Article submitted by Jamie Fleury, The Pilot News Staff Writer
PLYMOUTH — The Plymouth Community School Corporation (PCSC) board acknowledged the New and Revised Policies and Guidelines made by Neola on the first read during the regular meeting in February.
Laura Kruyer — Plymouth Education Association (PEA) President and PCSC Educator brought the board’s attention to two mandatory items of discussion; the Indiana Course Access Portal regarding iCAP Mentors and the Use of Social Media. She also requested that moving forward, that the board list mandatory items of discussion on the meeting agenda giving the PEA an opportunity to address concerns prior to adoption or approval of first read in the process.
The first item Kruyer addressed in detail was the Indiana Course Access Portal (iCAP) Mentors. The new item reads: “Mentors are Corporation employees who are assigned to the student upon iCAP enrollment by the Corporation. Mentors do not need to be subject matter experts (although some course providers recommend this for students at the AP level). The mentor’s main role is to offer active facilitation for student success.
Mentors will need to demonstrate competent use of technology in multiple systems while possessing organizational and efficiency skills to include accurate record keeping. They must also “understand and advocate for the students in alternative learning situations”; exhibiting compassion while holding the student accountable.
Mentors will help the student set goals and persist through course completion, provide technological assistance including log-in, facilitate communication and foster the student’s relationship with the iCAP course teacher, assist with course procedures and student grades, and provide feedback to the iCAP Point of Contact about processes, offerings and course providers.
Kruyer asked, “Question in point … would be the mentor? As we are looking at, it says the mentor will be assigned to students and that mentor is responsible for helping to advise the student as well as make sure their experience is successful. While all that sounds good…keep in mind teacher shortage and limitations. The question is … we are adopting these policies because Neola is throwing them our way but do they fit our corporation? Especially when right now, for instance, our Spanish students who are on iCAP classes don’t have a regular teacher in the classroom. It’s sub after sub after sub. Who will be that mentor because it’s not the Guidance Counselor according to this reading. It’s not the Outreach Person from iCAP. So who will that be? That needs to be very clear.”
According to in.gov, iCAP was introduced as HEA 1007 in 2017 and was adopted as Indiana Code 20-30-16 which offers over 180 course options among seven course providers who have been approved by the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE).
Authorized Providers for the program include Achieve Virtual Education Academy, Apex Learning, Edgenuity Inc., Edmentum EdOptions Academy, Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation Virtual Academy, Indiana Online and Ivy Tech Community College.
The average cost per high school course (one credit) is $280.64 with the average cost per dual credit course reported at $509.80.
The program was designed to offer students in Indiana with options for taking online courses from those maintained by the IDOE.
Indiana School Corporations are allowed to use these virtual opportunities to “round out” student schedules with desired courses, address staffing challenges that limit the range of courses offered, or simply expand the range of courses offered. The iCAP report for 2020-2021 available on in,gov reported 106 students enrolled at PCSC (5485).
Kruyer also requested clarification on “Use of Social Media”; Administrative Guideline 7544. She informed the board that as Feb. 1 during the regular meeting there had been no communication or discussion with the PEA regarding the guideline as it pertains to curriculum. She emphasized that there will be a definite need for staff awareness and training. “Two questions come to my mind. One, knowing that these fall under the mandatory items of discussion, should that happen before the first reading? Or do we qualify and meet the criterion of the law as long as we have it before the vote? And two, we’d like to talk about it.”
PCSC Board President Melissa Christiansen said, “Yes. I appreciate that. Thank you.” No additional discussion about either concern was addressed in the public meeting.
