By Lucky Kidd
McPHERSON, Kan. — The McPherson USD 418 Board of Education Monday night spent much of their meeting in a discussion about a work session last month regarding the district’s Vision 2025 Strategic Plan.
From that discussion several board members suggested when it comes to discussion about infrastructure and current facilities, the best course of action may be to go to the community and “start from scratch,” asking patrons the direction the district should take and how it should go about it.
In particular, there was a thought to specifically reach out to persons and groups including those that opposed three bond issues that were defeated in a two-year time span. This could potentially be in small group settings. Other things from this discussion included work to rebuild trust among district patrons and provide more information about such things as assessment results.
While 2023-24 information is not yet available, McPherson USD 418 Board of Education members were told Monday by Superintendent Shiloh Vincent positive trends are being seen in assessment scores with implementation of district core curriculum.
As part of his report Dr. Vincent also provided an update on the 2024 legislative session, and noted there could be an impact on school funding appropriations should Governor Laura Kelly, as expected, calls a special session.
Around an hour of the meeting was spent in an executive session dealing with negotiations, which included a discussion with Carl Cunningham who assists the board in contract negotiations with the McPherson Education Association.
The Board authorized seeking of bids for replacement of Chromebooks as part of a four-year rotation at McPherson Middle School. Approval was given for plans and staffing for the extended school year programs of the McPherson County Special Education Cooperative.
Also approved was a change for their July meeting to July 15th due to time required for completion of end of year business and other information impacted due to the end of their fiscal year June 30th falling on a Sunday combined with the July 4th Holiday coming right before their usual meeting date.
The Board of Education accepted a number of donations including two to be applied against negative lunch balances, one anonymous and one from New Gottland Lutheran Church. Other donations included books and funds for elementary libraries from the women’s group of the Church of the Brethren, from NetWork Kansas connected with the Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge, a donation through the McPherson County Community Foundation for the MHS Debate Program, an anonymous donation to be applied to fees students and families have not paid, and donations from the Bullpup Booster Club for multiple activities including compensation for groups who staffed concession stands at various events.
