The Manitowoc Public School District didn’t have enough votes to dissolve the McKinley Online School Program last night (November 14th).
Several school board members said they want to look at issues brought up with the program before making a decision, plus they wouldn’t want to end the program in the middle of the year.
There were also several parents and teachers who asked the board to keep the program.
They cited their kids flourishing through the program while also liking that it’s an option because their students were bullied.
“The virtual option allows him to still hear every moment of class,” a parent explained. “When my son was attending a traditional school he was bullied to the point of violence because of his condition.”
Another parent says her son’s teachers he’s worked with after school “do exactly what I’ve read in articles people in this district talking about what teachers do and that’s really connecting with students doing the job of teaching and kids doing the job of learning.”
Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Jamie McCall says she was embarrassed that she didn’t look closely enough at the program.
She says the district spends more than $653,000 a year on the program which has about 28 students in it.
Most of the money goes toward staff expenses.
McCall also says the entire program, which is K-12, isn’t meeting Wisconsin DPI standards.
She recommended the district dissolve and modify the program, which could include transitioning students back to in-person learning.
“That option requires a mutual agreement between MPSD Board of Education and the McKinley Virtual Board,” McCall noted.
The board later voted 4-3 to not dissolve the program by next year, which Board Member Matthew Phipps brought up as an option.
McCall says she will meet with the McKinley Virtual Board today (November 15th) to see what they think is the best option.
