Students in Union Public School District will have an opportunity to get ahead on their studies this summer after the Board of Trustees approved a partnership with Booneville School District to offer online courses in their May 13 meeting.
Tyler Hansford, superintendent for UPSD, said the district previously partnered with BSD last year and were pleased with the results.
“Last year, we did our summer school with Booneville School District and had online courses with them this year,” he said. “It works out well.”
Through the online portal, Hansford said UPSD students will be able to take a wide range of classes such as algebra and English that can help them prepare or even get ahead of their classes next year.
“Pretty much anything you can think of,” he said. “We’re recommending we do summer school with them again.”
The cost of online access is passed onto students, Hansford told the board. Students will pay $225 for each class they register for. However, he said, the district will allow students to borrow laptops over the summer if they need a computer for the class.
“We do lend them technology from the district if they need it,” he said. “Usually a chromebook.”
Also, over the summer, UPSD will be offering an additional driver’s education course. The student population has grown enough that current driver’s ed offerings are not enough to meet the demand, Hansford explained. A summer course will allow more students an opportunity to get their license instead of waiting for the next school year.
Looking forward to the 2019-20 school year, Hansford announced the district had been awarded both of the school nurse grants it had applied for in March. The district had previously received one school nurse grant, but it had been unavailable for several years.
The two grants, Hansford said, will each pay the salary for a school nurse for 5 years. He said he hoped to receive one of the two for UPSD but receiving both was a welcome surprise.
“I was thrilled,” he said.
Additionally, Hanford said he learned UPSD had been awarded a 21st Century grant to improve and expand technology in grades 6-12.
“It’s a $700,000 grant over three years,” he said. “It’s $250,000 for the first two years and $200,000 the third year.”
With the grant funds, Hansford said he had plans to upgrade the district’s computers, purchase STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) equipment and possibly add a robotics course to the district’s curriculum.
