R-II board discontinues optional distance learning

Marion County R-II students will no longer be able to participate by choice in distance learning.

The Marion County R-II Board of Education approved discontinuing the individual distance learning program during their meeting last week, at which they also heard an update on finances, adopted guidelines for English language learners and heard an update on the April election.

In making the determination to discontinue the distance learning individual program, the board noted the lack of success by the students involved in the program.

To date, only three students remained in the program, after the school started the school year with 12. The remaining students returned to the classroom at the end of the first quarter, according to Superintendent Jason Keilholz.

While individual distance learning is not an option, students who are quarantined by the health department will still receive distance learning for the period they are quarantined, Keilholz added.

In other business, Keilholz gave an update on current financial numbers to the board, noting the district is in good shape at this time.

He also provided a preliminary look at fiscal year 2021-22, noting he just wanted to show the board how things could be next year.

“I look at our historical assessed valuation growth and estimated what I thought our funding would look like and where we’d be with our current receipts,” he said.

The board also adopted MCE policy 6180, which gave guidelines for English language learners and designated the school counselor as the ELL implementer.

They also adopted policy 6190, which pertains to the MOCAP program and sets guidelines for enrollment procedures.

Keilholz also updated the board on the filing period for board of education candidates, noting that began Dec. 15 and runs through Jan. 19.

There will be two seats open for election, those currently held by Judy Stratton and Jared Stewart.