MONROE - Without virtual schools, some students would never be able to get a diploma.
That's the message Monroe Virtual High School student Amelia Brunner shared with two state senators who came to the school Wednesday to learn about how the school functions and why it's needed.
The visit by Sens. John Lehman, D-Racine, and Jon Erpenbach, D-Middleton, comes while debate in the Legislature over virtual schools is threatening to heat up again. Bipartisan compromise legislation drawn up last month after competing bills were offered by Lehman and 80th District Assemblyman Brett Davis, R-Oregon, is scheduled to be considered by the Senate next week. But there is talk of an amendement being added that would place a cap on student enrollment in virtual schools that could jeopardize the compromise.
On Wednesday, the senators asked Brunner why she chose the virtual school.
She said it was difficult to be around other students in a traditional setting and said the program worked for her.
"Kids would fall by the wayside without the school," Brunner told them.
Lehman asked if students who attend virtual schools, where the majority of classroom work is done on the computer, suffer from isolation issues.
Are there opportunities to meet other students, he asked.
Brunner said she's been able to meet several students through the virtual school.
"I can use the chat lines to talk to kids about classes they've taken and what classes they've liked," she said.
Teacher Margie Brunette said there are a lot of students who could only receive the personal assistance they get through the virtual school.
The senators came to Monroe to listen and learn in light of a possible vote next week to set guidelines for all virtual schools in Wisconsin. Lehman said Wednesday the compromise bill could go before the Senate as early as next week. The bill is scheduled to go before the Senate on Tuesday, Feb. 19.
Lehman said one of the amendments considered for the bill would put an enrollment cap on the number of students who could attend virtual schools - an idea he said was proposed by the Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC).
Lehman told Monroe Superintendent Larry Brown, Virtual School Principal Cory Hirsbrunner and Monroe Business Director Ron Olson that he supports the bill as it is written and doesn't want to see any changes.
If an amendment to limit the number of students is proposed, Lehman said, he would want wording to allow siblings to attend virtual schools.
Lehman and Erpenbach found out how students and teachers interact through the virtual schools. Brunette told them she and other teachers spend time at night and on weekends talking to students and answering questions.
Brunette told the senators students stay with one teacher after they sign up for the school to make sure they are successful in the program. They develop friendships that can make it easier for students who have a lot going on in their lives, Brunette said.
"We see the growth in the students," she said. "When we talk to them we don't just talk about school. We talk to them about their lives and about their families."
Some of the students who are enrolled in the school are young mothers. Brunette said it's not uncommon for them to come in with pictures of their children and stories to tell.
"It's much more individualized," she said of the school. "We get to know the students better."
The senators also learned about how teachers go to individual homes to explain the virtual school to students who are interested in enrolling.
It allows teachers to learn about the students and their families, and it allows students and families to become familiar with the school, principal Cory Hirsbrunner said.
Lehman seemed impressed with what he learned and said he hopes to see a bill passed next week.
"I think we have got the bill together in a way that's going to pass," he said.
Monroe superintendent Larry Brown said the fact Lehman and Erpenbach came to the school shows they're interested in learning about what the virtual schools can offer.
"A lot of people don't understand what we do here," Brown said. "I think both Lehman and Erpenbach have gotten their hands around this and see what it's all about."
That's the message Monroe Virtual High School student Amelia Brunner shared with two state senators who came to the school Wednesday to learn about how the school functions and why it's needed.
The visit by Sens. John Lehman, D-Racine, and Jon Erpenbach, D-Middleton, comes while debate in the Legislature over virtual schools is threatening to heat up again. Bipartisan compromise legislation drawn up last month after competing bills were offered by Lehman and 80th District Assemblyman Brett Davis, R-Oregon, is scheduled to be considered by the Senate next week. But there is talk of an amendement being added that would place a cap on student enrollment in virtual schools that could jeopardize the compromise.
On Wednesday, the senators asked Brunner why she chose the virtual school.
She said it was difficult to be around other students in a traditional setting and said the program worked for her.
"Kids would fall by the wayside without the school," Brunner told them.
Lehman asked if students who attend virtual schools, where the majority of classroom work is done on the computer, suffer from isolation issues.
Are there opportunities to meet other students, he asked.
Brunner said she's been able to meet several students through the virtual school.
"I can use the chat lines to talk to kids about classes they've taken and what classes they've liked," she said.
Teacher Margie Brunette said there are a lot of students who could only receive the personal assistance they get through the virtual school.
The senators came to Monroe to listen and learn in light of a possible vote next week to set guidelines for all virtual schools in Wisconsin. Lehman said Wednesday the compromise bill could go before the Senate as early as next week. The bill is scheduled to go before the Senate on Tuesday, Feb. 19.
Lehman said one of the amendments considered for the bill would put an enrollment cap on the number of students who could attend virtual schools - an idea he said was proposed by the Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC).
Lehman told Monroe Superintendent Larry Brown, Virtual School Principal Cory Hirsbrunner and Monroe Business Director Ron Olson that he supports the bill as it is written and doesn't want to see any changes.
If an amendment to limit the number of students is proposed, Lehman said, he would want wording to allow siblings to attend virtual schools.
Lehman and Erpenbach found out how students and teachers interact through the virtual schools. Brunette told them she and other teachers spend time at night and on weekends talking to students and answering questions.
Brunette told the senators students stay with one teacher after they sign up for the school to make sure they are successful in the program. They develop friendships that can make it easier for students who have a lot going on in their lives, Brunette said.
"We see the growth in the students," she said. "When we talk to them we don't just talk about school. We talk to them about their lives and about their families."
Some of the students who are enrolled in the school are young mothers. Brunette said it's not uncommon for them to come in with pictures of their children and stories to tell.
"It's much more individualized," she said of the school. "We get to know the students better."
The senators also learned about how teachers go to individual homes to explain the virtual school to students who are interested in enrolling.
It allows teachers to learn about the students and their families, and it allows students and families to become familiar with the school, principal Cory Hirsbrunner said.
Lehman seemed impressed with what he learned and said he hopes to see a bill passed next week.
"I think we have got the bill together in a way that's going to pass," he said.
Monroe superintendent Larry Brown said the fact Lehman and Erpenbach came to the school shows they're interested in learning about what the virtual schools can offer.
"A lot of people don't understand what we do here," Brown said. "I think both Lehman and Erpenbach have gotten their hands around this and see what it's all about."