Board Approvals:
  • minutes of August 25, 2021
  • fiscal Payments
  • donation of $1,000 from Ida Haag and $500 from Lisa and Francis Scheve for the EHS tennis program to be used for a tennis Lobster Machine that serves tennis balls
  • donation of $3,000 from BP Cattle Company LLC to be used for EHS girls’ basketball uniforms
  • donation of $858 from KISS 103.1 to the Spartan Stop to be used for student needs
  • resolution 2021-10 expressing the property taxation policy of USD 253 Emporia with respect to exceeding the Revenue Neutral Rate for financing the annual budget for 2021-2022 for the General Fund, Capital Outlay Fund, Supplemental General Fund, and Adult Education Fund as submitted
  • USD 253 2021-2022 Budget as submitted
  • the settlement agreement between Symmetry Energy Solutions, LLC, Kansas Joint Utility Management Program (KJUMP), and KJUMP participating schools as submitted and pay Symmetry the outstanding balance of $27,574.61

Board Discussions:
COVID Update:
Dr. Allison Anderson-Harder, Superintendent, and Dr. Brad Kempf, Interim Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, provided updates regarding COVID-19. Highlights included a decrease in the community percent positivity rate as well as recent changes in guidance from Lyon County Public Health (LCPH). New guidance no longer requires students to quarantine if they are socially distanced by three feet or more and are wearing a properly fitted mask. This change immediately affected a large number of students who were able to return to school. Additionally, Jennifer Millburn, LCPH shared updates regarding the increased number of vaccination statistics in the community. Click here to view the COVID updates.

Strategic Plan Discussion:
Dr. Allison Anderson-Harder, Superintendent, presented information on the process to develop a strategic plan for Emporia Public Schools. The process involves the district and community reviewing and discussing district data to develop a vision for the next 3-5 years. The first step will be to organize district and community members to build a planning team. A timeline for this process was discussed and will occur in October/November of this year. Sue Givens, KASB State Field Specialist will facilitate the process. Click here to view the strategic plan presentation

Construction Update:
Eric Woltje, McCownGordon Senior Project Manager, provided updates on the district’s construction projects. Walnut Elementary is basically completed with the exception of renovations to the final three classrooms. Construction at Walnut is scheduled to be completed in December of 2021. Emporia High School is 52% complete while the Jones Early Childhood Development Center is 71% complete. Both projects are on schedule and are anticipated to be completed in October of 2022 and January of 2022 respectively. Upcoming projects include Logan Avenue followed by Emporia Middle School and Village Elementary. Click here to view the construction update

Future Board Calendar Dates:
  • Wednesday, September 22, 2021, 7:00 p.m., Board Meeting, Mary Herbert Education Center
  • Wednesday, October 13, 2021, 7:00 p.m., Board Meeting, Mary Herbert Education Center
  • Wednesday, October 27, 2021, 7:00 p.m., Board Meeting, Mary Herbert Education Center