LIMA — The Lima school board approved the creation of a digital academy coordinator position with plans of starting an online academy at the school in the 2016-2017 school year.
“We are going to start small and see where we go,” said superintendent Jill Ackerman.
The digital academy will be offered to students in a variety of formats. The classes will be offered to gifted students looking for classes such as advanced foreign languages. The academy also will be offered to alternative and high school students looking to complete coursework.
“Alternative students often have full time jobs and they are trying to catch up credits,” Ackerman said.
Ackerman said the district will begin advertising for the position today. Interested candidates will need a teaching license and will be responsible for day-to-day functions of the academy. The school purchased 150 seats from Apex Academy at a cost of $19,000.
Ackerman emphasized that the digital academy would not be a separate or stand-alone school. The program will allow for the coordinator to check every individual student daily if needed. The coordinator will also meet with students weekly to check on advancement in coursework.
The academy also will come at no added cost to the district other than the purchase of the seats.
“We were able to incorporate the program into our regular load without adding any additional staff,” Ackerman said.
The new coordinator will report to the superintendent or building principals, but primarily will be required to work on minimal supervision. A laptop computer will be furnished to each student signed up for the academy.
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