CAPTION: Superintendent of USD 313 Cindy Couchman, left, and members of the Buhler Board of Education celebrate the opening of Ad Astra Academies in Hutchinson. CREDIT USD 313
By Michael Glenn
Buhler USD 313 celebrated the grand opening of Ad Astra Academies Friday morning, located at 1800 East 23rd Avenue in Hutchinson.
The new facility will be host to three different education curriculums offered by USD 313, including a virtual school, an alternative learning center and an adult education program.
Superintendent Cindy Couchman said the virtual school began one year after the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and has continued ever since. Couchman said the virtual school was originally organized to meet student needs during the pandemic but has grown to serve students of all types.
“It’s been very successful,” Couchman said. “The program Erica Shook has built has been unique, as the virtual students still come together often. They take field trips and unique learning experiences.”
Director of the Ad Astra Academy Erica Shook said the virtual academy has grown to serve roughly 200 students throughout the state of Kansas. Shook said the academy serves students from preschool through high school.
“COVID taught a lot of people that some students thrive in a different learning model than a traditional brick and mortar setting,” Shook said. “[USD 313] decided to keep their mission to provide an excellent experience for education.”
The new facility will also host the Ad Astra Alternative Academy. The alternative school serves students who use a hybrid approach to a completely virtual education and a traditional education. Couchman said the program began with only high school students but has since expanded to include middle school students as of this year.
The program requires students to attend in-person classes but also complete work remotely.
“Sometimes it’s family life, mental health or the education setting itself,” Couchman said. “It’s a small group, in-person learning environment. We want it small. It’s in person and they have to come to the building.”
The final education curriculum offered at the new academy is the adult education program, which serves adults who did not earn a high school diploma to finish the required credits and graduate. Couchman said the program has been successful in its novice years.
“They enroll in our virtual platform but they walk them through and they can get an actual high school diploma,” Couchman said. “We’ve had a few go through that. We have staff members who never received their diploma and finished it through the program.”
Couchman said education has changed drastically in the past five years, and educators have adapted since the pandemic. She said USD 313 is working to meet the needs of all students.
“I think we had a very narrow view on how to do education, and I think we’ve gotten more open to delivering information,” Couchman said. “You’re seeing it even at the college level. We have asynchronous, synchronous, in-person, hybrids and I think education across the state is starting to realize we can do it in many different facets. We can meet the kids where they are and meet the needs of families.”
The virtual and adult education academies serve any students in the state. The alternative academy is reserved for in-district students in grades 7-12 to keep the size of classes and groups steady.
Those interested in learning more information about the academies or educational opportunities can contact Erica Shook at eshook@usd313.org or call 620-694-1043.
