Wednesday is an important day for the future of USD 253 Emporia.
Shortly after its regular meeting starts, the Board of Education will officially discuss the Cost Containment Committee’s report and recommendations as outlined this past Wednesday. Included is a two-phase, roughly $4.5 million plan for cutting costs as enrollment continues to decline, including:
*Closing Logan Avenue Elementary by the 2027-28 academic year
*Ending the district’s childcare program
*Reducing staff (nearly 30 combined at Mary Herbert, Emporia High and Emporia Middle School, along with over 20 at Logan Avenue)
*Reducing department and building budgets by 10 percent
*Reducing food expenses for meetings and special events
*Reducing new teacher training days
*Reducing paper use
*Revising class size standards
*Not renewing the Capturing Kids Hearts consultation contract
*Eliminating the JAG-K program
*Moving the administrative office from Mary Herbert to a currently unspecified location
*Moving Flint Hills Learning Center out of Flinthills Mall
The discussion will come in two parts, one for the overall plan and one to set a public hearing — possibly April 15 — for potentially closing Logan Avenue.
Revenues have been estimated at $2 million under expenses for the current academic year, while enrollment has been dipping for about 20 years — most recently evidenced by the Tyson Foods shutdown that ended this past summer, eliminating over 700 jobs.
There is other business for Wednesday, including a review of the 2026-27 Kansas Educational Systems Accreditation or KESA action plan, re-employment of administrators, a first reading of board policies for items like executive sessions and graduation requirements and an executive session for negotiations. The consent agenda, where several items can be addressed with one vote, includes bids for school buses, Maintenance and Central Supply surplus items and a memorandum of understanding with Sparkwheel.
Wednesday’s meeting starts at 6 pm at Mary Herbert.
Click here for KVOE’s YouTube channel, including a YouTube Short preview of Wednesday’s meeting.
