Online Learning Aims to Retain Students and Funding

WAITSBURG – In the face of a changing educational climate, the Waitsburg School Board recently voted to make online education available through the Waitsburg School District. The board and administration is hopeful that the new option will return students, as well as funding, back to the district.

The district has partnered with FuelEd Online to offer courses through Washington Virtual Acadamy (WAVA) for students in grades K-12. Beginning the second semester, Jan. 29, 2018, students will be able to take OSPI-approved online courses from home or from the school campus.

In August, Superintendent Jon Mishra initiated an ongoing discussion when he told board members that both Waitsburg and Dayton had students choicing out to do online school and suggested looking into hosting an online program through Waitsburg.

Several board members were stunned to learn that local, state, and federal funding for those students, at approximately $10,000 each, went to the district hosting the program. They were also concerned about losing track of students enrolled in other districts.

“My big concern is the kids. If they’re going to Omak online or South Bend online, what happens if they drop out?” Mishra told the board.

Mishra has familiarity with the WAVA program, which was offered through the Hermiston School District where he worked prior to coming to Waitsburg this summer. In fact, his daughter took advantage of the program on both a full-time and part-time basis. Mishra said the online courses allowed her the flexibility to work at her own pace and offered otherwise unavailable electives such as photography and astronomy.

“She did only-online for one year. After that she did hybrid, some online, some on campus. She remained on campus to work on her online courses. The benefit was she was not locked in by the schedule of classes at the school. If a particular course was not offered during the class period she wanted to take it at school, she did it online,” Mishra told The Times.

Currently, eight Waitsburg students, in grades two, eight, nine, and 12, are enrolled in online schools through other districts. The district is hopeful those students, and possibly other Touchet Valley students, will continue their studies through Waitsburg in the coming semester.

The Waitsburg School District will pay for the cost of the program. Classes run between $250 to $350, which means it would cost between $1,500 to $2,000 for a six period student day, along with textbooks and materials. The additional funding from students enrolling through WSD will more than pay for the cost of the classes, Mishra said.

Students who meet state graduation requirements through Waitsburg School District Online Learning will receive a Waitsburg School District diploma and may participate in the WHS graduation ceremony. Students who choose a blended education, taking both online and classes at the high school, and meet all Waitsburg graduation requirements will receive a Waitsburg High School diploma.

High School Principal Stephanie Wooderchak will serve as the online learning liaison between Waitsburg students and their online teachers and will be available to provide assistance if issues arise.

Online learners are able to participate in WHS extracurricular activities such as pep band, knowledge bowl, FFA, FACLS, Leo’s and sports. They will also have access to required graduation testing and assistance with resources.

“The landscape has changed in education. There are many options out there and we need to be nimble enough to offer opportunities for children. It is no longer one-size-fits-all,” Mishra said.

“My concern about our students who are doing online through another school district is, what happens when they are not successful? It’s hard to speak to someone face-to-face if they are taking classes through an online school that is anywhere from an hour away to five hours away. We still want our Waitsburg children to have an educational connection with Waitsburg,” he added.

Letters to parents about Waitsburg Online Learning will go out this week. Anyone wishing to learn more about the program may contact Stephanie Wooderchak at 337-6351 or swooderchak@waitsburgsd.org.