After seven years of planning and construction, USD 253 Emporia’s Building for the Future bond project has neared the end.
During an update to the USD 253 Board of Education Wednesday night, McCownGordon Construction Senior Project Manager Eric Woltje, who has been a part of the bond initiative since the early beginnings in 2018, stated that aside from some “misscellaneous cleanup” work on William Allen White Elementary School, the final school in the bond package, is essentially complete.
Audio PlayerOnly two members of the USD 253 Board of Education have served on the board through the entirety of the project, Art Gutierrez and Grant Riles. While speaking with KVOE News Wednesday evening, Gutierrez stated there are a lot of emotions that came with the update, but chief among them was gratitude for all involved and the local community for its support throughout the process.
Audio PlayerRiles says he is very proud to see the finish line and even prouder of the quality facilities the project has brought to the district.
Audio PlayerDesign and early development work on the multimillion-dollar bond package dates back to 2018, with the project being approved by local voters in 2019 and construction beginning during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. In addition to extensive additions and renovations to existing district buildings, the Building for the Future initiative also included the construction and opening of the Jones Early Childhood Education Center, a project Woltje says was extra special to be a part of.
Audio PlayerAccording to Woltje, all buildings should be fully turned over to the district by May.
In other business on Wednesday evening, the board received a presentation from Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Judy Stanley on class size capacities to guide transfer requests for the 2025-26 school year. According to Stanley, the capacities were set based on several factors, including the “current number of students, current number of teachers, and current practices of class size.”
The full list of ratios and max capacities per grade level are available here. Stanley tells KVOE News that when it comes to available spots for transfers in the coming year, all district grade levels have limited to no space for out-of-district transfers.
Audio PlayerThat said, when comparing the district’s class sizes to other 5A schools, Stanley says USD 253 has historically maintained smaller class sizes, which she says is favorable for many reasons.
Audio PlayerIn separate action Wednesday, board members also approved the contract for newly named incoming Superintendent Dr. David McGehee, who will replace Dr. Allison Anderson Harder following her retirement July 1. Additonaly, the board:
*Approved technology purchases for replacement over the summer totaling more than $761,900.
*Approved board policy updates following a second reading.
*Received a presentation on support provided to new district teachers.
*Convened one executive session for personnel matters, following which the board unanimously approved stipends for Director of Communications Lyndel Landgren and Board Clerk Casie Jones for their work during the Superintendent search process.
