The end of USD 253 Emporia’s Capturing Kids Hearts consulting contract, one of the recommendations from the cost containment committee set to be considered Wednesday, won’t necessarily mean the end of the program’s impact on the district, according to Village Elementary School Principal Brandi Mitchell.
The CKH model has been added to district schools periodically since 2013, starting solely at Village, with all buildings officially adopting the model over the last few years before it went districtwide in 2024, adding Emporia High School and the Jones Early Childhood Education Center. Last year, the district was named a National Showcase District with seven buildings named showcase schools, including Village, the eighth consecutive year Village received the recognition.
Mitchell tells KVOE News the impact of the CKH model and its contribution to district and student success over the last decade plus is highly apparent.
Should the USD 253 Board of Education approve the list of recommendations as presented, the end of the contract would mean the end of resources and support provided to the district, unless Emporia and CKH can find a “middleground” of some kind, something Mitchell says the district is currently looking into.
Mitchell says with or without the resources provided by CKH, she is confident all district schools will continue to embody the principles of CKH and see continued success as a result.
According to Mitchell, at least at the elementary level, the end of the CKH contract would not mean the elimination of any staff positions. She added it is her opinion that “everyone would agree it is a framework we would love to stay in Emporia,” but understands the decision made as part of the cost containment measures.
That said, should the opportunity arise, she hopes the district will consider renewing the contract and re-establishing the relationship with CKH in the future.
The contract termination is just one of several recommendations that could be approved by the USD 253 Board of Education during its regular meeting Wednesday. Also in the recommendations is the potential closure of Logan Avenue Elementary School by the 2027-28 academic year, an end to the district’s childcare program, a reduction in staff by nearly 30 positions at Mary Herbert, Emporia High School and Emporia Middle School on top of more than 20 positions at Logan and a 10 percent reduction in building budgets, among others.
The USD 253 Board meeting will take place inside the Mary Herbert Education Center at 6 pm Wednesday.
