FREDERICK, Md. — Frederick County students and parents are resisting a new plan to eliminate a virtual online school for kids from third through eighth grade with all kinds of difficult challenges.
Some call the online "Remote Virtual Program" school a literal lifesaver. But the school system says too few children are in the program, and with a $68 million budget gap, it is a sensible place to achieve some savings.
Remote Virtual Program students and their parents spoke at the Board of Education's Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee Meeting Monday evening, arguing why the program should be saved.
"It brings them to a safe space," explained parent Laura O'Neill before the meeting. "It allows them to work in the comforts of their own homes. They're not easily distracted because some of them have sensory sensitivity."
Laura O'Neill's 11-year-old daughter Breanne O'Neill is diagnosed with autism and ADHD, along with severe anxiety and depression.
Breanne O'Neilll wrote to school board members saying she has suffered from bullying and trauma in conventional classrooms.
"Being in online school is like the best thing to do for me and other students," she wrote. "Online school does have some faults, but it still helps a lot of kids like me learn and create."
Laura O'Neilll said her daughter's self-esteem went up and anxiety went down in the Remote Virtual Program school, which offers music therapy and other special education services.
"This is a technological advancement for the students," said Laura O'Neill. "This is the wave of the future. And they just regressed completely by taking this away. These students need this program and enjoy this program. The teachers are amazing, dedicated, and competent. And we want them back too."
The program was on the chopping block as the Frederick County Board of Education grapples with a $68 million projected shortfall.
Frederick County is Maryland's fastest-growing school system. The costs of providing for more students and inflation are at the root of the system's budget problems, according to FCPS spokesman Brandon Oland. He called the decisions on cuts "heart-wrenching."
Eliminating the Remote Virtual Program School for third through eighth graders will save $2.7 million, according to school system documents.
“One of the reasons this is up for consideration is because of our very low numbers," said FCPS Chief of Schools and Accountability Dr. Jamie Aliveto during a May 15 Board of Education meeting.
The Remote Virtual Program serves 224 of the county’s nearly 27,000 students.
David Bass, who sits on the Frederick County Board of Education said next steps include an in-person Board of Education meeting on June 12 where students and parents can speak again. He says it's unlikely that the program will be reinstated, but that's not stopping these parents from continuing to fight for the kids.
"This program, it means everything to these kids," said Penelope Campbell whose two sons are both autistic and in the remote virtual program.
"Some people like movies, some people like books, some people like podcasts," added Rob Medwie, whose three kids are in the remote program. "People like different things. People learn differently."
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