion was preliminary, state approval and waiver questions remain, and the model under consideration would enroll small cohorts (about 10–15 students per teacher by grade bands) and keep students as district enrollees.

Trustees asked detailed logistical questions about waiver requirements, principal oversight, scheduling, staffing and how the pilot would affect resource allocation within an existing school. Director Strong asked whether waivers similar to charter waivers would be necessary and raised concerns about the model’s appeal for families who need full‑day services. Dr. Wright said much remains to be determined but that the district wants to replicate a successful model while keeping the students and funding within LRSD.

Several trustees raised operational concerns — how to integrate different schedules, whether the principal would supervise the micro‑school teacher, and how to ensure equitable resource allocation if one classroom operates differently. Administration described a possible configuration where a single teacher runs smaller literacy rotations but still reaches multiple student groups; the consultant who helps create the model would provide coaching for the classroom teacher while building‑level administrators would retain compliance responsibilities.

What happens next: The board did not approve a pilot or allocate funding on June 25; trustees encouraged further study, consultations with state officials about waivers and a year of planning if the district moves forward. Dr. Wright said the idea may change substantially and could be implemented in 2027 only if outstanding questions are resolved.