toledoblade.com --

The Perrysburg Digital Academy likely will have about two dozen students enrolled by August as it begins it first year.

John Crecelius, superintendent of the online school, told members of the Perrysburg Schools board of education earlier this week that efforts are under way to meet with parents of homeschooled children to tell them about the new educational option, and other steps are being taken to get the word out about the new school.

By opening day Aug. 26, there should be 25 students signed up for the new school, Mr. Crecelius said.

Meanwhile, a new coordinator has been hired, and officials are hoping to get approval for the digital academy students to participate in extracurricular activities at Perrysburg schools.

Shawn Deitemeyer, a special-education teacher at Perrysburg High School for the last four years, was hired recently as the coordinator for the digital academy. He will divide his time between the new Web-based digital academy and the special-education department. His title will be Coordinator of Digital Academy and Special Education.

The digital academy will offer Perrysburg students in grades K-12 the opportunity to take classes online from their home computers. Classes will be provided by Tri-Rivers Educational Computer Association with instruction based on the state curriculum using certified teachers. One of Mr. Deitemeyer's first job duties will be to plan a community day to provide information about the digital academy to the community.

A graduate of Bowling Green State University with a bachelor of science degree in special education, Mr. Deitemeyer recently completed his master's degree in educational technology at the University of Toledo.

The Perrysburg school board is expected to consider a resolution at its June 26 meeting that would allow digital academy students to participate in extracurricular activities through the board of education.

A student must be a Perrysburg district student for at least one class, according to the rules of the Ohio High School Athletic Association.

Digital academy officials are interested in making sure that the students in the online school do not feel isolated or left out of school activities, said Mr. Crecelius, who also serves as director of curriculum for the Perrysburg school district.

The new school has received state and federal grants to help pay for start-up costs.

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