Online school program set to close

JOEL DAVIDSON/Frontiersman reporter

PALMER - The Mat-Su School District sent a letter last Friday to parents of students participating in SeeUOnline, notifying them that the K-12 online education program will be cut next year, due in large part to lagging enrollment numbers, increasing expenditures and competition from other alternative education opportunities.

The program, now in its fifth year, offers flexible, individual online education, allowing students to study and work from home or other areas. Both full-time enrollment as well as supplemental course offerings have been available.

In the letter to parents, Mat-Su Borough School District Chief School Administrator Bob Doyle and SeeUOnline Principal Dave Holmquist explained that the school was not generating enough revenue to pay for the cost of the program.

"Were the school to remain open, staffing and course offerings would likely be decreased," the letter explained. "This would negatively impact our ability to provide the same level of services."

Currently, 105 students participate in the program but, according to school district spokeswoman Kim Floyd, the average enrollment hovers between 85 to 90 students. With such low numbers, the school was only able to generate about $286,000 in state funding, while costing the district $413,000 to operate.

Operational costs were expected to increase substantially in coming years, as e-College, a company that provides online courses and real-time communication for the school, planned to increase its yearly fee from $48,500 this year to nearly $100,000 for next year.

Students currently enrolled in the program can finish the present school year before having to find another option for next year.

"Our first and foremost concern is ensuring our students successfully complete their current classes and course of study," the letter from Doyle and Holmquist stated.

Each family will also be offered individual advice to discuss a transition plan and the next step for their child in the upcoming school year.

With a large population base in the Mat-Su that is interested in alternative forms of education, many of the students could transfer to other correspondence programs or charter schools within the district.

Staff members from the program will maintain employment with the district, with the opportunity to transfer to other schools for teaching or support staff positions.

As with any proposed budget changes or program cuts, final authority rests with the Mat-Su Borough School Board. The board will accept public testimony on budget issues at 6 p.m., March 2 and March 16, in the School Board Room at Palmer High School. This is an opportunity for the community to speak to the board concerning its proposed fiscal year 2006 budget.

Contact Joel Davidson at 352-2266, or joel.davidson@frontiersman.com.