Mid-Del Schools contracts with Arizona company for virtual learning

By Jeff Harrison
Managing Editor

Mid-Del Schools recently revealed its plan to offer a virtual learning option for the upcoming school year.

Last week, school district leaders announced that online instruction will be provided through a third-party platform, Edgenuity.

The school board approved a contract with the Scottsdale, Arizona-based company during a July 22 virtual special board meeting. The district agreed to pay up to $300,000 for the online content management system for students in K-12.

Edgenuity provides a comprehensive product without any additional costs for materials or curriculum, said Cordell Ehrich, assistant superintendent of teaching and learning. Students will complete all their instruction through the online platform.

“This is really comprehensive which I think is easier for parents to approach when they’re trying to do this at home and trying to help their students,” Ehrich said.

Ehrich said the system is built on the Oklahoma standards with many course options, including AP classes and support for special education and English learners.

“It meets all the curriculum that we have,” he said.

The courses are also customizable.

“They send us the course, the full comprehensive amount, and we can adjust to fit and align better with a student,” he said. “If there was a special education accommodation we needed to make, English learners, or if a senior moved in late in the year and was virtual in their previous district we can adjust the content to help them be successful.”

Mid-Del teachers will facilitate learning but not will not provide learning though the Edgenuity platform, Ehrich said.

The school district considered options from Apex and Florida Virtual Learning Academy.

At the July 22 meeting, the school board also approved a $43,380 contract with Canvas Learning Management System. The district purchased the learning management system earlier this year, which allows teachers to structure content and lessons online and share it with students. The new contract will allow all students in the district to use the program.

Scott Haselwood, executive director of technology, said Canvas is not part of the virtual learning option but could be used by teachers to connect with students if they had to miss school for an extended period.