Calendar, virtual learning on agenda for Fulton school board

FILE: Meeting documents can be found at bit.ly/3n3iiPU.
FILE: Meeting documents can be found at bit.ly/3n3iiPU.

The Fulton Public Schools Board of Education will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Fulton High School Commons to hear about virtual learning, calendars and district programs.

This will be the second meeting this month that includes the Missouri Course Access and Virtual School Program on the agenda - the board heard an informational presentation Thursday from board member Emily Omohundro on the topic.

This time, Susan Goldammer, of the Missouri School Board Association's policy and legal department, will speak on MOCAP, the state's catalog of virtual online courses for K-12 students.

The program is only in its second year, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a surge in interest. In Fulton, 276 students are enrolled in virtual learning this fall.

Most local virtual students are using Launch, a program developed by Springfield Public Schools.

In other business, the board is expected to approve the 2021-22 calendar, which includes two full weeks for winter break and accounts for 86.5 hours above the state requirement of 1,044 hours. The first day of school will be Aug. 25, 2021.

A preliminary 2022-23 calendar will also come up. This calendar draft sets the first day of school at Aug. 24, 2022, includes a two-week winter break and sets graduation for May 26, 2023.

The board will also hear about the district's discussions of winter athletic and activity spectator expectations.

Staff will present reports on the library department, Parents As Teachers, differentiated services for at-risk, gifted, limited English proficient and homeless students and special services for students with disabilities.

Each of these reports as well as other meeting documents can be found at bit.ly/3n3iiPU.