The new director of the Bowlus Fine Arts Center settled into his office Monday and introduced himself to the USD 257 Board of Education.
Daniel Kays stopped by the board meeting Monday evening to thank the board for hiring him.
?It?s exciting. I think it?s time for new energy and new thought, and I think I can bring that and work with you as a team as we bring different life to the Bowlus while celebrating what we are,? Kays said.
Kays comes from San Jose, Calif., where he served as operations manager for the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts. He and his family, including his wife, Laura, and two teenage sons, moved to Iola over the weekend. Another on attends college in New Hampshire.
Monday was his first day on the job, which he spent settling in and getting familiar with the facility and staff.
The public will have a chance to meet Kays Saturday, Oct. 20, before the new season of performances begins at the Bowlus. A ?meet and greet? with Kays begins at 6:30 p.m. in the new lobby at the east entrance. No ticket is required to attend the meet and greet, but tickets are required as the season?s first performance kicks off at 7:30 that night with ?Beginnings, The Ultimate Chicago Tribute.?
Strategic planning
It?s time for the board to take a look at its future, President Dan Willis said.
He recently attended a Kansas Association of School Boards conference and wanted the board to organize a goal-setting retreat, likely after the first of the year.
The district?s current strategic plan expires in 2019, and the board hasn?t had a strategic plan meeting since 2015, Willis said. He cited needs like improving communication by better utilizing the district?s website, comparing graduation rates to the state average and taking a look at the curriculum.
The accreditation process, of which the district is in its second year, requires each building to set two or three goals this year, Superintendent Stacey Fager said. Leadership teams are working on determining those goals and want to include literacy as one of the goals, he said.
Fager said he will look into options for a goal-setting retreat, possibly by utilizing KASB resources rather than Greenbush, as has been done in the past. Willis said he thought it might be useful to see what KASB could offer.
IN OTHER news, the board:
— Dissolved the Iola Band Booster Club. The band booster club was an outside organization whose leaders moved and expressed a desire to dissolve the organization and transfer any remaining funds to the band, Fager said. The athletic Booster Club is not affected.
— Approved purchase of a Lokdown smartphone app, a notification system that can be used in the event of an emergency like an intruder or school shooter. The app allows anyone approved by administration ? teachers, custodians and other staff, and administrators ? to quickly send a text message warning of the event. If necessary, the app will notify law enforcement. It also allows teachers to tell administrators how many students and visitors they have, so everyone in the building can be accounted for. Humboldt schools currently use the same app, and the Marmaton Valley district is considering it. County commissioners said they might provide financial support to pay for the app next year, but the USD 257 board decided to buy it regardless.
— Heard an update from Fager about the Career and Tech Ed building. Construction of a construction classroom for the building trades class could begin in the spring, after smaller projects are completed this fall. The classroom could make it easier to implement a wind energy class if funding is secured.
— Heard a report about new programs at Lincoln Elementary School. The school has implemented Professional Learning Communities to help teachers talk about goals and skills needed to help students be successful. They?ve also implemented other programs, like an educational book study for all staff. Other programs have encouraged parents and grandparents to visit the school more often for things like breakfast, lunch and game nights.
