MANITOWOC (NBC 26) — The Manitowoc Public School District is partnering with The Menasha Joint School District to offer K-8 students virtual learning options while staying enrolled in MPSD.
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The partnership gives families access to the Fox Valley Virtual School, which started during the pandemic and continued after the districts saw sustained interest.
Manitowoc Superintendent Lee Thennes said 60 to 80 families have already shown interest in virtual learning outside of MPSD.
"It really opens the doors for options for any student in our district who is looking to have that alternative to in person learning," Thennes said.
The district also hopes the partnership will help address declining enrollment.
"We have a goal in our district of reducing the number of students who open enroll out to other schools to decline the gap that we have because we have more students out than choose in," Thennes said.
Mara Schlintz, a parent with two children in the Fox Valley Virtual School program, described how the school operates.
"Our teachers are live with students all day. The students are in class with their peers, they have one on one time with their teachers, they have small groups, they have virtual clubs," Schlintz said.
When asked why she chose virtual learning for her children, Schlintz said the format was a natural fit for her family.
"It just ended up being a really good fit. I think sometimes school can really feel like a full time job," Schlintz said.
"It's really hard to find time to connect with your family and I just really like having my kids at home," Schlintz said.
Schlintz said the flexibility is especially helpful for her older son, who is on the autism spectrum.
"For him learning is optimized in a virtual environment," Schlintz said.
Students who enroll in the virtual program do not have to give up MPSD activities. They can still participate in sports and in-person electives through the district.
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