USD214 Has Hearing, Hears Reports

The USD 214 school board conducted a hearing on the enrollment of nonresident students Tuesday October 9. 

The primary changes discussed were concerned with attendance and suspensions.  The board plans to bring the enrollment of nonresident students as an action item at its next meeting.

During the school board meeting, FFA student officers approached the board for approval to travel to Indianapolis to attend the National convention while stopping in St. Louis to tour.  The students also plan to visit the Daytona NASCAR Raceway.  Approval was given by the board with Board Member Daron Cowan making the motion. 

In other business:

Marcia Raines, principal for Hickok Elementary School, reported upon the “Every Child Can Read Act” of Kansas.  This is a state law which requires every school district in Kansas to implement a literacy program based on the science of reading.  The goal is to ensure every student is able to read by the third grade. 

Raines shared that 60 percent of students are reading below grade level, which meets the average across the state.  According to Raines, 32 percent, 34 percent, and 35 percent of kindergarten through second grade students, respectively, are reading on level and are on track to meet this goal.  At this moment statistical results are just coming in.  Superintendent Cory Burton remarked how the school desires to use this information to help better the students. 

Kevin Warner, Assistant Superintendent, shared the school districts Virtual School has received, “a clean audit for the first time in several years.”  This was celebrated news. 

In addition, progress is being made from fall to fall with the FB aReading assessment.  This assessment provides “a useful estimate of broad reaching achievement from kindergarten through twelfth grade,” according to the FastBridge website.  Of notice is there was no drop from learning loss in what is coined, “the summer slide”.  Students are retaining over the summer break the valuable information that they are learning the year before. 

Student attendance continues to be of discussion with USD 214’s attendance being slightly worse than 2022, but on average with the State of Kansas. 

Burton discussed school enrollment and expressed concern with a declining trend.  Clay Scott, President, stated, “since 2017 we’ve lost the equivalent of 10 classrooms.”  This is a total of 234 students. 

The school board plans to look into having the Middle School concessions stand manned by school groups for fundraiser opportunities.  Currently the concessions stand is managed by a private family. The family volunteers running the stand and benefits no profit.  The school board is extremely grateful for the family’s continued help in running the stand. 

In addition to the concessions stand, the board also plans to explore raising gate prices at sporting events. 

“We did not bring in enough gate [income] to cover the officials for the year,” Burton said.

The board noted game official salary is increasing and currently the gate prices are not covering bookkeeper, gate keeper, or announcer costs.  Scott suggested a flat gate price across the board. 

It was reported to the board the FFA Farm upgrades are progressing with the current phase being slated for completion by the end of the month.  Currently one heifer is calling the farm home.  Additional animals, such as pigs and goats, will not be able to be housed until March. 

Marcia Raines reported upon the school’s Day Care.  The Day Care has received one $150,000 grant, one $2,000 grant, and is seeking an additional $10,000 grant. 

Kansas state law requires a fence to be installed around the playground.  Quotes are being sought.  A quote of $22,000 was given to epoxy the floor.  Discussion occurred to answer the question of sustaining the Day Care program with an option to seek grant monies to cover operational expense and/or help from local businesses.