[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6642940,"mediaKeyId","2532672-121ad53e34d97c5e5970f1c95421ac3a","parentId",2532672,"title","Superintendent briefs board on Topeka session, highlights SPED funding, voucher and other bills","audioSeconds",553,"startMs",2303000,"endMs",2856000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2532672-121ad53e34d97c5e5970f1c95421ac3a&start=2303&end=2856","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2532672-121ad53e34d97c5e5970f1c95421ac3a/thumbnail_2303000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6642940/Kansas/Superintendent-briefs-board-on-Topeka-session-highlights-SPED-funding-voucher-and-other-bills","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6642940-450670f2338f7d7309cd3b1e2a78632f/orig.mp4?Expires=1775559704&Signature=Kb2eVtfXDcDRo4vo09y-69OQcHhqoVNhSZsG2J0NBYGKVIqekNCkLODA1g74rRM9BKHv-5utV0HKHyOyg2cBAcSr41L6onWDMsu4ZQTCwVMG0c5b54ZtERGGFo1zqov16dQ16Uh6R0LXtu8qn6dsqJdXC78daa-0FFNkq7Nj~qVivw9HDGc03-fZgkzJnjcOQ2lFHy6fv8ap~hchOS8ckI-aL3Kp1UwTBU0SstNzII4Lb~MlMvj-B7EESQM2AFAaiu9srRHQrdpUriM1W1rlXaFcMuQU64e2-Cbk1ES07Ahr5ZNEy~SaIx1tkzY2~4XGFdgXv-k0tjpOXwgYCO5SXQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Valley Center Public Schools USD262","date","2025-03-11T01:35:58.523Z","article","Superintendent Mr. Lear reviewed several education-related bills under consideration in the Kansas Legislature and what they could mean for USD 262 if enacted.

Mr. Lear said special education (SPED) funding remains a central budget issue. He told the board that the district currently receives about 67% of constitutionally required SPED funding and that last year the Legislature added $75 million statewide, which translated to about $456,000 for the district. He said state education officials asked for about $88 million and the governor proposed $73 million; the House initially approved a larger figure but later reduced the new SPED allocation in its budget work to $10 million. Mr. Lear warned that the Senate Ways and Means Committee was still considering the final numbers and that funding could change in conference committee negotiations.

Mr. Lear outlined several named bills:

- Senate Bill 76: a measure that would bar district employees from addressing a student with a pronoun inconsistent with the student's biological sex without parental permission. The superintendent said earlier, more punitive provisions that would have allowed private suits against districts or employees had been removed.

- Senate Bill 47: described in the meeting as a 'micromanaging school boards' proposal; Mr. Lear said it would standardize requirements across districts, including agenda processes and public access, and could reduce elements of local control by imposing a statewide approach.

- Senate Bill 87: a voucher-related bill that would expand tax credits tied to private-school scholarships and remove a low-income limitation, which Mr. Lear said would broaden who could benefit from the tax credit structure.

- Senate Bill 114: a bill to allow nonpublic and virtual students to participate in ancillary public-school activities such as prom and graduation; Mr. Lear said the bill would prevent districts from denying non-district students access to those activities.

Mr. Lear characterized the session as moving faster than in some past years and said final outcomes on funding and some bills remained uncertain. He directed board members to Kansas State Department of Education and Kansas Association of School Boards resources for bill tracking and weekly legislative wrap-ups.

The board asked clarifying questions about how the bills would affect district policy and practice; Mr. Lear emphasized that some items would require additional administrative guidance if enacted and that the board would be updated as bills move through the Legislature.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","USD 262 Board of Education Meeting, March 10, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Superintendent Mr. Lear reviewed several education-related bills under consideration in the Kansas Legislature and what they could mean for USD 262 if enacted.","taxTitle","Valley Center Pub Sch, School Boards, Kansas","taxId",59816,"location","Kansas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6642945,"USD 262 board approves construction GMP, appoints member and adopts fees in unanimous votes",2150,2260000,4410000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2532672-121ad53e34d97c5e5970f1c95421ac3a&start=2260&end=4410","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2532672-121ad53e34d97c5e5970f1c95421ac3a/thumbnail_2260000.jpg","/articles/6642945/Kansas/USD-262-board-approves-construction-GMP-appoints-member-and-adopts-fees-in-unanimous-votes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6642945-6188959dcdb58583308c28dd0b3ca28c/orig.mp4?Expires=1775559704&Signature=cL~PQYjbJHBGo2jaOT3oA3e9Cnl7UrWP6doP2-z9p9jy3ei-gL4ToFE~oTgb8qcuw2hLgUfHTrQuyROjzhjF9kyQ5PZx9qPbb13E2gSMyBOJLrYLgr76AGixEGU2fvyY3TMwB9Rj2lI5VeT~hF31u2bGSyEtvBsA85Cm9VpCuFj-w94aim9bOUGgojQcAWIVOudOPeL9FXDqAwSl39cfKEK1x1ps2xYasON9ktFAqes6~RGDWKw2N0qZ9YGCHrImYgr74f1ofAGwNI56lObQZtSlEQTzwDjnyU7ffUHC6biTAMSJ6pKJn5pUG0pB9dRBAaE4e5wS11sw5r-TpTHvjg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The USD 262 Board of Education approved multiple motions unanimously at its regular meeting, including a guaranteed maximum price for the new Valley Center elementary school, the appointment of JR Bryant to the board, the district's mill levy estimate for the coming year, a K'8 math pilot, a real-estate contract related to the school site, and a modest increase in student fees for 2025'26.

The board voted 5-0 to accept a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) for the new elementary school after hearing a presentation that said the overall bond program is tracking under budget and about 60% bid out. The contract includes a contractual school start date of Aug. 19; district staff said they are aiming to complete work earlier to allow time for furniture and classroom setup. A ground-breaking event was scheduled for the coming Saturday at 2 p.m.

The board appointed JR Bryant by motion (approved 5-0) to fill an open board seat. The board also approved the district's mill levy estimate (motion approved 5-0), which administration said is submitted annually under state statute to preserve the district's Local Option Budget options.

Other unanimous approvals included a K'8 math pilot (the board approved a short-term pilot of the Freckle program), a real estate contract tied to the district's land acquisition for the new elementary, acceptance of KASB policy updates, and a $5 increase for full-pay student fees ($2 for reduced-price students) for 2025'26. Administration said the fee increase is intended to help cover growing costs for consumables and upcoming curriculum adoptions.

Motions and vote outcomes were recorded on the meeting floor as unanimous; the minutes note motions and seconders for each item and the board's roll call of approval. No votes failed or were tabled during the meeting.

The board moved through the consent agenda earlier in the meeting; administration noted staff work on bid comparisons and procurement matrices used in construction and purchasing decisions.

The meeting concluded after the votes and routine business.","At its regular meeting the USD 262 Board of Education approved a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) for the new elementary school, appointed JR Bryant to the board, adopted next year's mill levy estimate and fees, and approved several contracts and pilots in unanimous 5-0 votes.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6642934,"District technology plan: E-rate, device replacements and cybersecurity priorities outlined",254,3018000,3272000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2532672-121ad53e34d97c5e5970f1c95421ac3a&start=3018&end=3272","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2532672-121ad53e34d97c5e5970f1c95421ac3a/thumbnail_3018000.jpg","/articles/6642934/Kansas/District-technology-plan-E-rate-device-replacements-and-cybersecurity-priorities-outlined","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6642934-911f99d4853a515376825691fa4790b4/orig.mp4?Expires=1775559704&Signature=mMXxoo8Ueac5YB4uVdp0NaYCZ8LeekQAwNbF3oez85fWqObdUnD3dqQyXkTjrM~bngpiDLSv9KUrLoWgyMZopQaOkXnH4cG3m6Bvmw~VejdXRXTMKY2O39j7VIPSeay9egb2Q4njRQctOC4mvUkJaxZHFIX1iaLAVDnGnRScj8vTRAgOrlPcB5stu-a-K~4bLG5znT5XiL~RHrcW6-6an0JlGmXwdwkKI993ayUJzoRoF6Wp98Z4-4QT5G1fF~2jIqQtPKoGr8Pw6RQOAmUKEwFsbGoNM1TL~GSZ~bqahaaLPxLYEQ4VyOynmbdVGPbazIrNCx3WrM9opL-tTADCcA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Technology staff presented the district's multi-year technology plan, emphasizing E-rate funding, a device replacement schedule, network upgrades and cybersecurity initiatives.

Mr. Heffman said E-rate provides approximately $167 per student spread over five years and that the district is nearing the end of the current five-year cycle; the technology budget has about $10,000 remaining for maintenance renewals at the data center. He reported that fiber connectivity to the new elementary school is in place at an estimated $120 per month after E-rate discounts.

Device replacement will proceed on a five-year rotation, Heffman said: next year will focus on fifth through eighth graders, followed by the high school the subsequent year and elementary devices in 2027'28. Staff laptops for the intermediate school will be replaced next year, with teachers given the option of Chromebooks or laptops. The technology team noted that Chromebooks selected by many teachers in recent years have been well received.

Heffman reported recent infrastructure upgrades, including replacement of main network switches and the district's adoption of CrowdStrike for endpoint security. The technology team uses Cybernet for phishing training and said staff click rates on simulated phishing have improved by more than 10 percentage points since the start of the school year.

For the upcoming elementary additions and remodel at the intermediate school, the technology department plans to perform some updates in-house to reduce costs. Board members asked about the history of Chromebook deployment and numbers planned for the new building; staff said the district is replenishing and reallocating existing devices and will add devices for kindergarten through fourth grade as needed.","Technology staff told the board the district is in the final year of an E-rate cycle, will proceed with a staggered device replacement plan for students and staff, and is continuing investments in cybersecurity and copier replacement.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Superintendent briefs board on Topeka session, highlights SPED funding, voucher and other bills

USD 262 board approves construction GMP, appoints member and adopts fees in unanimous votes

District technology plan: E-rate, device replacements and cybersecurity priorities outlined