Mountain View to offer cyber school option

The Mountain View School Board approved an agreement with VLN Cyber Services for the 2019-20 school year at the Monday, March 11, meeting.

An extensive presentation was previously heard by the board. The services will cost the district about $9.500 per year. An additional charge will be made for each cyber student. The program can also create custom courses of study for students enrolled in the brick and mortar school.

“We are considered a half school,” Superintendent Karen Voigt said, explaining the low cost of tuition. She noted that all of the Susquehanna County school districts are likely to be hiring this company to provide cyber services.

“If we bring one student back out of cyber charter school into the

district program, it will pay for itself,” offered board member David Schulte, “As a single cyber charter school student can cost the district up to $34,000 per year.”

The Mountain View High School plan of study has been updated and several areas of study have been expanded and enriched thanks to a grant received to enhance STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) curriculum. The school board approved the Program of Studies for the high school Monday night following a presentation from Principal Robert Presley.

The high school plan of study will be available for view on the school website. The elementary and junior high plan of study will be presented at a later date.

The board voted to extend the contract of Superintendent Voigt by one year, for a total of five years. Voigt thanked the board and said that she would “do my best to continue to serve the students and community.”

The district will hold its first “Safety Summit” on Mar. 28 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Community members can meet the SRO James Bernosky, learn about the Safe2SaySomething app, and get a glimpse of ALICE active shooter training. A presentation on what the kids are learning, and another on the dangers of vaping, will be given.

Bernosky, who was in attendance at the board meeting, was thanked by

several staff members as well as the board president. “A lot of families are saying they are happy that you are here. We feel safe,” said paraeducator Veronica Thomas.

The board heard a reading of Policy 806, Child Abuse, by committee chair Christine Plonski-Sezer.

Presley said, “My teachers have been trained on this, and they are always told, if you have any questions, report. They have a manual, it’s online, and if they wish one of the counselors or I will work with them.”

Voigt said that the Healthy Kids Grant will be used for food sampling for events, and that map stencils have arrived for the popular painted United States and World playground maps. Previous maps were lost in a repaving project.