USD 253 Emporia could well take a significant step towards completing its cost containment goal with its meeting this week.
Wednesday is the evening when board members will likely vote on a resolution to close Logan Avenue Elementary as a school building, following a 6-month cost containment process involving research and input from stakeholders as well as last week’s public hearing that saw around 40 people attend and nearly 15 people ask the board to reconsider the potential decision. The district has said declining enrollment and the overall financial health of the district are the main reasons for the proposal, while the district explores usage options like the district’s administrative offices, the site of Flint Hills Learning Center and other programs for the district and southeast Emporia as a whole.
If the board votes to end school operations, a 45-day protest period begins through the Kansas State Board of Education, which will then have another 45 days to offer its recommendations before another public hearing in front of the USD 253 board and a final vote.
Before the vote Wednesday, the district could approve a cost containment item that was initially set to be discontinued. As part of the consent agenda, the district could approve an agreement to continue the Capturing Kids’ Hearts program for elementary schools and Emporia Middle School after gaining a $10,000 grant through Capturing Kids’ Hearts and the ongoing use of federal Title II-A funds. If approved, this would follow a one-year extension of the district’s ongoing partnership between Emporia High and Jobs for America’s Graduates-Kansas to continue the program at no cost to the district.
In unrelated matters, the district will discuss instructional coaching to support new teachers, structured literacy training and formal approval of class size capacity as a way to guide transfer requests. Two executive sessions are planned, both for personnel matters.
The meeting is at 6 pm Wednesday at Mary Herbert.
