A program that would allow select high school students to take online courses remains in limbo.
School officials initially included $12,000 in the fiscal 2009 budget to purchase Virtual High School, an online education service that offers high school students an array of more than 200 selections ranging from advanced placement classes to electives.
Faced with an initial $3.3 million budget problem for next year, the School Committee voted to eliminate all new program requests, including Virtual High School, and personnel as part of a $1.5 million reduction.
But now some members are lobbying to include the program and look for cuts elsewhere in the budget.
High School Principal George Usevich last week got permission to include Virtual High School in next year's program of studies with the understanding that it is subject to funding.
Usevich said guidance counselors will be aware to inform students the program may not be offered but said he wanted to include it in case it is funded.
Some School Committee members are highly supportive of the concept.
Chris Morrison said yesterday he believes the price tag is a bargain. ``For a modest amount of money ... we can exponentially increase the courses we offer at the high school,'' said Morrison.
Toni Eosco said the program seems a perfect way to better utilize technology in the system. ``It will bring the 21st century to that building,'' said Eosco.
But others are more cautious.
Chairman Dick Kief voted not to include the virtual courses in the program of studies, saying it sets a dangerous precedent. ``I think it's premature to put it in there,'' said Kief.
Bill Plasko Jr. echoed those sentiments and said he is worried that a student may create a scheduling problem if they sign up for a virtual course and later find out it's not available. Plasko worries the student then may be stuck and unable to get back into a course.
``I think it's easier to transfer out of an AP class and into a Virtual High School course than the other way around,'' said Plasko.
Virtual High School courses are taken entirely online and students enrolled in the courses will be provided time during the day to have access to a computer and take the lessons. Interaction with the teacher and fellow students will be done via a message board. Joining the service requires both one-time purchases and an annual fee and each participating school is limited to 50 participants each year.
If approved, joining Virtual High School will also require training for a teacher and program administrator. Training courses may be taken online.
Usevich said increasing the school's course offerings was one of the items mentioned by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges in its most recent accreditation report.
Daily News Staff writer Brian Falla can be reached at 781-433-8339 or at bfalla@cnc.com.
