INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A state school district must provide parents with a choice of three full-time, K-through-12 virtual schools and the Indian River County School Board is compliant, having approved three contracts at the Tuesday meeting.
Computer access must be provided at a school, if the parent requests that option, instead of using a home computer.
Florida Virtual School, considered a school district by the state Department of Education, is again one of the virtual-school providers for the district. A full-time student will cost the district $5,200.
Fuel Education is a second online school option. A full-time student will cost the district $4,295.
The third option is Connections Learning Virtual Instructional Program. A full-time student will cost the district $3,750.
School Board Member Charles Searcy asked why the contracts gave a start date of July 1 and why they had not been presented earlier.
Dr. Michael Arnett, who oversees technical education, said the district’s and companies’ lawyers were working out the terms of the contracts, which caused a delay. The contracts will show a start date of Aug. 23, he said.
