Education is very important, but not every child learns the same way. Virtual learning is the way to go for some children and parents. RUSD is planning on closing our virtual program, and that will affect the students, teachers, and the parents. The reasoning is to cut budgets. There are many children who cannot focus or concentrate in a large class setting. My child being one of them. My son has done both public and virtual, and it was not until virtual learning that he was able to make progress because of his ADHD. The public-school teachers were so overwhelmed that it was easier for them to tell me, along with other parents, that we should get our children on medication. We should not have to drug our children in order for them to learn. Especially if there is an alternative that really works for them. The virtual teachers should not have to be out of a job that they really love, and they are really good at. The progression that these children have been making in this program shows that. This program also works for the parents who may not be able to get their child to school every day, because not every child is eligible to ride the bus. Parents also feel safer with their child at home with all of the bullying, fights, and even weapons in the schools.  
 
If the virtual program stays, I believe that these children will stay on track with their studies and the teachers will keep their jobs. To be honest, I do not understand how the virtual program is eating up the RUSD budget. There is no lunch program, no bus service, No textbooks, and no field trips. The virtual program does not even have its own building. They are in a RUSD building that has other offices in it. We could always work together and have fundraisers like the public school to raise extra money if needed.  
 
This has caused a lot of stress for the teachers, parents, and students because this information was just thrown at us. Some of these children have been in this program for so long that they are freaking out about the change. As parents who care about our children's education and taxpayers, our voices deserve to be heard before they close this program for good.