For all of the consternation and discussion we have heard over the years, there are really only two ways for the Warren County School District to solve its budget problems – cut expenses to live within its means or grow its revenue to pay for its expenses.

We’ve heard a lot about cuts, and we know how many county residents feel about the idea of closing school buildings. Growth is harder to imagine as our county population continues shrinking.

Could the Virtual Academy be an area where the district can grow its revenues and perhaps bring the school district’s revenues closer to expenses? Perhaps. The problem is the district has to spend money to make money with no guarantee that there will be a big payoff.

Right now the Virtual Academy helps the school district avoid big payments to other cyber charter schools for the 254 Warren County students who are enrolled in the academy full-time. If those students enrolled in other cyber charter schools it would have cost the Warren County School District nearly $5 million. Keeping those students enrolled in a district-backed cyber school meant the district eked out $452,000 in revenue from the program after accounting for expenses.

The Virtual Academy could be one way for the Warren County School District to grow offerings and revenues. One problem we see, though, is the market may be limited for a cyber charter. According to the Warren Forest Higher Education Council, 415 Warren County High School students responded to the council’s survey and “overwhelmingly” expressed a desire for face-to-face instruction. If a majority of engaged students prefer in-person classroom instruction, where does growth come for the Virtual Academy?

As district officials continue working through restructuring options and the district’s budgets for coming years, cuts have to be on the table. But realistic growth options should be considered too – as long as the district can find ways to afford the up-front costs for plans to grow something like the Virtual Academy and if there is demonstrated interest in the academy’s programs.