The USD 417 Board of Education met for its regular meeting on Monday, June 8, at the District Office Board Room.
Tracie Schroeder was recognized for receiving the Kansas Society of Professional Engineers Outstanding Teacher Award for high school teachers in Kansas. Schroeder said she was nominated by a former student, which made the recognition especially meaningful.
Valerie Gehrer, Director of Teaching and Learning, reviewed Fast-Bridge growth data with the board. Gehrer reminded the board that Fast-Bridge is a skills-based screening tool, not a standards-aligned assessment. Students are screened three times a year in reading, math and social- emotional areas to help identify needs and measure growth.
Gehrer reviewed growth data for Council Grove Elementary School, Prairie Heights Elementary School and Council Grove Junior Senior High School. She said teachers use the data to identify students with low achievement but high growth, determine what worked for those students and look for ways to replicate that progress. She also said the district will bring state assessment data to the board next month.
Superintendent Eslinger reviewed feedback from the District Site Council. He said several respondents connected the district’s first two strategic plan pillars, noting that strengthening staff directly affects student success. Feedback also encouraged the district to continue discussing facilities needs following the failed bond issue, because building concerns still remain. Other themes included transparency, communication, focus, declining enrollment and screen time. Eslinger said one summary of the feedback was, “Invest in people, communicate clearly, focus deeply, and keep moving forward.”
Eslinger said the district had received its final special education assessment update and, because of declining enrollment, the assessment did not increase as much as originally expected. He noted, however, that the district still transfers about $1 million from its general fund because the state does not fully fund special education.
Proposed policies related to personal electronic devices and staff online communication were also reviewed. USD 417’s communication policy is expected to continue emphasizing ParentSquare as the district’s official communication platform, rather than allowing multiple platforms for different teachers, coaches or groups. The district’s personal electronic device policy also will need to cover prekindergarten through 12th grade. Discussion included phones, smartwatches, wireless earbuds and other devices that would need to be secured during the school day.
The board also reviewed a building cost analysis prepared as a high-level look at operating costs for Prairie Heights Elementary School, Council Grove Elementary School and Council Grove Junior Senior High School. Eslinger said declining enrollment, building space, special education funding and the unknown future of the state school finance formula are all part of the district’s planning picture.
According to the review, Prairie Heights had about 77 students and an operating cost of a little more than $1 million, with 93.5 percent of costs tied to personnel and a cost of a little more than $13,000 per student. Council Grove Elementary had about 294 students and an operating cost of about $2.6 million, also with 93.5 percent of costs tied to personnel and a cost of about $9,000 per student. Council Grove Junior Senior High School had about 360 students and an operating cost of about $2.9 million, with 92.5 percent tied to personnel and a cost of about $8,300 per student.
The board approved renewal of the district’s property and casualty insurance and moved workers compensation coverage to EMC through Tyner Insurance for July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. The estimated premium is $297,435. Eslinger said moving workers compensation to EMC is expected to save about $4,000 to $5,000 through bundling. The district’s insured property value is approximately $69 million.
Breakfast prices were approved for the 2026-2027 school year. The board voted to change the district’s current policy of providing free breakfast for all students. Paid-status students will be charged $2.10 for breakfast and reduced-status students will be charged 30 cents. Adult breakfast will remain $3.10. In a report to Eslinger, Food Service Director Becky Shearer said that the free breakfast arrangement was not intended to be a permanent plan, but was used to ease the transition after the period when all students were eating free meals during and after COVID-related programs. Board member TinaRae Scott asked that parents receive adequate notice of the change.
The board approved 2026-2027 lunch prices as presented. Paid lunches for prekindergarten through sixth grade will be $3.50. Paid lunches for seventh through 12th grade will be $3.55. Reduced lunches will be 40 cents, adult lunches will be $5.25 and milk will be 50 cents. Eslinger said the district is using the state’s formula and still has about a 73-cent gap to make up, but the district does not want to make that adjustment all at once. The approved change raises lunch prices by 10 cents.
The after-school program fee will increase by $2 per day for the 20262027 school year, bringing the daily cost to $5. Eslinger said the program has been running in the red, and the increase is intended to help cover the cost of providing the service.
Eslinger said a construction adviser, such as Switchgrass Construction Advisors, can provide an outside review of capital outlay and bond planning. Board President Terry Powell said using a third party can help remove emotion from facilities decisions and keep the focus on facts.
A quote from Switchgrass Construction Advisors was approved. The company will provide capital outlay planning and bond initiative support for the district. The task order includes an amount not to exceed $35,000 for phase one, capital outlay plan development, and $40,000 for phase two, bond initiative support. The total contract amount is not to exceed $75,000, plus reimbursable expenses not to exceed $10,000.
A $50,633.05 contract with Coryell Roofing was approved and will cover elastomeric roof coating restoration and patch repairs on the 1918 and 1960s sections of Council Grove Junior Senior High School. The work will be funded from the capital outlay fund. Eslinger said the cost had been reduced from about $83,000 to the $50,000 range after the scope was adjusted. Patch repairs will be made over a couple of spots on the 1918 section, and coating work will be done on the 1960s section, which includes the home economics area, pending adhesive testing.
A five-year, 60-month lease and maintenance agreement with Century Business Technologies for a new fleet of Sharp copier devices at a rate of $2,495.26 per month was approved. Eslinger said the district will reduce the overall number of copy machines while moving more of them under the lease agreement.
Following executive sessions regarding non-elected personnel, the board approved employment matters, which included employment for Pam Burnett, Council Grove Elementary School nurse; Jacy True, assistant high school volleyball coach; Tracey Oltmanns, substitute teacher; Travis Gordon, Council Grove Junior Senior High School cook. Dustin SanRomani was hired as the district’s Coordinator of School Learning, Innovation and Student Opportunity, a new position that serves as a teammate to the Superintendent and Director of Teaching and Learning in supporting building leadership and staff.
Resignations approved included Terry Lif, assistant junior high track coach; Tracey Oltmanns, Prairie Heights Elementary School teacher aide and after-school program director; Sarah Cosgrove, high school English language arts teacher; and Samantha Kennedy Pettit, Council Grove Elementary School teacher aide/interventionist.
Retirements approved included Sheila Hill, regular route driver, and
Roma Grafel, regular route driver and after-practice shuttle driver.
Following executive sessions regarding negotiations, board members ended the meeting by sharing good news, which included students actively involved in summer camps and student participation, community meeting input on facilities, student and staff volunteer help with UNBOUND Gravel, community support for the state baseball team and the district’s summer driver’s education program.
The next regular USD 417 Board of Education meeting is scheduled for July 13.