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BY STEPHANIE CARROLL
LVN Staff Writer
The Churchill County School Board approved the district's use of the web-based A+nyWhere Learning System on Thursday to create an online distance education program for the upcoming school year.
Superintendent Carolyn Ross said the program offers free web-based education to students who cannot attend regular school because they need alternative education, live outside the home, have been expelled, dropped out, are home schooled, are out of school for medical reasons, need remediation or for other reasons.
Steve Leitz with A+ said the program offers an individualized plan for a student and provides everything needed to meet state standards and graduate.
“It really offers an individual learning plan for all students,” Leitz said. “You really can use this program to serve a lot more students.”
Program Coordinator Jacquelyn Burger, who already uses the program in her credit recovery program at Churchill County High School, said students are still required to come in for Measures of Academic Progress and proficiency testing. Burger said in the 2009-2010 fiscal year, 300 students graduated through the current program.
“About 30 percent of our students have touched our program already,” Ross said.
Ross said this program will also help the district earn more money through the Distributive School Account funding because every year, students drop out to seek more convenient forms of education. She said last year 60 left the district to enter a charter school, which is $350,000 less in DSA funding.
“This program is so crucial to this county,” Burger said. “You will lose one-third of your population. These kids will leave the district.”
Sue Sevon, who is assisting the district on this assignment, added that they might be able to charge a fee to the service in the future. Sevon said results from a survey on the issue suggest many would be willing to pay for the program.
“Most people were willing to pay $50 for online education,” Sevon said. “It was a pretty close outcome. There was also about 50 percent that said they would not pay for it.”
Ross said the program will cost about $61,000, which includes the $19,000 renewal fee and $42,00 expansion cost. Director of Business Services Lynn Broyles said the funding will come out of next year's budget.
Teacher Lisa Kent pointed out that if the district receives about $6,000 per child from DSA, it would take only 10 students to earn back the money spent on the program.
“You only need that number of 10 kids and that seems doable,” Kent said. “I don't hear it as a huge, huge risk.”
Trustee Steve Nunn asked if students consider this program an “easy way out.” Burger said this program is meant for those students who do not have another way out.
“I had many kids with serious life issues,” Burger said. “I have a lot of pregnant girls. I have kids that support their families.”
For information, call 423-5184.
LVN Staff Writer
The Churchill County School Board approved the district's use of the web-based A+nyWhere Learning System on Thursday to create an online distance education program for the upcoming school year.
Superintendent Carolyn Ross said the program offers free web-based education to students who cannot attend regular school because they need alternative education, live outside the home, have been expelled, dropped out, are home schooled, are out of school for medical reasons, need remediation or for other reasons.
Steve Leitz with A+ said the program offers an individualized plan for a student and provides everything needed to meet state standards and graduate.
“It really offers an individual learning plan for all students,” Leitz said. “You really can use this program to serve a lot more students.”
Program Coordinator Jacquelyn Burger, who already uses the program in her credit recovery program at Churchill County High School, said students are still required to come in for Measures of Academic Progress and proficiency testing. Burger said in the 2009-2010 fiscal year, 300 students graduated through the current program.
“About 30 percent of our students have touched our program already,” Ross said.
Ross said this program will also help the district earn more money through the Distributive School Account funding because every year, students drop out to seek more convenient forms of education. She said last year 60 left the district to enter a charter school, which is $350,000 less in DSA funding.
“This program is so crucial to this county,” Burger said. “You will lose one-third of your population. These kids will leave the district.”
Sue Sevon, who is assisting the district on this assignment, added that they might be able to charge a fee to the service in the future. Sevon said results from a survey on the issue suggest many would be willing to pay for the program.
“Most people were willing to pay $50 for online education,” Sevon said. “It was a pretty close outcome. There was also about 50 percent that said they would not pay for it.”
Ross said the program will cost about $61,000, which includes the $19,000 renewal fee and $42,00 expansion cost. Director of Business Services Lynn Broyles said the funding will come out of next year's budget.
Teacher Lisa Kent pointed out that if the district receives about $6,000 per child from DSA, it would take only 10 students to earn back the money spent on the program.
“You only need that number of 10 kids and that seems doable,” Kent said. “I don't hear it as a huge, huge risk.”
Trustee Steve Nunn asked if students consider this program an “easy way out.” Burger said this program is meant for those students who do not have another way out.
“I had many kids with serious life issues,” Burger said. “I have a lot of pregnant girls. I have kids that support their families.”
For information, call 423-5184.
