MONROE - Monroe school district officials plan to bring a proposal to the board this spring that would move the virtual school to the Monroe Alternative Charter School as early as this summer.
The Monroe school district first considered the feasibility of moving the Monroe Alternative Charter School into the confines of the high school building last year.
Monroe Superintendent Larry Brown updated the board on the virtual/charter school task force's recommendation Monday night.
After community hearings with students and parents, district leaders said that closing the portable classrooms at Northside Elementary School and moving the virtual school to a "school within a school model" at the charter school is the best option.
Brown said the district could save just under $10,000 in heating and other costs by closing the portable classrooms at Northside and moving the virtual school downtown.
"One of the questions being asked is why we don't move the virtual school to the high school," Brown said. "The more we talked to the parents, talked to the students and looked at the original intent of the charter, I believe we would lose a number of students in our charter. I think we came up with the best solution for all the stakeholders involved. It will move our district in a positive direction."
The alternative charter school, located in a former strip mall near Monroe Middle School, currently has about 40 high school students enrolled. The virtual school has 297 enrolled in the online programming.
Brown said there are still some details to be worked out. If the board approves the proposal in late March or early April, Brown said, the virtual school could be moved downtown this summer.
School board member Les Bieneman supported the task force's plan. Bieneman said the proposal makes more sense than some of the alternatives.
"I'm glad you went with this plan," Bieneman said. "You really nailed this one."
The Monroe school district first considered the feasibility of moving the Monroe Alternative Charter School into the confines of the high school building last year.
Monroe Superintendent Larry Brown updated the board on the virtual/charter school task force's recommendation Monday night.
After community hearings with students and parents, district leaders said that closing the portable classrooms at Northside Elementary School and moving the virtual school to a "school within a school model" at the charter school is the best option.
Brown said the district could save just under $10,000 in heating and other costs by closing the portable classrooms at Northside and moving the virtual school downtown.
"One of the questions being asked is why we don't move the virtual school to the high school," Brown said. "The more we talked to the parents, talked to the students and looked at the original intent of the charter, I believe we would lose a number of students in our charter. I think we came up with the best solution for all the stakeholders involved. It will move our district in a positive direction."
The alternative charter school, located in a former strip mall near Monroe Middle School, currently has about 40 high school students enrolled. The virtual school has 297 enrolled in the online programming.
Brown said there are still some details to be worked out. If the board approves the proposal in late March or early April, Brown said, the virtual school could be moved downtown this summer.
School board member Les Bieneman supported the task force's plan. Bieneman said the proposal makes more sense than some of the alternatives.
"I'm glad you went with this plan," Bieneman said. "You really nailed this one."