By Tracy Ouellette
SLN Staff
The East Troy Community Schools Board of Education discussed the possibility of recognizing homeschooled children who take classes in the district at graduation ceremonies at the July 15 meeting.
The matter was put on the agenda after Maria Elena Bisabarros came to the June 10 board meeting ask the district to reconsider its denial of eighth-grade recognition for her son, who is home schooled but took classes at East Troy Middle School.
In June, Bisabarros told the board her son was upset when he was told he wouldn’t be part of the recognition ceremony, even though he was performing with the band at the event.
District Administrator Chris Hibner told the board that his sticking point with recognizing homeschoolers at the graduations was the fact that they were not enrolled in the district. By law, homeschooled children are allowed to take two classes a year in the district they live in, but they are technically enrolled with the state in the homeschool program.
Hibner also pointed out that homeschooled children are not bound by attendance laws for the classed they take and the district receives no money to educate the students, because they are not enrolled in the district.
“You talk about children like they’re dollars,” Bisabarros said.
“I disagree,” Hibner responded, adding that it wasn’t about the money, but the fact the students are not enrolled in the district.
Hibner said he didn’t have a problem with homeschoolers taking classes in the district and encouraged families to take advantage of the opportunity.
Hibner said he had no problem with individual teachers giving out certifications of completion for their classes and that Bisabarros’ son had received a certificate from his band teacher, like all the other band students. But this was the teacher’s choice and not required by the district.
Bisabarros said her son was very “offended” by how things were handled.
“Does it take so much just to make a child happy,” she asked Hibner. “You do so much for the problem kids and the special needs kids, why can’t you do this? It’s just a piece of paper.”
“A piece of paper has to mean something or why give it out?” School Board President Ted Zess said.
School Board member Bob Dignan said that while he knew Bisabarros’ son received a “phenomenal education” at home, the district had no way of knowing if all the homeschooled children received similar experiences.
The board members discussed possible ways to recognize homeschoolers at the promotion ceremony, with School Board Vice-President Jessica Fuchs supporting having something for them at the ceremony. She motioned for the board to give Bisabarros’ son a certificate of completion for the courses he took at the middle school and to bring the matter of a broader policy back to the board.
No one seconded the motion.
Bisabarros said that was all she wanted, further discussion on a solution and better communication with the parents so a situation like the one with her son didn’t happen again.
While Hibner said he disputed Bisabarros’ take on what exactly happened the day her son was informed he wouldn’t be part of the ceremony, he acknowledged better communication with the parents of homeschoolers was the place to start.
The board discussed the issue more, with concerns about how to go about tracking if homeschoolers completed the work and attended classes and unintended consequences of changing the district’s policy at the forefront.
“People choose to homeschool for all different reasons and they know they won’t get all the benefits of public school,” board member Tony Barrett said.
The board chose not to pursue the matter, but instructed administration to look into ways to better communicate with the parents of homeschoolers about the matter.
Supt. Hibner and those BOE members that question the merit of this request are correct! No offense, but my gosh, has Ms. Bisabarros really thought her request through? I am all for Homeschooling—a great option for parents and children. Parents and students that choose homeschool are choosing just that, “Homeschool.” It is wonderful that homeschoolers can have some participation in public school classes! Recognizing homeschooler at a Public School Graduation, when the focus is on recognizing those students who were enrolled and held accountable for their public school program and attendance simply makes no sense. Please East Troy School Board, don’t diminish your Commencement, and the value of your East Troy PUBLIC Schools by buying into this ridiculous request. Ms. Bisabarros and her son made a decision to homeschool. OH, and finally, please don’t put anything more on the plate of your PUBLIC school teachers, administrators and staff by having them track, or verify the work of homeschoolers. Be assured that they are plenty busy now with all the demands put upon them. Sincerely, Jim Hickey, Phd