The USD 253 Emporia Board of Education has approved the hiring of a facilitator to conduct an enrollment study districtwide.
During its recent meeting Wednesday, the board unanimously approved the hiring of Sue Givens of KASB Leadership Services to oversee the study. Superintendent Allison Anderson Harder explains Givens’ main responsibility will be serving as a “spark” for the district’s Enrollment Study Committee as it continues to review enrollment data in the coming months.
The district’s committee began meeting in April with its next meeting scheduled for June 22. Givens will begin her work at that time.
In other business, the board also approved the district’s annual Schools for fair Funding invoice at a cost of $1.10 per student – a total of $4,906.99 – to continue its membership to the program for the 2022-23 school year. The district has been involved with Schools for Fair Funding nearly since its inception in the late 80s.
The coalition includes 36 school districts across the state and is aimed at ensuring fair and equitable funding for all schools and students. Assistant Superintendent of Business Operations Rob Scheib says Schools for Fair Funding has had a tremendous impact on the district for years, including helping build back its budget through legal proceedings as part of the Gannon v Kansas case.
Board Vice-President Leslie Seeley says she cannot think of another initiative where the district could have the same impact on students for the price it’s paying.
Separately, the board also approved the hiring of three building administrators at Timmerman Elementary, Village Elementary and Emporia Middle School. Details on those hirings are available HERE.
The USD 253 Board of Education will reconvene on Wednesday, Jun. 8 at 6:30 pm inside the Mary Herbert Education Center.
