Back in August, the USD 253 Emporia Board of Education unanimously approved Simmons Pet Food’s plan to buy the Maynard Early Childhood Education Center as Simmons fleshed out plans to use the facility as a 24/7 daycare for its employees. The company’s plan has now changed.
The school board meets Wednesday, and part of its agenda is to accept Simmons’ request to withdraw its purchase plan. Simmons says a due diligence review has led to a roughly $3 million purchase and renovation cost — well above the agreed purchase price of $250,000 — at a time when the company is also working to expand its local operations. Simmons says it appreciates the board and the district offering time for the due diligence work.
Additional comment is pending from both sides.
Separately, the school board has a busy agenda ahead for its meeting Wednesday.
*Board members will get an overall construction update from McCownGordon and a specific improvement from Riverside Elementary administrators
*There is an academic data report on kindergarten readiness, graduation rates and postsecondary success
*There will be separate conversations on special education, including one involving advocacy for funding and one for adopting certain math resources
*A board policy review is planned
*On the consent agenda, where several items can be handled with one vote, the board could approve its contract with ESSDACK to fill the district’s director of teaching and learning position through a part-time slot
The meeting starts at 6:30 pm at Mary Herbert Education Center.
