Penn Manor School District is promoting an online learning opportunity as an option to spending $758,779 to educate students at cyber charter schools.

The expense of cyber charter schools is "an astounding amount," Superintendent Michael Leichliter told the school board Monday when he and technology director Charlie Reisinger announced a campaign to entice "virtual" students to enroll or re-enroll at the district's brick and mortar schools.

Virtual Solutions, launched by Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13, offers "a new and exciting virtual high school choice for students and families," Reisinger said.

The pilot program offered by Penn Manor is focused exclusively on secondary students, he said.

It is being implemented at seven other districts in Lancaster County, according to published reports, and enrollment varies from zero to 15 students in the participating districts.

Leichliter and Reisinger held an information session regarding the Penn Manor Virtual School on Aug. 4 for district families currently enrolled in a cyber charter school. Since then, Penn Manor has enrolled five virtual students, marking the "break-even point," Leichliter said. The district pays a fee to be included in Virtual Solutions.

"With one more student, we will start seeing a return on our investment," Leichliter said.

The district reported it is aiming to enroll 10 students.

The program's appeal to families is flexibility. Under a blended model program, some students may never have to set foot in a school building, while others may be able to attend traditional classes on a part-time basis.

"Right now, it's all or nothing," Leichliter said.

Theresa Kreider, director of special education for the district, said there are many reasons given by students who opt for a cyber charter education, including psychological and medical. In most cases, however, Kreider said students in cyber charter schools report "traditional high school just isn't for them."

Reisinger said, "People who are successful at cyber courses are intrinsically self-motivated" and usually have a lot of parental support.

Unlike most homeschool students, many cyber students have siblings who attend regular schools.

Moneywise, there is no cost to the district for students who are homeschooled. By comparison, every cyber charter student costs the district $8,773, even without the added expenses of transportation and infrastructure.

Districts in the county paid $9.7 million in charter school tuition last year, according to state records.

"Technical infrastructure" is actually more expensive than classroom instruction, Reisinger said. Also, he said cyber interactions are also more time-consuming than "hallway conversations."

Virtual Solutions is "risky but innovative, and the pay-off is phenomenal," Reisinger said.

The program replicates what is already happening on college campuses as well as business and industry, he said.

And, it enables the district to meet a need that is not currently being met, Leichliter added.

Richard Frerichs, school board president, praised the program.

"Districts will not look the same five years from now," Frerichs said. "We have to look outside the box, or we're not going to survive."