The head of a southwestern Michigan school district says he's awaiting word on an appeal of Michigan's $480,000 penalty over the state's finding that the district violated educational standards for online students in 2011-12.
The dispute involves Gull Lake Community Schools' recently established Gull Lake Virtual School.
The Michigan Department of Education's Office of Audits says the district failed to meet a requirement that online students communicate with their "mentor" instructor at least once a week by phone or email. The state has withheld $480,000 in aid over the compliance issue.
Gull Lake Superintendent Chris Rundle tells the Battle Creek Enquirer that the district has made changes "to ensure everything is done correctly." He says it hasn't yet heard whether the state will reconsider its decision to withhold the aid.
