Continued improvement of the educational experience was a major focus for USD 253 Board of Education members Wendesday evening.
During the meeting, Dr. Erica Mickelson, District Director of Teaching and Learning, led a presentation on the district’s instructional protocol. The protocol is a framework that provides an outline of “essential practices” aimed at improving student learning and instructional consistency.
According to Mickelson, the protocol was developed due to the reintroduction of the Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP) framework.
Wednesday’s presentation followed discussions from a month ago on the district’s online walkthrough tool. This online resource provides district and building administrators with a quick informal snapshot of the teaching and learning that happens within district classrooms. Mickelson says the two documents are not directly linked, as the walkthrough is namely for the use of administration while the protocol is for both teachers and administrators.
That said, Mickelson tells KVOE News the two documents both play a significant role in increasing coherence within the district.
In other business Wednesday, board members approved a better than $199,800 repair project for the boiler at Walnut Elementary School. The project will be paid for out of Capital Outlay funds.
Board members also approved the renewal of insurance for 2025 and received a first reading of board policy updates. Board members also approved the district fee schedule as part of the consent agenda portion of the meeting.
The only notable change to the schedule was a $5 increase — $15 to $20 — for the Emporia Middle School yearbook. All other fees were unchanged.
The USD 253 Board of Education will next convene on Wednesday, October 9 at 6 pm inside of the Mary Herbert Education Center.
