Wednesday was a busy night — and a big night — for USD 251 North Lyon County.
After months of discussion and preliminary planning, the district’s board of education officially approved plans for a preschool near North Lyon County Elementary School. As part of that effort, the board approved a nearly $20,000 contract for architectural and engineering services with Ben Moore Studio of Council Grove. Superintendent Bob Blair says this is a long-awaited step for the district.
This sets in motion a roughly 12-month clock to renovate the preschool so it’s ready for classes in August 2022. Blair says bids could be accepted by early fall this year, with construction possibly starting this winter. Estimated total cost is around $250,000.
Separately, the district approved a virtual school. Last year, the Kansas State Department of Education approved a one-year waiver so students could use remote education for the full academic year if they chose. Blair says that option ends at the end of the school year in June.
Families interested in the virtual school will apply to the district for that option. A district meeting with the family will then determine if prospective students can be successful using the virtual school model. Students would work at their own pace under the guidance of what Blair calls a teacher facilitator. Blair says students in or out of the district currently can apply, and the district will receive about $5,000 per student as a result.
In addition, the board toured Northern Heights High School before approving bids for painting, siding and a new outdoor LED sign for the school. The board also approved the outsourcing of technology management. to K12itc out of Kansas City.
Separately, the board continued discussions about upcoming graduation ceremonies, and Blair says the goal is to have that event at the Northern Heights gymnasium. Using the same social distancing guidelines in place for volleyball and basketball, graduates could have as many as eight guests each. This comes almost two full weeks after Lyon County turned its social distancing mandate into a strong recommendation, but Blair says the district decided on an attendance limit because it wants to make sure everybody attending is safe.
