The Emporia School Board took action Wednesday, finalizing a contract with HTK Architects of Topeka to lay the groundwork on a potential bond referendum.
In addition, the board was provided with a timeline of how HTK plans to go about conducting its overall needs assessment of each district building. Board President Doug Epp says the timeline will begin right away in June.
The overall goal is to have a finalized implementation plan by March 2019 and apply to the state for a possible bond referendum in July 2019. Knowing they’ll have to sell any referendum to the public, Epp says they are keeping in mind upgrading security to each of the district’s buildings.
The board will look into ways to restrict access and provide better security to students as well as social-emotional learning accommodations.
Also approved were the fee schedules for 2018-2019 for technology and transportation, both unchanged from this year. Meal prices are going up slightly with a five cent increase for breakfast and 10 cent increase for lunch. The board also approved republishing the funds for the 2017-18 budget to allow an extra $25,000 in budget authority for the summer driver’s education program as well as $100,000 in budget authority for food service due to unanticipated rising costs.
Separately, Superintendent Kevin Case announced that Logan Avenue and William Allen White Elementary Schools have expressed interest in elementary redesign through the Kansans Can initiative. Building meetings are planned with school leaders at both locations next week and a draft proposal could be coming later in the year on starting that process.
Photos by Brandon Peoples/KVOE News.
2017 Challenge Award winners from Riverside and William Allen White Elementary and Emporia Middle School pose with Board President Doug Epp.
AVID program leaders speak to the school board Wednesday to update the program’s influence on Emporia Middle School students.
