BUHLER, Kan. — The Buhler USD 313 Board of Education Monday night approved a change in the virtual platform that’s used in Ad Astra Academies and for credit recovery at Buhler High School. Ad Astra Academies director Erica Shook said the system they have been using will no longer be offered and is being discontinued as of June 30.
Acellus, the current provider has a new product, the cost of it would increase from the current $27 a student to $800, and for a lesser product in her view in that on the student side the only thing added was digital confetti when a task was completed, and it’s not workable on the staff side.
Shook looked at a couple of other options, both of which the district used in the past including the Schools PLP now used in the K-5 part of Ad Astra Academies which is what the Board approved going with, and while the $230 cost is still a substantial increase, it will not be anywhere what the other two vendors were wanting. Schools PLP will also be compatible with PowerSchool, which Acellus is not. To partly pay for this, the Board also approved increasing student fees from $30 to $50 a year.
A policy revision related to Sunday and Wednesday night activities was approved. An existing policy barred any school activities on Wednesday night without written approval from the superintendent and a report to the Board. This had not been followed for some time, and Superintendent Cindy Couchman noted there are some activities that need to happen on Wednesdays due to weather and other issues, and the first day of the state basketball tournaments also fall on a Wednesday.
As approved, school activities will be permitted on Sunday after 1 p.m. It also states Wednesday evening activities will be permitted only when necessary and given consideration of family and community commitments. Wednesday night in many communities is considered a night reserved for church related activities.
In a review of district communications within Buhler USD 313’s strategic plan, Couchman said one area that will be looked at is streamlining how information is communicated, which is becoming an issue for parents due to the large number of platforms used, which is causing a lot of confusion especially for parents with students in multiple grade levels or activities.
In an overall discussion of the plan, Couchman said not every item on that plan is going to be addressed at the same time, but priorities will be determined on the elements of the plan and implementation handled based on it.
The Board was presented an update on cell tower projects, and Director of Finance Shane Hecox said plans are proceeding for a NexTech wireless tower next to the tennis courts at Prairie Hills Middle School and on changes Verizon might look at for an existing site using one of the light towers at Crusader Stadium.
The district has been contacted by Branch Communications about leading space for a tower at the district’s warehouse site. Their initial proposal was not acceptable to the district due to a state law limiting leases to ten years, and an idea for a 50 year easement with a one time payment also may not be allowable. Board members also expressed concern about the size of payment Branch has offered, which would be $250,000 for the easement or $417 a month over 50 years. Further negotiations have been requested by the board.
Board members also discussed the potential for an LED lighting project at Buhler High School, for which a grant might be possible and would involve a short time frame for possible funding which may need a special meeting to take action on. The Board was told resurfacing of the PHMS tennis courts is scheduled to begin Friday and roof repair quotes for three buildings are being solicited.
The Board approved out-of-state travel requests for eight elementary teachers to attend the Ron Clark Academy later this month in Atlanta, and for one teacher and two Buhler High School students to attend the National KidWind STEM science competition in Phoenix this weekend. Donations including a grant from the Buhler Education Foundation are covering the cost for the team that qualified for the national competition by winning the Kansas championship in April.
During the meeting the board recognized members of Buhler High School’s Forensics team that brought home three individual titles and a 5th place overall showing from the 4A state tournament, and BHS career and technical education students and state scholars, including several FFA members who either placed in for are finalists in various competitions or are FFA State Degree recipients.
Among personnel actions, the board approved employment of various summer staff including staff for the summer STEAM Camp and for bus and grounds Maintenance along with contracts for newly hired teachers for the 2025-26 school year.
