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August 16, 2006

Cyber students to have more options

By Nancy Lowry

Mohawk cyber school students will have more options this year.

School board members last night approved three options for its own cyber service.

A letter sent this week to parents of the district’s cyber students explained the changes. They are:

•Full enrollment off site. These students will complete all coursework online at home and be monitored by Mohawk teachers.

•Full enrollment on site. These students will complete coursework online, but at the high school. Students will participate in the district’s after-school program, which runs from 2:45 to 6:45 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, and be monitored by Mohawk teachers.

•Partial enrollment. These students may participate in classes at the high school and, if they meet course prerequisites, participate in online courses.

Superintendent Dr. Timothy McNamee said these students could participate in advanced or remedial courses that are not offered by the district.

McNamee said between nine and 15 students from the district participated in the cyber school, which had been offered through the Midwestern Intermediate Unit IV and functioned as a charter school.

However, the charter was not renewed in June, he said. Those students and another 23 students who have expressed interest, will be contacted, he said.

“We will be continuing the virtual school, but students who complete this course of study will receive Mohawk diplomas. They will be our students,” he said.

As such, McNamee noted, the students will be eligible to participate in all district activities and services.

Assistant superintendent Kathleen Kwolek said the district is one of 78 in the state that will share in a $10 million elementary science grant.

Although the district will receive no additional funds, Kwolek explained, the Pennsylvania Department of Education will pay for training and materials for science teachers.

“We will upgrade our science curriculum, kindergarten through grade six,” she said, adding that 32 of the district’s teachers will be involved.

She said the improvements will prepare the district for the 2007-08 school year when science will be included in the PSSA testing.

Following the meeting, the board conducted an executive session, where they discussed increasing McNamee’s salary by 3.75 percent. His new salary, effective with the 2006-07 year, will be $105,690.

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