Facility matters highlighted the most recent meeting of the USD 253 Board of Education Wednesday evening.
The biggest talking point of the evening was a first reading for a proposed update, really a complete redesign, of the Emporia Middle School track and field. According to EMS Assistant Principal Adrian Trujillo, the track and field is fast approaching its end of life and showing signs of age.
With that in mind, the board was presented with two potential courses of action, the first being just an update to the track and field without any additions, which is estimated to cost between $1.4 to $1.5 million. President of Sales for ATG Sports, the company who has helped to develop plans for the track and field, Joe Gianino told local media the second option would see far more improvements and additions, including seating, parking, a concessions area, restrooms, a new throwing area and a perimeter fence.
He says these additions will bring many benefits for the school and the district.
The downside to option two is the additional cost, just over $3.6 million, however, it would make the area ADA compliant, add security, and provide the middle school an opportunity to host more events in the future.
The project will be paid for out of district capital outlay dollars, which are set aside each year for facility updates and capital improvement projects, and is sourced from a local property tax with a limit of eight mills. Assistant Superintendent of Business Operations Dr. Pam Stranathan says funding the project is possible and could be done in phases, depending on the direction the board chooses to go.
No action was taken on the matter, with board members requesting additional information, including a list of other planned capital improvement projects for consideration at a later time.
In other matters, Wednesday evening, USD 253 Superintendent Dr. Allison Anderson Harder made an exciting announcement that the district has been designated a National Showcase District through Capturing Kids Hearts. Anderson Harder credited the district’s staff, leadership and students for the accomplishment.
The announcement came as part of Anderson Harder’s regular district highlights and brought out a great deal of emotion from the outgoing superintendent, who says it is a great accomplishment not only for the district but also many of its leaders who are set to retire later this year, including herself.
Seven of the district’s nine buildings were nominated as Capturing Kids Hearts showcase schools this year, including the Jones Early Childhood Education Center, Village Elementary School, which has been recognized as a showcase school for the last eight consecutive years, Timmerman, Riverside, Logan Avenue, Walnut and Emporia Middle School. Anderson Harder says announcements as to which schools received the honors will be coming over the next week. The CKH model was implemented district-wide last year after being periodically implemented since 2013.
Additional details from Wednesday’s meeting can be found on the district’s website, USD253.org. The USD 253 Board of Education is next scheduled to convene on Wednesday, May 14 at 6 pm inside the Mary Herbert Education Center.
