Bedford County gauging interest in virtual learning

The parents of nearly 700 homeschooled children in Bedford County will soon be getting a letter in the mail asking if they are interested in enrolling their child in an online public school.
The Bedford County School Board on Thursday voted to send the letter to gauge how many students may attend the “virtual school.”
If approved for the 2008-09 school year, the Bedford Academy of Virtual Learning would open as one of the first of its kind in Virginia.
“It’s the fastest growing form of education in the country,” said Kenny Word of K12 Inc., the company that developed the online curriculum.
Currently, schools out of Nelson, Pittsylvania, Halifax and Fluvanna counties have accounts with K12, which is the leading provider for online curriculum, National Account Manager Chuck Paynter told the board.
Founded in 1999, K12’s curriculum, certified by The Commission on International and Trans-Regional Accreditation, focuses on six core areas in English, math, science, history, art and music, Paynter said.
The school would be administered from the campus of Big Island Elementary School under the direction of Principal Debbie Shelton, and would initially be only for kindergarten through eighth grades, said Victor Gosnell, director of technology and media for the school system.
That could be later expanded to include high school and could be used in combination with traditional public schools for advanced or specialized courses.
Students enrolled would be required to take the Virginia Standards of Learning exams.
Gosnell said that the cost for establishing the school would be nothing as long as a minimum of 30 students enrolled.
“I don’t think we’re going to have a problem meeting that bare minimum,” he said.
The district would get state funds reimbursing about $4,800 per student, said Tammy Parlier, director of instruction.
Depending on the number of students enrolled, Gosnell said, the school could make money from the endeavor.
Paynter said one of the benefits of the program would be the ability of students enrolled to study at their own pace.
Since the school is public, students in Bedford County who enroll would not be required to pay anything. Students from out of the county would pay about $480 per course, according to materials on the Bedford County Web site.
Children in the program also could attend public school functions, such as field trips and social events, Superintendent James Blevins said.
“Certainly this first year, it’s going to be a learning experience for us.”
The school board could vote whether to approve the virtual school as soon as April 24.
- Also at the meeting, school board Chairman Gary Hostutler announced that the group would have its next budget work session at 4 p.m. on April 10, at the school board offices.
- The board also voted to carry over $1.6 million left over from the 2006-07 school maintenance budget into this year’s maintenance fund.