McFarland Might Offer Online Charter School
School Board To Decide In One Month
Updated: 10:05 am CST January 6, 2009
McFARLAND, Wis. -- The McFarland School District is considering a school without walls -- an online charter school.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportDuring a public hearing on Monday night, the McFarland School Board floated the idea of allowing a company called Wisconsin Virtual Academy to establish an online charter school in the district. The charter school, which would be kindergarten through 12th grade is supported by several local parents and the district superintendent, WISC-TV reported.Charter schools aren't the same as home-schooling. Students enrolled in charter schools are accountable to licensed Wisconsin teachers and follow a strict curriculum that comes to them on the computer.The learning process for charter school students is more flexible, which is why McFarland parent Jean Stube said that she chose it for her children."This is their second year, so they were going to a private school prior to that," said Stube.Stube felt the curriculum in the private school was moving too quickly for her children."I brought them home to virtual school because I just felt with the one-on-one teaching with them, I can teach directly to their learning style," she said.Because McFarland doesn't have an online school, Stube's boys are enrolled in the Northern Ozaukee School District."They have normal textbooks and worksheets like all kids," said Stube."I think it's a different type of education model, but I don't think every education model meets the needs of every student," said McFarland Superintendent Scott Brown.Brown said he sees the advantage of the virtual classroom, even for students who choose not to attend an online charter school full-time."In our high school, there may be the potential to have additional curriculum offerings for our students that a school of our size would have difficulty offering on site here," he said.If the McFarland School Board moves forward and grants a charter, per student dollars from the state would support the program, but would also help bolster the budget for its brick-and-mortar facilities.Stube said she believes her sons will one day go back to the regular school, but for now, online is inline with their needs."If a subject is coming real easy to them and its flowing that day, on Tuesday math is just flowing and it's easy, we can keep going, we can do four or five math lessons in a day," she said.Brown said he believes students in a charter school would most likely float in and out of the program without spending all of their school years in the virtual school.The board will vote on the measure in one month.All charter schools in Wisconsin are considered public schools. There are 231 charter schools statewide.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportDuring a public hearing on Monday night, the McFarland School Board floated the idea of allowing a company called Wisconsin Virtual Academy to establish an online charter school in the district. The charter school, which would be kindergarten through 12th grade is supported by several local parents and the district superintendent, WISC-TV reported.Charter schools aren't the same as home-schooling. Students enrolled in charter schools are accountable to licensed Wisconsin teachers and follow a strict curriculum that comes to them on the computer.The learning process for charter school students is more flexible, which is why McFarland parent Jean Stube said that she chose it for her children."This is their second year, so they were going to a private school prior to that," said Stube.Stube felt the curriculum in the private school was moving too quickly for her children."I brought them home to virtual school because I just felt with the one-on-one teaching with them, I can teach directly to their learning style," she said.Because McFarland doesn't have an online school, Stube's boys are enrolled in the Northern Ozaukee School District."They have normal textbooks and worksheets like all kids," said Stube."I think it's a different type of education model, but I don't think every education model meets the needs of every student," said McFarland Superintendent Scott Brown.Brown said he sees the advantage of the virtual classroom, even for students who choose not to attend an online charter school full-time."In our high school, there may be the potential to have additional curriculum offerings for our students that a school of our size would have difficulty offering on site here," he said.If the McFarland School Board moves forward and grants a charter, per student dollars from the state would support the program, but would also help bolster the budget for its brick-and-mortar facilities.Stube said she believes her sons will one day go back to the regular school, but for now, online is inline with their needs."If a subject is coming real easy to them and its flowing that day, on Tuesday math is just flowing and it's easy, we can keep going, we can do four or five math lessons in a day," she said.Brown said he believes students in a charter school would most likely float in and out of the program without spending all of their school years in the virtual school.The board will vote on the measure in one month.All charter schools in Wisconsin are considered public schools. There are 231 charter schools statewide.Copyright 2009 by Channel 3000. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
