He might not be selling ice to Alaskans, but Mark Catalana's job is no easy task.

He's trying to convince parents of home-schooled children to send their kids to the Mehlville School District.

Not the most amenable audience, perhaps. Educating your child at home is a major task that requires serious motivation. And many home-schoolers opt out for religious or cultural reasons.

But Catalana's offering something a little different: the ability to attend Mehlville without leaving home.

It's called the Virtual Program.

"It's distance learning with an online curriculum," said Catalana, director of alternate programs for the Mehlville School District.

The program started two years ago for students who don't fit well in a classroom setting.

"Girls with children to watch or students with anxiety issues," Catalana said, by way of example.

Virtual program students study and take tests online at home.

Twenty-two students are now enrolled.

Next year, the district will open the program up to home-schooled students.

Catalana said his research shows the program is the only one of its kind in the St. Louis area.

Because the state of Missouri does not require parents of home-schooled students to register, there is no data kept on how many are in the district.

To get a foothold in the home-school community, Catalana has been meeting with area home-school support organizations.

So far the response has been friendly, if not overwhelming.

Cathy Mullins of South County is the mother of two home-schooled students.

She's also a member of St. Louis Homeschooling Activities, Resources and Encouragement (S.H.A.R.E), a support group for homeschoolers.

Mullins admits many home-schoolers will scoff at the idea of joining their local district.

"Some people look at popular culture and want to grab their kids and run the other way," she said. "Others are worried they'll be put on some government list, or if they pull out they'll be bothered. A lot are afraid because it means more government control."

But Mullis said some home-schoolers could find the program useful.

"It's something I'm going to keep in mind for people who might benefit," she said.

Mullins said the idea of attending school remotely would have been a much harder sell in years past when the home-school community was more homogeneous.

"Home-schoolers are so diverse now," she said. "Years ago, I would have said we wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot pole."

Mullins said not everyone is equipped to teach children at home.

"Some people who want to home school just don't have the skill or have other commitments."

Mullins said a program such as Mehlville's is a workable compromise for these parents.

Catalana said the program has other benefits: a standard high school diploma and the ability to join in school activities such as clubs and social events.

Sports, however, are out. The Missouri State High School Activities Association prohibits athletes from enrolling in distance learning programs.

While a diploma and the chess club might appeal to some, Mullins said they aren't necessarily going to change the minds of most home-schoolers.

"Colleges don't care," she said. "They want to see your transcript and your test scores."

Home-schooled students use either self-generated transcripts or transcripts issued by a home-school association to gain admission to college, along with standard test scores such as the ACT.

And these days, home-schoolers have their own social events, thanks to groups such as S.H.A.R.E.

"We organized a prom with 200 people," Mullins said. "We have art shows, dances and a student council."

More than 800 families, mostly from St. Louis County, are members of S.H.A.R.E., according to Mullins.

Mullins said the program could make financial sense to some home-school families, noting they pay taxes to support the school district but must also cover the costs of at-home instruction.

Catalana said adding home-schoolers has a negligible financial impact on the district, given the small number of students involved in the Virtual Program.

One person who recommends the program is Mehlville senior Tasha Iven.

Two years ago, Iven enrolled in the brand-new program because of medical problems.

"I don't know what I would have done without it," she said.

One of the benefits of the program is it allows you to work at your own pace.

Iven said she was able to complete her coursework after spending four to five hours a day online, several days each week.

She also kept in touch socially.

"I was allowed to stay in French club and stay in contact with my friends," she said.

Iven graduated with college credit and will attend Unity College in Maine in the fall.

Whether such positive endorsements are enough to draw interest from home-schoolers remains to be seen.

Catalana has yet to sign up a student, but outreach efforts have just started.