By Lucky Kidd
McPHERSON, Kan. — The capital campaign for McPherson High School’s athletic field has met its goal. Committee and Board of Education member Dan Lichty said cash and pledges for the project came to around $1.018 million, with $930,000 already paid in. The remaining pledges don’t have to come in until 2025 and some of that could come before.
Lichty said of the remaining $87,000 to come in, only about $10,000 of that might not come, but he noted they had assumed more than that in their fundraising. There is also interest earnings on these donations that could be used. Some items already paid for including a scoreboard and lighting.
The Board on a 6-1 vote with Laura Vanderhoof opposed, agreed to accept the just over $418,000 still on hand to proceed with construction of additional bleachers and a new press box along with a sound system, which will allow the field to accommodate all activities except varsity football, which will still be played at McPherson College. Expectations are that the projects should be completed by June.
The Board accepted a donation of a number of pieces of art back to USD 418. These items, as explained by Superintendent Shiloh Vincent, were housed in the former Wickersham School which was torn down in the 1980’s. At the time, it was understood staff working in the building were allowed to take items remaining in the building. As a result, some items of art ended up in the possession of staff. Those items were passed down to their children, and they chose to give the items back to the district.
A new interlocal agreement with ESSDACK was approved. This agreement is being acted upon by all of the participating districts, and it’s part of the educational services organization’s process of a new agreement with the Kansas State Department of Education.
The board received a proposed 2024-25 calendar for the district, as recommended by the district’s calendar committee last month.
The Board also approved the award of another grant from the McPherson Education Association to support a conflict resolution program for 4th Graders at Roosevelt Elementary School, and the new state-mandate non-resident student enrollment policy.
Following an executive session, the board approved a contract extension for Superintendent Shiloh Vincent, which will take his contract through the 2026-27 school year.
Monday’s meeting was the final meeting for members Ann Elliott, Emily Greer and Dan Lichty. At the start of the meeting Elliott explained the process regarding Board officers in January. She’s currently president of the Board, and as officers are usually selected in July current vice president Jeff Johnson will become president at the January meeting, with a new vice president to be elected once the new board members are seated.
