USD 253 parents and patrons who have signed online petitions challenging the Board of Education’s tentative decision to end school operations at Logan Avenue Elementary will have to take another avenue to elicit the change they seek.
Kansas State Department of Education General Counsel Scott Gordon tells KVOE News people generating petitions must use a form created by KSDE for this purpose. It is available by emailing gc@ksde.gov. The form also includes directors for proper format, meaning name, address and signature, as well as notary use and submission — first to KSDE before that petition is sent to the Lyon County Election Office.
Gordon says the 45-day period for signing and submitting petitions starts the day of a school board move. With USD 253 approving the school closure April 22, residents would traditionally have until June 6 to submit petitions, With that date being on a Saturday, residents will have until the close of business June 8 instead. Gordon’s 45-review clock starts only after an Election Office validation window, which has to be completed within 3 days.
A change.org petition, “Save Logan Avenue School,” had just under 1,000 online signatures as of 2:30 pm Tuesday. A minimum of 803 valid signatures are needed for Gordon to begin the KSDE review process.
