People living in the USD 253 boundaries and wanting to challenge the school district’s recent vote to end school operations at Logan Avenue Elementary are on the clock if they want to submit their paperwork to the Lyon County Clerk’s Office.
County Clerk and Election Officer Amie Jones says there is a strict legal process for creating a petition, starting with drafting the statement for legal review and then submission.
Jones indicates it’s best to have one petition, although several people can solicit signatures.
Jones says County Clerk staffers verify the validity before sending the information to the Kansas State Board of Education.
Once collected, the County Clerk’s Office has 3 days to validate all the submissions. There also needs to be a minimum number of valid signatures collected before the State Board can start its own 45-day review period.
USD 253 is moving towards ending school operations at Logan Avenue as part of a nearly $5 million cost containment effort driven by lower enrollment, especially over the last decade, with even lower enrollment expected possibly over the next 15 years. If the petition gains enough signatures, the State Board of Education’s resulting recommendation will lead to a second public hearing and a vote signifying the district’s final decision on the matter. The end of school operations at Logan Avenue could lead to a $1.4 million savings for the district, and USD 253 continues considering other ways to fill the building, including the possible move of the district office from Mary Herbert and the possible move of the Flint Hills Learning Center out of Flinthills Mall.
