MONROE - There could be as many as 288 new students in the Monroe school district next year.
The Monroe School Board accepted applications from 312 students Monday who expressed an interest to attend the school district in 2008-09.
District Business manager Ron Olson told the board there were 275 applications for the district's two virtual schools. Students currently enrolled in the Monroe virtual schools do not have to reapply through open enrollment.
Last year the district received about 330 applications for the virtual school.
Olson said the debate in the Legislature about virtual schools had an impact on applications early in the process. Applications began to pick up, he said, as the Assembly and Senate continued to work toward a compromise.
Olson cautioned the board that usually one about one-third to one-half of students who filed open enrollment applications actually came to the district. About 165 students who applied for the virtual school in 2007 came to the district.
If all 288 students come to the Monroe district it would mean almost $173,000 in additional state aid for the district next year.
District Superintendent Larry Brown estimates there will be between 500 and 550 students enrolled in the Monroe Virtual School in 2008-09.
There were about 400 students in the virtual school this year.
Still, the numbers are good when compared to the 24 requests the district received from students who wished to attend school in another district. Olson explained there are several reasons why students would ask to leave the district. Some of the students have siblings in other districts and some have parents who work outside of the district.
Brown said, taking the virtual school out of the equation, the district has been about even over the past few years in terms of the number of students who entered the district and the number who chose to go to another district.
In other business the board:
• Voted 6-2 to purchase 28 computer systems for the libraries. The district will receive $25,000 from a state library aid fund to purchase the equipment. Brian Keith and Bob Erb voted against the purchase. Keith said he wanted more information about the district's technology plan before he would approve the purchase. Erb said he wanted more time to look at the issue before he made a decision.
• Approved the purchase of fitness equipment for Monroe Middle School at a cost of $10,420. The board also approved another $5,000 to expand the fitness room. The equipment includes a recumbent bike, an upright bike, a stairmaster and an elliptical cross trainer as well as four cardio mats. Erb voted against the expenditure.
The Monroe School Board accepted applications from 312 students Monday who expressed an interest to attend the school district in 2008-09.
District Business manager Ron Olson told the board there were 275 applications for the district's two virtual schools. Students currently enrolled in the Monroe virtual schools do not have to reapply through open enrollment.
Last year the district received about 330 applications for the virtual school.
Olson said the debate in the Legislature about virtual schools had an impact on applications early in the process. Applications began to pick up, he said, as the Assembly and Senate continued to work toward a compromise.
Olson cautioned the board that usually one about one-third to one-half of students who filed open enrollment applications actually came to the district. About 165 students who applied for the virtual school in 2007 came to the district.
If all 288 students come to the Monroe district it would mean almost $173,000 in additional state aid for the district next year.
District Superintendent Larry Brown estimates there will be between 500 and 550 students enrolled in the Monroe Virtual School in 2008-09.
There were about 400 students in the virtual school this year.
Still, the numbers are good when compared to the 24 requests the district received from students who wished to attend school in another district. Olson explained there are several reasons why students would ask to leave the district. Some of the students have siblings in other districts and some have parents who work outside of the district.
Brown said, taking the virtual school out of the equation, the district has been about even over the past few years in terms of the number of students who entered the district and the number who chose to go to another district.
In other business the board:
• Voted 6-2 to purchase 28 computer systems for the libraries. The district will receive $25,000 from a state library aid fund to purchase the equipment. Brian Keith and Bob Erb voted against the purchase. Keith said he wanted more information about the district's technology plan before he would approve the purchase. Erb said he wanted more time to look at the issue before he made a decision.
• Approved the purchase of fitness equipment for Monroe Middle School at a cost of $10,420. The board also approved another $5,000 to expand the fitness room. The equipment includes a recumbent bike, an upright bike, a stairmaster and an elliptical cross trainer as well as four cardio mats. Erb voted against the expenditure.