In their annual update to the Oxford Board of Education, representatives from Oxford Virtual Academy (OVA) and Oxford Schools Early College (OSEC) showed the board some of the two schools’ latest happenings at the board’s Feb. 26 meeting.

OSEC

Mark Suckley, OSEC’s coordinator and counselor, highlighted the school’s involvement with the Michigan Early Middle College Association (MEMCA), which brings students from early and middle college programs from around the state together. Recently, OSEC students hosted a MEMCA leadership conference for 17 schools at Rochester College in Rochester Hills.

At the conference, Oxford students led talks about fundraising and community service. The OSEC students involved in Oxford Gives Back, which organizes an annual spring clean-up for the community, led the visiting schools in preparing care packages for people in local homeless shelters.

“If there’s any way I can help (others) after I’ve done it a few times, that’s what I’m going to do,” said one OSEC student in a video of the event.

Suckley said OSEC students will visit the board soon to give an update on Oxford Gives Back, and he thinks trustees will be just as impressed as he is with the high-achieving students. “At OSEC we’re all about what the students do, and we just kind of help encourage and then step back,” he said.

OVA

Along with growth and marketing, Principal Janet Schell highlighted OVA’s new Fusion program. The Fusion program allows students to combine schooling with online, at-home and in-person teaching with an Oxford teacher.

“It came out of a place where parents were wanting a little bit more,” Schell said. “They were wanting to make that kind of secret sauce, the in-between of more of a blended education.”

Schell noted the Fusion program is tuition-free and gives students and parents the ability to get an Oxford education from a variety of locations. OVA has offices in Oxford, Grand Blanc, Hillsdale and Shelby Township that allow students to be a Wildcat from afar. To keep everything running smoothly, Schell visits and communicates with the other locations regularly.

Schell said the program, in its first year, is being received well by those who use it.

“Our overall surveys at this point (show) things are happy,” she said.

Schell also noted that OVA, which encompasses shared time, full-time, part-time, Flex, Fusion, OSEC and consortium students, makes it known that students can still be involved even though they learn at home or online. Oxford’s clubs and sports are open to many of OVA’s students

“As soon as they enter Oxford, they’re embraced,” she said. “They just know coming in that they have access to everything.”

OVA continues to be fast-growing, and Schell said the powerful word of mouth has made the program what it is. She and board members mentioned excitement for what’s next on OVA’s horizon.

“I love that we’re providing educational solutions to meet children where they’re at,” trustee Chad Griffith said. “I’m real proud to be a part of that.”

The board of education is scheduled to meet again on March 12 at Oxford High School. Meetings start at 6:30 p.m.