ISD 279 eliminates elementary grades from online school
The ISD 279 School Board announced Tuesday it will eliminate elementary grades from its 279 Online program, reconfiguring the full-time online school to serve only students in grades 6-12 beginning this fall.
The decision affects 70 elementary students currently enrolled in kindergarten through fourth grade at 279 Online. The program has experienced declining enrollment since its peak of 901 students in 2021-22, dropping to 365 students as of late January. The online school currently operates at a $1.2 million deficit, according to district officials.
It's never an easy decision," said Brian Bass, assistant superintendent for equity and achievement, during the work session at Northview Middle School. "In the most general sense, it was a decline in student enrollment at the elementary level and then looking at the operational and financial impacts associated with this decline.
District officials said 35 of the 56 affected elementary families have already committed to enrolling in other district elementary schools. The remaining families are being assisted by the district's enrollment center in finding alternative educational options.
The school board also reviewed budget adjustments totaling $8.3 million in capital requests for fiscal year 2026. The proposed budget includes funding for transportation contract negotiations, technology upgrades, and support for the district's new elementary school. Board members are scheduled to vote on the budget proposals at their February 25 meeting.
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