Thursday, April 21, 2005
The pro-levy committee wants to light up the night.
MINERAL RIDGE -- The Weathersfield school board has authorized the district's participation in the Trumbull County Virtual Learning Academy.
The academy sponsors online classes for grades 7-12 all the time, Vicki Giovangnoli, assistant superintendent of the Trumbull County Educational Service Center, told the board. The ESC operates the academy.
Seventeen of 20 schools in the county already participate in the program, which has 90 pupils total, she said.
She said that some of the academy's pupils have medical conditions that prevent them from attending regular school, others have attendance issues, some are discipline problems and some are seniors who are short a credit or two for graduation and can take the course or courses they need online.
Decision
The district decides whether a pupil should be in the academy, which is in its third year.
Costs to be part of the virtual academy to the district include a $100 technical support fee per pupil, $100 software fee per pupil and $300 instructional fee per course.
Accountability for pupils is maintained because they must still take all standardized tests administered within the school district, and they meet their online teachers in person for midterms and finals.
More business
In other business Wednesday, school levy campaign chairman Cheryl Basista announced that the committee is planning a "Light Up The Night" event on May 2, the night before the primary. The board has placed the renewal of a 4.2-mill, five-year operating levy on the ballot.
Fliers will go home with pupils asking parents to leave their porch lights on between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. May 2 to show support for the levy.
The Mineral Ridge Ministerial Association has also planned a Renewal Levy Prayer Service for 7 p.m. April 28 at the First United Methodist Church of Mineral Ridge, 3711 State Route 46.
Volunteers will canvass the residential areas of the township this weekend and the weekends of April 30 and May 1 distributing pro-levy materials.
The board also:
UAccepted a donation of $10,000 from the Mineral Ridge Athletic Association to go toward the debt service for the Joe Lane Sports Complex, bringing the boosters' total donation to the complex to $40,000, including $10,000 in electrical work and repairs to the boosters' concession stand at the stadium;
UApproved adding blacktop to the driveway at two entrances to the high school parking lot at a cost of $5,000 and to pay $7,000 to repair two drain grates at the high school.
UAccepted the retirement of Seaborn Elementary School secretary Josephine Smith, after 40 years of service to the district, effective June 10.