WAVE 3 TV Louisville, KY | JCPS To Open Virtual Schools

JCPS To Open Virtual Schools

By James Zambroski

(LOUISVILLE) -- Virtual schools are about to become a reality in Louisville. This fall, the Jefferson County Public School System will open a high school that will use computers and on-line instruction as the primary way to educate students. WAVE 3 investigator James Zambroski has the story.

Faced with a federal education mandate, Jefferson County Public Schools will open a new high school that is heavy on technology and short on amenities. The reason: record high enrollment and schools that don't make the grade.

While computer learning may sound like fun, one student we spoke with didn't think so. "I hate it," said Amanda Siroki. "Because it feels like I'm going to be on lock down."

Jacobi Collins agreed. "It's OK," he said. "I just don't like being separated from a real high school."

Pat O'Leary sits on the JCPS Board of Education, and says circumstances left little choice. "We are basically here because we have so many middle schools, specifically middle schools, that did not meet the 'No Child Left Behind' goals, and we literally have nowhere else to put them."

Buildings at Valley and Fairdale High Schools will be the location for the new Jefferson County virtual school. Each student will have their own computer, with primary education being conducted online.

"I know that the district's kind of portraying this excitement about it, but the analogy I used is it's like somebody who had a flat tire and they're happy to get to use their spare."

The school will operate on regular hours and have a teacher in each classroom, but the virtual students will be kept separate from other Valley and Fairdale students. And there will be no sports or any other extracurricular activities.

About 200 parents of potential students attended the sixth of seven orientations to the new school Thursday at PRP. Their choice: keep their student in a failing school or transfer to the virtual school.

"It's like a school inside of a school," said Lavinia Elery. It's sort of like separating the kids, and I don't want my child separated from the other children."

Michael Coleman is open to the change. "I think it's a very good idea, something that's thinking outside the box; I think my son will benefit from it."

The new school's principal, Buell Snyder, acknowledges the concept of a virtual high school is experimental, but believes its parts are solid. "All the elements that we're using have been tried and are used many, many places. Possibly the only difference is the way we're putting them together to use as a package."

Opponents say trailers next to outstanding schools would have been better than this option. About 200 students have signed up for the virtual high school so far. District officials still have to make assignments -- either Valley or Fairdale -- and bussing plans still have to be worked out.

Online Reporter: James Zambroski

Online Producer: Michael Dever