Enrollment for online school surpasses goals

By Jennifer McDaniel, jennifermcdaniel@miconews.com

When Spring Hill district officials and Insight Schools first began forming a partnership nearly six months ago, the two had a goal of enrolling 500 students when the virtual school went online this fall.

On Monday night, USD 230 Spring Hill Board of Education members learned that goal has been surpassed as 509 students currently have been accepted into Insight Schools of Kansas, said Brian Rose, vice president of school development for Insight Schools Inc. An enrollment push began in April along with online and radio marketing campaigns aimed at attracting potential students and their parents and a series of 21 informational meetings across the state.

The school is a partnership between the school district and Insight Schools Inc., which has a national network of online public high schools in Kansas, along the West Coast and in Wisconsin. Once officially enrolled, students are issued a laptop in order to complete their coursework at their own speed and in their own setting. Although the school is online, students still have access to state-certified counselors as well as an iMentor, a learning adviser who checks in with students to review their progress.

Out of 1,779 potential leads, Rose said only 6 percent were uninterested in the online school. And of those accepted, he added half of those students are 18 and older. Other snapshots of those students who are opting to go online, Rose said, include a girl in Stilwell who regularly has to miss school because of an illness, and a mother, father and daughter from Topeka who all are enrolled in online classes. While early enrollment numbers have exceeded goals, Rose said he should have firmer figures in the coming weeks as officials continue to follow up on leads.

Rose also said Gary Price, who currently serves as superintendent of schools in Pittsburg, was hired Monday as the school’s executive director. In the coming weeks, Rose said, additional faculty and staff will be put in place.

“We’re excited to be here,” Rose said. “It’s been a long haul, and we’re looking forward to great things.”

In other business, the board:

Briefly discussed the results of the district’s ongoing strategic planning project. The board is expected to review the plan during its June meeting.

Approved district fees for the 2008-09 school year. While textbook fees and kindergarten fees remained the same, elementary and intermediate school lunches increase by 5 cents to $1.90, while middle school and high school lunches increased 10 cents to $2.10. Milk fees also were increased by a nickel to 45 cents. The district’s pay-to-ride programs were also increased $5 to $190 per child for a full year or $115 per child, per semester.

Approved computer and laptop purchases for district schools, totaling $187,863.

Discussed the district’s policy allowing the usage of facilities at Spring Hill High School. Board members asked Superintendent Bart Goering to develop a fee structure to use school facilities and bring it back to the board for discussion.