The Fountain Hills Unified School District Governing Board will begin business quite a bit earlier than usual this evening, beginning September’s business with a board retreat.

The board retreat is set to begin at 4 p.m. During this meeting, members will discuss the previous school year, as well as set board goals for 2016-17.

The regular meeting will begin at its usual time, 6:30 p.m. in the District Learning Center.

The highlight of tonight’s business will likely be the consideration of an IGA with Paradise Valley School District for online curriculum. A discussion topic in late August, the board will tonight vote on the possible purchase of eight courses to kick off FHUSD’s online offerings.

According to Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sweeney, if approved, the plan would be to offer some form of these courses later this semester, with a wider rollout in early 2017. From there, FHUSD could offer additional online courses and grow its educational opportunities for students both inside and outside the local district.

Other key items making up tonight’s School Board agenda are a trio of extracurricular trips.

The board will tonight discuss a possible eighth grade Earthquest Trip scheduled for March of 2017, and vote on a seventh grade Star Gazers trip to AstroCamp in October and a high school Leadership camp scheduled over the upcoming weekend.