Now that an election for new school facilities has been decided, the USD 257 board is turning its attention to long- and short-term goals.
Facility improvements are just part of the plan, and last week’s election will allow the district to focus on other areas of need, board president Dan Willis and Superintendent Stacey Fager said.
“There were a lot of things we weren’t able to address with the bond issue. Now we need to prioritize the money we’ll get from the savings and decide how we are going to use that,” Fager said.
One of the key areas of concern is safety, which the district already has started to address with things like a new “Lokdown” app that alerts all staff, faculty and law enforcement of an emergency or intruder, and new security cameras courtesy of money from the Allen County Commission. The district also plans to add special locks on classroom doors that would better protect against an active shooter or similar situation.
A long-term goal would be to take a look at the location of the office at the high school. The high school is the only building where the office is not near the main entrance, which is secured by cameras and automatic locks.
High school administrators also want to consider options to make the library more inviting for students, perhaps as some type of internet cafe.
Other planning considerations included a look at expanding the curriculum. The district already has taken steps to introduce new reading programs. Next year, the district is scheduled to review math and fine arts curriculum. Next year also will be the second in a three-year grant to improve professional development, which gives training opportunities to teachers and staff.
The district has applied for a $200,000 grant that would allow it to join forces with private preschool providers in the area. The goal is to make sure all incoming kindergarten students are properly prepared with basic skills.
At the high school, the district has expanded its career technical education opportunities. They’ve added a college and career advocate to better guide students through their post-secondary plans and to expand internship opportunities. More certificate programs are expected to be offered, including a wind energy training at the Rural Regional Technology Center at LaHarpe.
Fager expressed relief that state legislators approved a plan to increase state aid to school districts. But as districts throughout Southeast Kansas deal with declining enrollment, it’s also important to frequently review necessary staffing levels, Fager said. Typically, any reductions can be done through normal attrition, like retirement. The district also will consider salaries and benefits to better attract and retain teachers. Fager also expressed optimism that new facilities can help stabilize enrollment and attract or retain teachers.
“We want to keep expanding programs we can offer to students, as well as keeping the right size of faculty,” he said.
The district also recently addressed technology needs in the purchase of new laptops for teachers and Chromebooks for new students. In the long term, the district will review its technology contracts.
Finally, the district is working to improve communication through a district newsletter and a new website. The district is considering a new service that will link its “Schoolwave” communication program to the district’s website.
Elementary schools have introduced new activities to bring parents into the schools, like their “Muffins With Mom” and “Doughnuts With Dad” meals as well as regular literacy events.
Next month, facilities director Aaron Cole will discuss a list of possible summer maintenance projects. With the passage of the school bond issue, the district might want to shift its focus to areas that won’t be addressed with the new facilities, Fager said.
The board should review its goals annually, likely in July when they’re also considering the next year’s budget, Willis said.
