North Putnam board approves online school handbook for year

ROACHDALE -- Following in pace with those offered through other area school districts, North Putnam Schools will also provide an online option for students.

The North Putnam School Board approved the online program’s handbook during its regular meeting held last week. However, questions as to how it could be supported with all of the uncertainty coming into the new school year were considered.

Superintendent Nicole Singer stated that the Virtual Classroom would be an online option for students concerned about returning to the brick-and-mortar setting next month. As such, she emphasized that the program was not e-learning.

Students in the middle school and high school must spend at least six hours a day online, while elementary students are required to devote at least five hours. They will also check in weekly with a teacher, but they could come in at determined times for one-on-one help. Students would also be provided with devices.

Singer pointed out that the program will have a plagiarism and academic integrity policy in place. They address issues such as whether a student is completing the work or is not logged in for the required time. Second offenses could lead to withdrawal from the program.

While Singer provided the essential format, Board Vice President Dustin Osborn posed the question of whether the program could have more teachers to cover a large student population. He also questioned how this would play out in a hypothetical situation where COVID-19 “disappears.”

Stipulating that these issues were up to speculation, Singer responded that the teachers would be put back into the schools as needed if this occurred. She added that it was also possible that a substitute for the online program could be on hold through the year.

Singer said two teachers could almost be supported with funds through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Singer said around 40 students and their parents had expressed interest as of July 14. She provided that a second teacher would have to be considered if more than 40 were enrolled.

As to acceptance into the program, Singer said the most at-risk students would be in an initial wave of applicants. Those with family members at home who are affected variously to COVID-19 would be in a second wave, with all other otherwise healthy and interested students coming in a third wave.

As to whether those enrolled in the program could participate in athletics, Singer said they would not be able to at this point. However, while it is defined at as a standalone public school, she added that they could eventually be allowed to participate in some extracurricular activities like Academic Super Bowl.

While the program was borne out of concerns with COVID-19, Singer said it could evolve as an individual option moving forward. Cloverdale Schools will provide a similar track with its Virtual Success Academy, which was approved as an option last June.

With all of this being considered, the board approved the handbook for the Virtual Classroom program at North Putnam.

The complete handbook is available on the school corporation’s main website.

In other business, the board approved North Putnam graduate Stephen Edwards as an appointment to the governing board for the Roachdale Public Library. He will replace Jana Brothers, whose term on the board has expired.

Clinton Township representative Travis Lambermont was not present at the meeting.

The next regular meeting of the North Putnam School Board is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 20 at 7 p.m. in the North Putnam Middle School Media Center.