Board Approvals:
  • minutes of September 22, 2021
  • fiscal payments
  • donation of $938.00 from Zoetis to EHS Future Farmers of America to offset the cost of supplies
  • donation of $500.00 from Eagle 4LLC to EHS swimming to offset the cost of posters
  • donation of $850.00 from Camso Manufacturing Company to EHS Cheer for morning activities
  • donation of a used iPad Pro 12 with pen and tripod and $400 for a subscription to Matboss to EHS Women's Wrestling to film their matches
  • participation in the National Clean Diesel Rebate Program 2021 School Bus Replacement and Retrofit Funding Opportunity, $40,000 ($20,000 for each bus)
  • Memorandum of Agreement for 2021-2022 by and between USD 253 and the Southeast Kansas Education Service Center Interlocal No. 609, participation in the Parents at Teachers consortium
  • Memorandum of Understanding for the illness pool and increase the district paid health insurance fringe from $402 to $450 per month 
  • Bumblebees as the new mascot for the Jones Early Childhood Development Center
  • Memorandum of Understanding to change the language of the illness pool definition of “extraordinary circumstance” to include COVID-related events, individuals have until November 1, 2021, to donate to the illness pool to be eligible for the illness pool, MOU sunsets on the last day of the contract 6/30/22 Click here to view the MOU Illness Pool
  • increase the district paid health insurance fringe from $402 to $450 per month
  • premium pay for staff using ESSER II funds, guidelines for premium pay include:
  • actively employed from 11/10/2021 to 2/23/2021 - $500.00
  • actively employed less than .5 FTE (less than 20 hrs for classified) will receive $250.00
  • starting after 11/10/2021 - $200.00
  • staff hired after 11/10/2021 for less than .5 FTE (less than 20 hrs for classified) will receive $100.00
  • stipends will be paid to certified and classified on March 15, 2022, and administrators on April 1, 2022
  • actively Employed from 2/24/2022 to Last Day of School - $500.00
  • actively Employed less than .5 FTE (less than 20 hrs for Classified) will receive $250.00
  • starting after 2/24/2022 - $200.00
  • staff hired for less than .5 FTE (less than 20 hrs for classified) will receive $100.00
  • staff hired after 2/24/2022 for less than .5 FTE (less than 20 hrs for classified) will receive $100.00
  • stipends will be paid to certified and classified on June 15, 2022, and administrators on July 1, 2022

Board Discussions:
Student Academic Achievement Report (FastBridge): 
Mrs. Judy Stanley, Interim Executive Director of Teaching and Learning, and Dr. Ryan Karjala, Associate Executive Director of Assessment and Accountability, provided an academic report on the recent FastBridge assessments in reading and math. The data reported, shows that a large number of students at both the elementary and secondary level are at some risk or high risk in both assessed academic areas. The district plans to identify additional resources and increase the level of continuity in teaching methods from each grade level and school to help combat the learning loss that students have experienced.  

FastBridge meets the requirements for screening students for characteristics of dyslexia in reading as well as screening information in Math. The FastBridge assessment replaces MAP testing that has been used by the district in the past. Click here to view the FastBridge presentation

COVID Update:
Dr. Allison Anderson-Harder, Superintendent, and Dr. Brad Kempf, Interim Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, provided the board with updated information regarding the latest community COVID-19 trends and reviewed the district COVID-19 dashboard. Based on the current trends, the COVID Advisory Committee recommended continuing with the current Board of Education approved protocols. Board members had a discussion regarding possible changes in the district’s current mask policy but ultimately decided to make no changes to the policy at this time. Click here to view the COVID presentation

Construction Update:
Eric Woltje, McCownGordon Senior Project Manager provided updates on the district’s construction projects. Walnut Elementary is basically complete with the exception of renovations to the final three classrooms which will be completed by the end of the year. The State Fire Marshal has added some additional requirements at Walnut which McCownGordan is reviewing with the HTK Architects team. Emporia High School is 55% complete while the Jones Early Childhood Development Center is 75% complete.

At EHS, students and staff are enjoying the Music and Art rooms which have been completed while work continues on the pool area and Science wing. Both EHS and Jones are on schedule and anticipated to be completed in October of 2022 and January of 2022 respectively. Upcoming projects include Logan Avenue which has a tentative mobilization date of November 1st, followed by Emporia Middle School and Village Elementary. Click here to view the construction presentation.

Future Board Calendar Dates:
  • Wednesday, October 20, 2021, 5:15 p.m., Strategic Planning Meeting, Bowyer Building @ Lyon County Fairgrounds
  • Wednesday, October 27, 2021, 7:00 p.m., Board Meeting, Mary Herbert Education Center 
  • Wednesday, November 3, 2021, 5:15 p.m., Strategic Planning Meeting, Bowyer Building @ Lyon County Fairgrounds
  • November 5-7, 2021, Kansas Association of School Board Annual Convention, Overland Park Convention Center
  • Wednesday, November 10, 2021, 7:00 p.m., Board Meeting, Mary Herbert Education Center
  • Wednesday, December 8, 2021, 7:00 p.m., Board Meeting, Mary Herbert Education Center