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