Imagine being able to take a high school class at any of more than 75 high schools around the country without ever having to leave your classroom.

Well, starting next fall, students at Newnan High School will be able to as the Coweta County Board of Education approved yet another technological milestone Tuesday night.

Newnan High School social studies chairman Steve Quesinberry is set to teach the county's first class over the Internet. The course is a history of Southeast Asia and is part of the Virtual High School Program.

In exchange, students at Newnan High School will be able to enroll in a variety of other courses around the nation offered through the new program.

Curriculum director Judy Robinson said the school system is very excited about the opportunities it offers students around the nation.

“We've got a large school system, so we have a lot of elective courses, but some small systems can't afford to have many of these courses,” she said.

Board member Bill Covington applauded the system's effort at getting involved in the program and had just one question for Robinson.

“Can I take the class?” he said.

Robinson laughed and said he was more than welcome to take the class, but would have to audit it and not receive a grade.

The system also is adding a number of theater and musical theater classes to the curriculum, after a request from Northgate High School.

Board chairman Mike Sumner said he understood the fine arts program was very strong at the school, and the music and drama departments wanted to stage some shows together.

Sumner also reminded the board that the county's voters were promised a fine arts auditorium when they passed the one-cent special purpose local option sales tax to help build new schools recently.

“It's time to move forward on that project,” he said

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