Students Begin Enrolling in Internet-based School

By John Richmeier, Leavenworth Times

7/24/06

A dozen students have already enrolled in the new Leavenworth Virtual School.

Director Kevin Lunsford said a total of 20 students have said “yes” to the program and he anticipates more will be attracted to the Internet-based school.

Lunsford provided a report on the school, which is being established this summer by the Leavenworth school district, during last week’s meeting of the Leavenworth Board of Education.

Board members also approved a handbook for the virtual school as well as a contract for a company to provide online registration and high school courses for the school.

For students in grades one through eight, the virtual school will rely on curriculum from Calvert which will include textbooks and other materials.

“Basically, we are there to help those parents out who are home-schooling their kids,” he said.

The virtual school can enroll students who live anywhere in the state of Kansas.

Of the 20 students who have committed to the program, Lunsford said, only six live in the Leavenworth school district. The rest are from the Easton and Atchison areas.

He said two of the 20 are high school students.

The school district will receive state funding for students enrolled in the virtual school, just as it does for its other schools.

Lunsford said it will take about 40 students for the Leavenworth Virtual School to break even this upcoming school year.

“Forty is a very realistic number,” he said.

The Leavenworth Virtual School charges an annual $45 book rental fee for each student.

“A computer will be made available to kids, parents,” Lunsford said.

Computers provided to families will remain school property. Internet connection will be the responsibility of parents.

Lunsford said one family has requested a computer. He said school officials had talked about charging a $100 deposit for a computer and he was interested in what board members thought was an acceptable amount.

Board member Danny Zeck raised questions about what type of an agreement parents should sign with the district when being loaned a computer.

Board attorney Louis Clothier said he would have to look into the issue.

Teachers for the virtual school plan to make regular visits to the homes of elementary and middle school students. Lunsford said he doesn’t know of any other virtual school in the state that provides home visits.

The virtual school has three teachers on staff in addition to Lunsford, who previously served as the principal of a Leavenworth elementary school.

Lunsford said not every parent may invite a teacher into his or her home.

He said students who live a considerable distance away, such as in western Kansas, won’t have home visits as frequently as those who live closer to Leavenworth.

Also for elementary and middle school students, school officials will organize Friday Fun Days, in which a PE class will be offered at the Ben Day building where the virtual school is based. The school also will alternate art and science labs.

Parents will have a chance for staff development with virtual school teachers during these sessions.

The school also will organize field trips for students.

The board approved a contract with eCollege, which is the parent company for eClassroom.

Lunsford said eClassroom will provide teachers for high school subjects for the Internet-based curriculum of the virtual school.

He said it doesn’t make sense to pay for a local high school teacher if there are only four students in his class.

“As our (virtual) high school builds then we will take those classes back,” Lunsford said.

Board member Linda Larison asked if there’s any way this can be done in-house.

“Not at this time,” said Superintendent Mike Aytes.

Board members were told the course work would have to be generated and supplemental contracts would have to made with local high school teachers. These teachers would be needed because of requirements for highly qualified personnel.

The contract with eCollege also is supposed to help with online registration and other services.

The contract is for two years and requires a one-time, upfront cost of $11,000 and a guarantee of at least an additional $25,000 each year. The district also will have to pay a $365 fee for each course.

Aytes said the startup money for the Leavenworth Virtual School will come from anticipated additional money for students considered “at risk.”