All candidates for the USD 253 Emporia Board of Education support the $78 million facility improvement bond on the Nov. 5 general election ballot.
Mallory Koci, Jeremy Dorsey and Jeff Lutes expressed their support during KVOE’s Candidate Forum on Tuesday, and Art Gutierrez, Grant Riles and Leslie Seeley did likewise on KVOE’s Candidate Forum on Thursday. Seeley says she will always support what she calls “fiscally responsible” improvements to district schools if elected.
Gutierrez says the district was “intentional” in setting its priority list over the past 18 months. He calls it an investment in the community.
Riles says the time is right for significant improvements across the district. The last major bond issue for USD 253 was in 2000.
All three also support replacing Maynard Early Childhood Center if the bond passes. If the bond does not find favor with voters, candidates say the district may have adjust its priority list to focus on the biggest needs. Some capital outlay spending may be needed in that case.
The bond could also link to the district’s recent efforts to meet the Kansas State Department of Education’s education redesign initiative, including current work at Logan Avenue and William Allen White schools. Gutierrez says he supports Kansas Education Commissioner Randy Watson’s goal of having Kansas lead the world in education.
Riles says he likes how education redesign efforts can be designed specifically to a school.
Seeley says it’s an admirable effort to work now to meet the future needs of students, especially socio-emotional needs.
KVOE’s Candidate Forums are now over for this election cycle. Thursday evening, the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce Government Matters Committee and the Emporia League of Women Voters will have a forum involving all USD 253 school board candidates. The forum starts at 6:30 pm at the Flint Hills Technical College main campus and will be live-streamed on KVOE-TV at KVOE.com and ValuNetFIBER channel 3.
The audio from KVOE’s Candidate Forums are online in the KVOE.com Audio Vault.
