Hutterites embrace online learning
Chester leads the way

In a world driven by technology, an unlikely group has embraced the concept of online learning. Hutterite colonies across South Dakota have partnered with the Chester School District to provide a high-tech high school education to students who previously would not have achieved an education past 8th grade.

Chester Superintendent Mark Greguson, who spearheaded the effort, is thrilled to be a part of the process. “One of the biggest rewards personally, for me, is to see the smile on those kids’ faces when they realize they can take a class or they can go to school,” he said in an interview this fall. Greguson credits the Chester School Board, the school’s teachers, its students and Hutterite community leaders for the project’s success.

The Chester Cyber School got its start about five years ago when members of a Hutterite colony within the school district approached Greguson. “They came to us and said: ‘Mark, we realize we need more than an 8th grade education,’” he recalled. Traditionally, Hutterites have discontinued their formal education after 8th grade. Furthermore, their beliefs prohibit students from attending public schools. The biggest challenge was figuring out how to get around that obstacle. A cyber school became the logical answer. It allows students to take classes on their own time without ever leaving the colony.

Greguson knew early in the process that in order to make the cyber school work, he would need more than one colony to participate. The Chester Cyber School officially launched in 2005-06 with eight colonies, about 70 students, and some part-time teachers. The school offered just a handful of classes.

Not surprisingly, Greguson was nervous about the venture, but he credits his school board for its support. “Our school board gave me the chance, and believe me, when we set this up, it was an investment. We started with 72 students, and I think our school board thought we would have closer to 30. ... I know they were thinking this better work.” As that first year got under way, Greguson’s anxiety eased. “I could see that this was going to go great guns, and it has,” he said.

Now, three years into the venture, the Chester Cyber School has approximately 260 students, six full-time teachers, including a technology coordinator, and three part-time teachers. Even more impressive, they have 26 of the state’s 56 colonies participating.

Chester Cyber School students include both males and females. Many are typical high school-age students, but some are in their ‘20s and ‘30s. The school offers all the courses needed for high school graduation and will graduate its first class next year. The school district provides for the education of all students under age 21. State aid applies to these students as well. The Hutterite communities pay for the education of students age 21 and older.

Learning takes place in an Intranet environment – meaning it is a closed, or private, system. Students do not have access to the Internet. The school’s teachers also utilize the state’s WebCT product. Due to the online delivery, teachers need to be flexible, as their students often have jobs and other responsibilities throughout the day.

“I thought maybe at first we would have a hard time finding teachers interested in this (type of format), but there’s a lot of teachers that this is their niche and they love it,” Greguson explained. “The six teachers I have right now, I wouldn’t trade. They are very adept at what they are doing, and it has worked out great.”

Greguson also has positive things to say about the school’s students. “These students want to learn. They want to dig in and find out,” he said.

The excitement Greguson feels about this project is infectious. “This is the first time they’ve had a chance. We are allowing anybody who wants to get an education to get an education,” he said. And, after all, isn’t that what public education is all about?

To hear a conversation with Chester Superintendent Mark Greguson, visit http://doe.sd.gov/edcast and click on “Chester goes ‘cyber’ for Hutterites.”