The district has a legal obligation to educate the expelled student, and Southington last year experimented successfully with online classes as a way of doing just that at a cost of $1,250 per student per year, thereby saving on the expense of a private tutor, $11,400 per year. This year, students will be asked to take the five courses offered by the Virtual Learning Academy on either their home computer or one available at the local library.

We like the fact that a staff member at the high school will oversee the Virtual Learning Academy, since, we’re certain, some students will need support in using an online learning package.

Even more, we like Southington’s determination to offer the program to as few students as possible because the goal is to keep kids in school.

That’s good for the youngster and it’s good for the community, too.

For the rest of the article, go to Our View: Expelled but not lost