The West Mifflin Area School District is seeking to revamp its cyber school program to further meet the needs of students.

The new Titan Cyber Academy would offer three learning options for students, including asynchronous cyber, synchronous cyber and a blended option that would include both asynchronous and synchronous learning.

Students could also opt for a hybrid option, which would be a mix of in-person learning in the school building and cyberlearning.

At a March 18 meeting of the West Mifflin Area School Board, Brian Plichta, principal at Clara Barton Elementary, who has also been tasked with heading up the new cyber academy, presented information to the board.

The district currently offers an asynchronous cyber program called the West Mifflin Cyber Academy, but the proposed changes are aimed at better serving the student population. The new option would also be taught by West Mifflin Area School District teachers using district curriculum, with one teacher proposed per grade at the elementary level.

“The mode is limited in how it reaches students,” Mr. Plichta said of the current cyber academy, which has an enrollment of 43 West Mifflin Area School District students.

Additionally, about 600 district students are learning remotely due to the pandemic or other factors.

“Even pre-COVID, we had kids going to outside cyber schools,” Mr. Plichta said. “I think it’s all just based on needs.”

For instance, he said, high school students like the flexibility of cyber if they have a job.

Mr. Plichta said about 99 students are enrolled in outside cyber or charter schools, which costs the district $1.6 million a year.

“If we don’t act now and revamp this program, it could get worse,” he said of the number of students choosing an outside option.

Mr. Plichta pointed out the Titan Cyber Academy can offer something that cyber charter schools cannot — the hybrid option where students can take certain classes in the brick-and-mortar buildings and others online.

“Now we have an advantage no one else does,” Mr. Plichta said of the hybrid option.

For instance, if a student wanted to take orchestra, they could come in for that period of the day and then leave to go back to the cyber program.

Students in the Titan Cyber Academy will also have access to district resources such as mental health services, extracurricular activities and sports. Cyber students can also receive free breakfasts and lunches from the district.

“This is the future of public education,” said Superintendent Jeffrey Soles.

The Titan Cyber Academy is slated to start next school year.

Deana Carpenter, freelance writer: suburbanliving@post-gazette.com.

First Published: March 25, 2021, 4:54 p.m.