Virtual Community School of Ohio

“Reynoldsburg board places virtual school on probation.” ThisWeek Community News (OH), 7/18/2012

The Reynoldsburg Board of Education voted unanimously Tuesday, July 17, to impose a probation period of one school year for the Virtual Community School of Ohio.

Board members had discussed suspending the online school, which serves 1,300 students from kindergarten through 12th grade, because of concerns over finances and hiring practices, but instead agreed to place the school on probation for the 2012-13 school year.

The Reynoldsburg district sponsors the online charter school.

Superintendent Steve Dackin said he was prepared to "trust but verify."

A state audit in January revealed the online school was facing an $800,000 deficit for the 2012-13 school year and had failed to satisfy its debts and liabilities or pay bills on time.

The audit also said the school had hired the wife, brother and son of Virtual Community School Superintendent James McCord, a possible violation of Ohio's ethics laws.

"We had great concerns about the financial audit of VCS," Dackin said. "We created a list of assurances for the school to respond to and they have agreed to those assurances.

"I am prepared to trust, but verify, that they will follow the plan during the probation period," he said.