Sylvania: Open house planned for prospective students

3/9/2005

A school that intends to operate without a building will nevertheless hold an "open house" to introduce prospective students and their parents to plans for the Sylvania Digital Academy.

Academy Superintendent Dallas Jackson acknowledged that it may seem a little strange to hold an open house for a school that won't be housed in a building, but the start-up online school wants a chance to meet with those who may be part of its first class and to display the curriculum and technology.

The academy recently was awarded a grant from the state for $25,000 and intends to apply for a federal grant that totals $450,000 spread over three years.

The open houses are scheduled for April 13 and 27, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Support Services Building west of Southview High School.

Mr. Jackson said the site was chosen because of the computer availability at the building's technology center.

The academy will be available for high school students in the Sylvania school district who are being home-schooled, enrolled in charter schools, or who otherwise aren't attending a traditional school.

The digital academy is seeking a minimum of 25 students for its first class at the beginning of the next school year. A maximum number hasn't been determined, Mr. Jackson said, but he's not expecting much more than the minimum number.

For the first year of classes, all of which will be conducted via computer, he said the academy will need to keep the enrollment limited.

Mr. Jackson, who also is the assistant superintendent of Sylvania Schools, said the district established the digital academy as a means of educating some youngsters who, for one reason or another, have had difficulty performing well in a traditional school setting.

Classes will be presented through the Tri-Rivers Educational Association Digital Academy of Marion, Ohio. It is a consortium of school districts that provides curriculum, teachers, computers, technology and training for establishing on-line schooling in the state.

The Sylvania academy will be involved with the consortium for three years, but the level is meant to become less each year.

The curriculum and graduation requirements comply with state standards.