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Board authorizes district to pursue 9–12 virtual academy enrollment number after detailed staffing and oversight questions
Summary
The New Albany-Floyd County school board voted 7–0 to authorize administrators to pursue a state virtual-school enrollment number for a 9–12 Virtual Academy for 2026–27. Trustees pressed staff on staffing ratios, funding, transfer rules and academic monitoring before approving the request to seek the number, not to open enrollment.
The New Albany-Floyd County school board voted unanimously to authorize district administrators to pursue a state enrollment number to reestablish a 9–12 New Albany–Floyd County Virtual Academy for the 2026–27 school year.
The motion, made by a trustee and seconded before roll-call passage, gives the administration permission to request the separate virtual-school number from the state. Presenters emphasized that the vote authorizes only pursuit of the number; final program details, staffing and enrollment procedures will be developed later and brought back to the board for further approval.
Mrs. Cook (presenter) told the board the district's planning is based on data showing "approximately 200 students that currently reside in Floyd County and choose this option instead of our traditional school setting." She said the district intends to use the Edgenuity platform and provide a certified teacher for daily check-ins, multiple check-in times and counselor support.
Board members repeatedly asked for specifics. One trustee asked, "So they're only getting 30 minutes of instruction?" (S8), and technology and program staff explained that the 30-minute check-in is a daily contact point rather than total daily instruction, and that teachers would monitor progress, assignments completed, and provide follow-up. The presenter said a minimum of 75 students would be required per instructor as an initial staffing expectation but acknowledged final staffing ratios and budget impacts depend on actual enrollment.
Administrators noted state funding for virtual students is reduced compared with in-person ADM, estimating roughly 70 to 75 percent of full funding per virtual student. "You just get 70 to 75% of ADM," a district official said when discussing funding assumptions.
Trustees also discussed transfer policy, academic monitoring, and state testing. Presenters said state-mandated tests (SAT, PSAT and others) would require in-person attendance and the district would set procedures for proctoring and monitoring assessments. The administration said they will treat the virtual program as a separate school number to avoid linking its results directly to existing high-school graduation or accountability calculations while the board assesses the model.
The board's vote authorizes administrators to seek the state number and continue planning; it does not open enrollment or finalize staffing or funding. Administrators said they will return to the board with a proposal that includes staffing ratios, a detailed budget, operating hours, transfer rules and measures for academic accountability.
The next step is for the administration to submit the requested documents to state education officials and then report back to the board with developed program details and a proposed implementation timeline.
