Students describe self‑paced Business Academy during board presentation

Administrators presented student work from the Business Academy and invited students to describe how the program differs from traditional class schedules. Student Brindley Rose told the board the academy model gives students weekly planning and the ability to work at their own pace: "The academy model is different from traditional learning because traditional learning that every day, you go to your same classes... Our teachers stand up in front of us for a couple of minutes, and they give us the overview for the week." The students described projects including a school store, field trips, and a capstone course that integrate budgeting, merchandising and teamwork.

District leaders said the academy has been piloted this year and that moving parts of the program to the LTCC (Learning & Training/Tech Center) would enable growth and better facilities for virtual and in‑person students. Board members asked about scheduling, teacher staffing and how the program will be integrated into longer‑term strategic plans; administrators said the academy is already informing updates to multi‑year plans and professional development for teachers. The presentation closed with staff noting early indicators of increased engagement and plans to return with enrollment and impact data in a follow up report.