Ignite school sparks again in Coupeville

By NATHAN WHALEN
Whidbey News Times Staff reporter
April 24, 2012 · Updated 1:45 PM 

The Coupeville School District is once again in line to partner with an online school that specializes in career classes.

Ignite Education Group wants to partner with the Central Whidbey school district to offer an online school that emphasizes health sciences, business, technology, engineering and digital media. The Oregon-based business originally chose a small school district in the Columbia basin. That deal apparently fell through and Superintendent Patty Page announced during Monday’s school board meeting that Ignite approached Coupeville again to see if there was any interest in partnering for an online academy.

School board members are concerned this time around because of the changes taking place in the school district.

“I’m a little hesitant because a new superintendent is coming into the school district,” board member Jeff Tasoff said Monday. The school district is looking for a replacement for Page, who is resigning her position to take over the superintendent position of the North Kitsap School District.

Don Sherman agreed with Tasoff while school board member Kathleen Anderson and Chris Chan wanted to move forward with the online academy. Board member Carol Bishop was absent from Monday’s meeting.

“I’d hate to see us miss an opportunity for our kids,” Anderson said.

In the end, Page said she would check if the decision for the online academy can be delayed until the superintendent position becomes clearer. If not, then she will pull the plug on the proposal and Ignite would look for another school district.

 

Contact Whidbey News Times Staff reporter Nathan Whalen at nwhalen@whidbeynewsgroup.com or 360-675-6611 ext. 5058.

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