School district announces tutoring partnership

Area News Editor

news1@ulyssesnews.com

A new online tutoring platform is now available to USD 214 students. Assistant Superintendent Kevin Warner announced a partnership with Varsity Tutors for Schools at its July 8 meeting, saying the online program is free for students and extends through June 30, 2030.

“This is a totally 100% free Online 25/7 tutor for our kids, English and Spanish, all subjects,” Warner said. “All of their tutors go through a background check, every session is recorded. The integration and background checking and vetting is a pretty high standard.”

The comprehensive platform integrates interactive study tools, collaborative workspaces, and dynamic learning resources, including:

•24/7 On-Demand Chat Tutoring in English and Spanish

•On-Demand Essay Review

•Live Enrichment and Remediation Classes

•SAT and ACT Test Prep Classes

•Celebrity-Led StarCourse Classes

•Self Study Resources

•College & Career Readiness Resources

•Adaptive Assessments & Personalized Learning Plans

•Recorded Enrichment Classes

More than 500 school districts across the country utilize the Varsity Tutors for schools platform  to supplement classroom learning and to collectively close learning gaps.

“If our teachers and our kids don’t take advantage of this, this is not on us,” Warner said. “It’s a pretty slick deal. At 2:00 in the morning, there will be a tutor there to help you with your math, Spanish or English.”

Varsity Tutors for Schools delivers a rich set of learning options to deploy for all students,” said Anthony Salcito, Chief Instructional Officer at Varsity Tutors for Schools. “Our comprehensive platform access is now available to all K-19 schools at no cost, allowing them to budget for targeted intervention with best-in-class high dosage tutoring options, including flexible implementation models that can put administrative staff, teachers, or parents at the center of the high-dose tutoring relationship, depending on the needs of the district.

The platform will be available for grades 6-12.

•Warner also announced that the district has moved from Conditionally Accredited to Accredited, with final approval expected in August.

“That’s good news for us going forth for accreditation,” Warner said. “Now we’ve just got to put the meat and the potatoes with student achievement.”

•Among other new programs for 2024-2025 is the IXL platform, which is an intervention platform that the state has bought for math.

“It’s not just math related,” Warner said. “There’s a lot of data behind it to show the growth of kids, as a secondary resource. It is not only to fill gaps, but it’s also to push kids.”

The high school will use it for English Language Arts as an intervention program and extension.

“They’re also going to utilize it in ACT Prep,” Warner said.

The Board of Education approved the following School District Designations as part of the Consent Agenda:

•Official District Newspaper: The Ulysses News

•Official Bank Depository: Grant County Bank for all standing accounts; Investments of Proceeds to be determined by straight bid process between Grant County Bank, Bank of Ulysses, and Dream First Bank

•Federal Program Representative: Corey Burton, Superintendent

•District A.H.E.R.A (Asbestos) Coordinator: Andrew Cole, Director of Facilities

•District KPERS Representative: Stacy Figgins, Business Manager

•District Attendance Officer pursuant to K.S.A. 72-1113: Building Principals

•Compliance Coordinator for Federal Anti-Discrimination Laws including Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, ADA, and Section 504: Corey Burton, Superintendent

The district also made the following individual appointments for the 2024-2025 school year:

•Board Clerk: Dawn Oakes; Alternate: Kevin Warner

•Treasurer: Stacy Figgins, Business Manager

•Board Attorney: Paul Kitzke of Hugoton

•Auditor: Dirks, Anthony and Duncan, LLC

•Board Representative and Two Alternates for HPEC: Board Representative: Diana Nunez; Alternate #1: Daron Cowan; Alternate #2: Ron Smith

•District Benefits Committee: Board Representative: Daron Cowan; Administrator: Corey Burton; Teacher (GCTA member): Kim Sandoval; Teacher (non GCTA – jointly appointed by GCTA and Board): Jennifer Burns; Non-certified: Stacy Figgins

•Food Service Representative: Shandra Meile, Director of Child Nutrition

•Hearing Officer for Free & Reduced Meal Application Appeals: Corey Burton, Superintendent

•Freedom of Information Officer: Corey Burton, Superintendent

•KASB Governmental Relations Network (GRN) Designee: Mike Meyer

•KASB Delegate Designee: Mike Meyer

The Board decided to forego an Executive Session and voted to approve resignations and contracts with no discussion.