Staff Bulletin | March 08, 2023

The Board recognized Mrs. Misty Lawson, a Emporia Middle School 8th-grade ELA teacher ,and Mrs. Megan Powers, a first-grade teacher at Riverside Elementary, for being selected as the district’s nominees for the 2023 Kansas Teacher of the Year. The Board also recognized Mrs. Martha MacKay who was recently named a 2023 Kansas Master Teacher. Congratulations to each of our outstanding teachers!

District Events:

District Website:

The District will be launching a new website on March 31. When the site launches users will have the opportunity to review the site and are encouraged to provide feedback regarding any broken links, errors, or missing content. The new website is ADA-compliant, all pages and most documents are searchable, it can be translated into 5 languages, and is mobile-friendly. 


Kindergarten and Preschool Pre-registration:

Pre-registration for kindergarten and preschool will be available through Google form links on the district website beginning April 12. Kindergarten students must be 5 years old on or before August 31, 2022, and 3 and 4-year-old preschool students must meet eligibility requirements. All pre-registered students will enroll online beginning July 17. For more information contact Jones Early Childhood Development Center, the elementary school nearest you, or the Student and Family Resource Office at 620-341-2396.


Kindergarten Welcome Tours:

Parents/Guardians along with their students who will be in kindergarten for the 2023-2024 school year are invited to attend a Kindergarten Welcome Tour on April 25 from 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM or 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM. Each of the district's 6 elementary schools will be hosting families for school and classroom tours. Families are asked to make sure they have pre-registered online at usd253.org and attend the Welcome Tour at the boundary school based on their address. The tours are scheduled as a come-and-go event. If you have any questions please contact your student's elementary school or email community.relations@usd253.net


PowerSchool Maintenance:

PowerSchool will be performing routine system maintenance on PowerSchool SIS from 3:00 PM Saturday, March 11 through 12:00 PM Sunday, March 12. The application will be available for the majority of the maintenance, however, you may experience intermittent connectivity.


Human Resources Reminders:

New Directions Behavioral Health/Employee Assistance Program: This program often provides great benefits and support for life events that impact not only our physical health but our mental health as well. Some examples include stress management, elder care, finances, etc. You can find additional information at the New Directions Employee Assistance Program, by calling 800-624-5544. Read more, March newsletter



District News:

Village Elementary

On Saturday, April 1st, Village Elementary is hosting three events for you to enjoy. We will have our annual IN-PERSON 20-mile bike ride, 5K run, and new this year Cornhole Tournament.

Tour de Village Registration Form

Cornhole Registration Form 

Tour de Village online registration link


Logan Avenue Golf Tournament:

The Logan Avenue Lion Launch disc golf tournament is on Apr. 1 at Soden's Grove. There will be two rounds - 9:00 am for Men's, Women's, and Youth 13-18, and 12:00 noon for Youth 12 and Under and Parent-Child Doubles. A full schedule and link to registration can be found at www.usd253.org/lion-launch/. The first 90 registered players will receive a player pack including a Lion Launch disc and other great items. Prizes from a variety of local businesses will be awarded to the top three finishers in each division. Questions - email samuel.barrett@usd253.net

Appointment, Resignations, and Retirements:

Use the link to review the employment recommendations.



The Emporia High Girls’ basketball team was welcomed to school this morning by EHS students, staff, cheerleaders, and band members. EHS will play Andover tonight in the first round of the 5A state basketball tournament.

On Tuesday evening, Mrs. McKenzie Dakin, 5th-grade teacher, and student leaders from Riverside Elementary presented school highlights at the Board of Education meeting.

Board Approvals:



Board Updates and Information:


Construction Update:

Mr. Eric Woltje, McCownGordon Senior Project Manager, provided updates on the district’s current construction projects. Emporia Middle School is 55% complete. Casework and lighting fixtures are being installed in the science wing, ceiling grids are being installed in the administrative area, and over spring break the cafetorium floor will be completed. Village Elementary is 52% complete. Work is being completed on the multipurpose room/storm shelter with plans to turn the space over to the district for use after spring break. Lights and ceiling grids are being installed in the administrative area. Construction will begin on Timmerman Elementary and Riverside Elementary in mid-May. Renovation work will be completed over the summer in both schools in 2 special education classrooms and construction of the 2 new rooms at each school will be completed by the end of the 2023-2024 school year. Programming for William Allen White Elementary has begun. Learn more here by reviewing the construction presentation.


Safe and Secure Schools:

Mr. Jared Giffin, Director of Human Resources, and Mr. Todd Ayer, Emporia High School Security Officer, shared information from the Kansas Department of Education Safe and Secure Schools Conference they recently attended. Giffin and Ayers provided highlights from the sessions they sat in on which included resources for school safety, student panels, and drug prevention, among several others. The district is looking at having a formal presentation from Safe Defend a company at the conference that offers a safety resource to schools.

Learn more about the Safe and Secure Conference by reviewing the presentation slides. 


Emporia High School 2022-2023 Improvement Update:

Mr. Dathan Fischer, Emporia High School Principal, and members of the EHS School Improvement Team provided an overview to the Board regarding their Improvement Plan Goals The goals set forth are to increase the percentage of students at levels 3 and 4 on the state assessments and reduce chronic absenteeism. The team also reviewed their reading, math, and ESL strategies to support the school's Improvement Plan Goals.

Learn more about the EHS School Improvement Plan here. 


Student Academic Achievement:

Mrs. Judy Stanley, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching, Learning, and Student Services, and Mrs. Tara Glades, Director of Student Services, reviewed the District's winter 2022 FastBridge assessment data. Overall the data was very positive at both the elementary and secondary levels. Schools are beginning to see the positive impact that is occurring due to their school improvement strategies and goals. Stanley also pointed out that schools are not seeing a dip in their student’s math scores even with the challenges of implementing a new math curriculum. Learn more about the FastBridge Assessment data here.



ELA Resource Adoption:

Mrs. Judy Stanley, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching, Learning, and Student Services, Mrs. Tara Glades, Director of Student Services, and members of the English Language Arts (ELA) Curriculum Council shared their recommendation for a new ELA resource that will better meet the needs of district students. The group provided strengths and challenges of the proposed resource, Elementary - Into Reading (HMH) and Secondary Into Literature (HMH). Upon the conclusion of the presentation, the Board voted to approve the proposed resource for K-12 in the amount of $1,408,525.68 with $971, 041.08 of the cost to be paid for with ESSER III funds. An ELA resource for Pre-K will be approved and purchased at a later date.

Learn more about the proposed ELA resource here.



Future Board Calendar Dates:

  • Wednesday, April 12, 2023, 6:30 p.m., Board Meeting, Mary Herbert Education Center
  • Wednesday, April 26, 2023, 6:30 p.m., Board Meeting, Mary Herbert Education Center
  • Wednesday, May 10, 2023, 6:30 p.m., Board Meeting, Mary Herbert Education Center