The Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce now has until mid-September to secure funding for its planned purchase of the former Maynard Early Childhood Education Building.
The extension follows approval by the USD 253 Board of Education Wednesday night and now extends the closing for a minimum of 60 days, double the Chamber’s original request of 30 days. The Board of Education approved the chamber’s bid to purchase the facility back in April provided it could secure $2.5 to $3 million to support the purchase and renovations of the building with plans to convert it into a 24/7 childcare facility.
Earlier this month it was announced the chamber had not received an accelerator grant it was seeking to support staffing and operational costs and Wednesday night Chamber President and CEO Jeanine McKenna stated the chamber is still awaiting word on a second grant application through the Kansas Department for Children and Families for which no timeline has been given. Both of these factors led to the request for an extension and McKenna says she is grateful for the board’s support.
Wednesday’s extension now puts the closing date on September 14th. Wednesday’s extension comes with continued interest, both local and non, being expressed in the building in recent months according to Mark Glades of Coldwell Banker Emporia Real Estate, the district’s realtor for the sale.
McKenna says it is unclear if the DCF grant will cover the entire cost of purchase and renovation, however, she says even if it only covers a portion of the project that could “get the ball rolling” in the right direction.
In other business Wednesday night, the board approved subsidizing the cost of reduced meals for the 2023-24 school year by a vote of 4-3. Voting in favor of the item were members Jeremy Dorsey, Leslie Seeley, Jamie Reever and Lillian Lingenfelter.
The board’s action means the district will now incur the full cost of reduced meals for students who qualify for the next year which could total more than $67,000 if 100 percent of eligible students take advantage. According to data from the previous school year, the total cost would have been closer to $30,000 based on student usage.
Given the exact cost is not set in stone, Dorsey stated it makes sense to move forward with the subsidizing on a one-year trial basis.
Voting against the item were Art Gutierrez, Grant Riles and Jennifer Thomas. Thomas spoke with KVOE News following the meeting and stated neither she nor Riles and Guttierrez are against the idea, they simply felt more information was needed before putting the matter to a vote.
Separately Wednesday, board members received the latest update from McCownGordon Construction on the Building for the Future Bond Initiative and approved several items including the 2023-24 salary package for licensed professional staff as well a pair of resolutions establishing home rule and generally accepted accounting principles for 2023-24. The board also approved appointments for various positions including the board clerk, treasurer, school attorney, truancy officers and others.
Separately, the board voted to approve Jamie Reever as Board President and Lilian Lingenfelter as Vice-President for the coming calendar year.
The USD 253 Board of Education will next convene on Wednesday, July 26 at 6:30 pm inside of the Mary Herbert Education Center.
