Launched in the 2021-2022 school year, 279 Online emerged as a comprehensive K-12 virtual school option, a response to the increased demand for flexible learning pathways following the COVID-19 pandemic. The program’s introduction marked a shift from the district’s prior limited online offerings, adapting to the new educational needs of students and families.

During the presentation, the Superintendent underscored the historical, current, and future perspectives of online learning in the district. The Digital Learning for All (DL4A) plan, developed through collaboration with educators, parents, students, and community stakeholders, aims to ensure personalized learning opportunities. The program allows students to learn at their own pace and in environments best suited to their needs, a vision that has been part of the district’s strategy since 2017.

The board learned that enrollment trends have varied across grade levels. Elementary enrollment showed proportional changes, with fewer kindergarten participants and increases in upper elementary grades. High school enrollment remained stable, except for a notable decline among seniors, dropping from 87 to 53 students. The presentation emphasized that online learning facilitates “shopping” for schools, allowing students to enroll without physically relocating.

The competitive landscape for online education was also discussed, noting over 100 public K-12 online options in Minnesota. The district’s leadership team is working towards sustainable models for online programming, with a focus on financial viability and effective marketing strategies to communicate the program’s unique strengths in a crowded marketplace.

A significant portion of the meeting involved discussing the 279 Excel program, which offers part-time online supplemental learning options. Last year, 423 students participated in online courses, and 174 students enrolled in supplemental online courses through 279 Excel. A partnership with Northstar Online provides access to courses not available within the district, such as Mandarin Chinese. This year, the supplemental program expanded to allow non-district students to enroll, a change from the previous year when only resident district students were eligible.

The board was updated on the district’s marketing efforts. Since June, there have been 86 online enrollment applications, a significant increase from the six applications received the previous year. Website traffic surged, with nearly 9,000 visitors in six months. The marketing strategy includes social media, Google ads, local advertisements, and the newly acquired website, 279online.com.

The meeting also touched on the strategic planning for the 2024-2025 school year. A speaker presented insights on aligning the strategic plan with the operational plan, emphasizing system-wide alignment from administrative leadership to classroom instruction. The focus for the current year is building upon past achievements while refining and prioritizing efforts to meet the district’s objectives.

Strategic Directions A and B were discussed, highlighting initiatives such as the Minnesota Multi-Tier System of Support for Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS), trauma-informed practices, and restorative practices. The district aims to ensure equitable access to high-quality facilities and promote rigorous and equitable pathways for students. Updates were provided on digital learning, the implementation of an identity-based harm protocol, and ongoing efforts related to previous resolutions, such as those from the George Floyd and AAPI initiatives.

The board also discussed operational priorities, including staff retention and recruitment strategies and the development of a comprehensive health and wellness strategy for staff. Cybersecurity emerged as a priority, with plans to protect the district’s digital infrastructure. The meeting concluded with discussions on measurement strategies, emphasizing the importance of tight alignment across all levels of the district’s operational plans.