Could virtual classrooms be the wave of the future? With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, anything seems possible, and in the Owego-Apalachin School District, there are already some new lessons learned flowing into its curriculum.

What You Need To Know

  • The virtual program will offer typical day-to-day classes, along with college level courses

  • Students may enroll one semester at a time

  • Non-district residents can pay $1,000 to enroll their kids for year

Owego-Apalachin started the 2021 school year with a first of its kind “virtual academy” which will give students in grades 7-12 the chance to take full time, virtual classes throughout the year.

It comes as, despite a greater push to vaccinate younger kids, a feeling of uncertainty continues for the safety of in-person learning.

“We’re giving our kids options. We’re giving our kids the ability to learn at home. We’re giving our kids the opportunity to take college level courses and get college level credit at home,” said Zach Tarnowski, an Owego-Apalachin middle school history teacher.

All middle and high school students now have the opportunity to enroll in full-time virtual courses with teachers like Mr. Tarnowski. This comes in part as the district learned that some children simply learn better in a virtual setting, and it could become a more regular option.

“It’s absolutely phenomenal to have students within our community back in the building. We understand, though, and what the pandemic has taught us is that education is changing and it’s changing in terms of the technology we use to get across to all of our students,” said Tarnowski.

And that technology really has to be seen to be believed.

“This technology here enables me to teach and move around my classroom and have this particular instrument record and follow me so that as I’m lecturing, I have recorded lessons for my kids, particularly in the virtual program who are able to them click on that lesson, whether they want to look at it at 4 o’clock in the morning or 4 o’clock in the afternoon," said Tarnowski.

As Owego-Apalachin leads the way in virtual learning, they’re also giving children outside the district the chance to join. Non-district residents can pay $1,000 to enroll their kids for a year.

“It’s a phenomenal opportunity for not only the kids within our distinct, but kids outside of the district; if they deem that they can learn better virtually, we encourage you to check out our program. It’s something that is going to enable you to get a very good quality education," said Tarnowski.

The district will provide an iPad to each student enrolled.