FOX2 Video: Parkway In 'You Paid For It' Segment

The Parkway School district is defending itself over plans to have Superintendent Dr. Keith Marty, a deputy superintendent and the district's high school principals attend a conference in Kissimmee, FL.

The district was questioned in FOX2's "You Paid For It" segment for plans to attend the International Center for Leadership in Education's Model Schools Conference at a time when the district has cut back in other areas because of budget concerns.

Dr. Marty told FOX2's Elliott Davis that he's attended the conference before and that the event, which will cost district taxpayers $10,800, will help administrators learn more about efficiencies.

Click Here for a link to the conference's website

In a statement to Patch, a district spokeswoman said:

Many high schools today haven’t kept up with the changing needs of students. We force them to take only the classes we offer at any given school and only at certain times during the week. Yet with technology and some creative scheduling, we could offer classes in the evenings or on weekends, and we could offer more courses for students. For example, if we can only afford to offer Japanese or AP Calculus at one of our schools, why don’t we allow students at the other schools to take the classes if they’re willing to drive to the school? Those are the kinds of things we’re looking at for our kids.

The spokeswoman added the administrators are sharing hotel rooms at the conference.