A major part of Monday night’s McPherson USD 418 Board of Education meeting was dedicated to updates on bond projects. Duane Cash in Incite Design Group told the board schematic design work has been completed on the High School and Middle Schools projects.
Cash also reviewed for the board plans for what will be the first bond project, construction of a new Career and Technical Education facility to be located south of the current Performing arts Center. This building will be of a pre-cast design that will blend into the part of the high school that will remain. Construction on this facility could begin as soon as next month,
The construction manager at-risk for the project will be selected by the board at a special meeting June 29th, after which things will start to move quickly, with that building to be completed by the end of the year so CTE programs can move there after the first of the year. Part of the the current CTE space will be used for the new MHS academic wing, and those programs need to be relocated before construction can begin on it.
The Board approved an agreement with ICON Structures for summer improvement projects at the district’s elementary schools. These projects include several items that need to be complete prior to the start of the 2026-27 school year as the district goes from four to three elementary buildings. The district is going through the TIPS purchasing cooperative for these projects, with a cost of $170,800. While this would be part of the bond project, it is possible this could be funded through capital outlay funds.
A three-year contract was approved to bring the SME PRIME Career readiness program to McPherson High School. The program, funded through the SME Education foundation associated with the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, will strengthen manufacturing and engineering pathways through industry-aligned curriculum, professional development, equipment and expanded STEM opportunities.
Local industries and McPherson Industrial Development Company partnered to bring the program to McPherson, which will be the first site for it in Kansas. Over the next year, existing CTE programming will be assessed, needs and gaps identified, and coursework aligned with industry expectation. SME PRIME programming will begin in the fall of 2027.
An updated job description reflecting current responsibilities and expectations to an existing position in McPherson USD 418 was accepted by the Board of Education Monday. The board discussed this job description at their May meeting, and there have been some revisions made to it following Board input. Final action on this will come at the Board’s July meeting, along with approval of 2026-27 district handbooks.
The board approved a revised policy on cell phones and other personal electronic devices reflecting the “bell to bell” ban on their use by students enacted by the Kansas Legislature earlier this year. It also heard on first reading other policy changes recommended by the Kansas Association of School Boards, which often reflect changes in state or federal laws.
