[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-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",[32,76,88,100],{"_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",6203259,"mediaKeyId","3783582-683b0db29d7b064dc284a6817321bfc6","parentId",3783582,"title","Valley Center Recreation Commission reports growing programs, seeks district staff membership discounts","audioSeconds",352,"startMs",2674000,"endMs",3026000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3783582-683b0db29d7b064dc284a6817321bfc6&start=2674&end=3026","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3783582-683b0db29d7b064dc284a6817321bfc6/thumbnail_2674000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6203259/Kansas/Valley-Center-Recreation-Commission-reports-growing-programs-seeks-district-staff-membership-discounts","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6203259-7e58ba7534c690b05f233d7468e7ea71/orig.mp4?Expires=1771103843&Signature=NSNlj8fWlQMVlwtAOBpCFYtN80KtjGhi2NkdAkZQ37cmfDE6ksSVOxjYtOLWLyFDQYDfSFVtT9eR5KfZ9rx8-wNdWYEUTmy5sKnYwNHRgqx2KLmBrt1YTadiP3Y5WTX3CYy~0lpUIT3P~CPRMYKd-Fz1vB6RD0immzdV0lBno5jXfT9T5ShmmoJY5SiAbBWPl0kFLlSUSIEcAx42hPHgHDQYlGsXrq5iFTaqeJb2zmy1vW8Kev8As7stw4rChTNnykt5NdKw3dL~x1jNSo2yzpZyjua-RNy2v~yajCWc7skJp-nYnOnLV4TZuyvEjUnIjKdTcNcvFc-mQ-n-Lhh-bA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Valley Center Public Schools USD262","date","2025-06-09T00:00:00Z","article","Blake Finestan, representing the Valley Center Recreation Commission, told the USD 262 board the commission’s first year operating the rec center has seen strong participation, expanded programming and heavy use of athletic fields and gym space.

Finestan said the commission runs adult and youth sports, arts and new offerings such as horseback riding and e‑sports, and that the rec center hosts more than 45 youth baseball/softball teams across six fields. The center’s after‑school pickup basketball for middle‑ and high‑school students and new summer programming — including an 8‑to‑13‑year‑old boot camp planned for July and kid‑friendly events like kickball and wiffle ball — were highlighted.

Finestan thanked district staff for facility access and partnership, saying, \"Jamie and Greg have been both really awesome to work out on those agreements.\" He said discussions are underway about possible discounted memberships for district employees and incorporating membership benefits into employee wellness plans. He also reported two staff hires — Jake and Lefto — scheduled to begin June 18 to support an iRec program that will collaborate with Next Step Academy, New Hope and senior programming.

Board members asked about membership discounts for district employees; Finestan said conversations with district leadership and human resources are ongoing.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","USD 262 Board of Education Meeting, June 9, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Recreation Commission reported increased program participation in its first year operating the rec center, expansion of youth and adult offerings, heavy use of baseball/softball fields and plans to explore discounted memberships for district employees.","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},6203264,"USD 262 schedules public boundary input, reports construction progress and bond options",323,2253000,2576000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3783582-683b0db29d7b064dc284a6817321bfc6&start=2253&end=2576","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3783582-683b0db29d7b064dc284a6817321bfc6/thumbnail_2253000.jpg","/articles/6203264/Kansas/USD-262-schedules-public-boundary-input-reports-construction-progress-and-bond-options","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6203264-71a818cb108318e2793910cf58984b88/orig.mp4?Expires=1771103843&Signature=lrirzUSF39-ct~9CZYFqZchp~yQGWdhylQ2qMEyey9Wa1upogjiICSVzVzQcgD3ASbFQINAW03UQieJnzwsqzGSJYt8-QkpyNhbgDZ4P8axbPRYyCfxTPf0NiVjmm10~t-zsiIMGwk8lGgxAkNd0gsuFUbA3L9qdGnH1Fzr58WKfxsu877G5-RglUC1xjgBXIwOMsvO3XOXoeyeAo0vn9Ns~Z1zv6rO5Yi-diW6t5I5ljdBRxS2ZZiUADDG2e94cltzbuTESnxBb0vVd2AIij4IQFc0-ceNEDJ1XHqnGMTyvr~IgLx0cbkoPuYxjMrolzmduJyTSnWbUEJgfnx2daw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District administrators told the USD 262 Board of Education the middle‑school and high‑school/CTE projects are nearing completion and that a public input night on attendance boundaries will be held this Thursday at 6 p.m. in the district building with consultant RSP available to answer questions and present boundary proposals.

The boundary night will include a survey available in the room and online for USD 262 families; the district said proposals are not final and that the survey will collect patron preferences. Administrators also reminded the board that the nonresident application window closes June 15 and that staff will run any necessary lotteries thereafter.

A board member who attended an owners’ meeting on May 27 said the middle school is in its final stages and expected to have final state inspections “somewhere between mid July to late July,” while the elementary building had fallen a few days to a week behind because of heavy rain. The high‑school and CTE construction is described as on schedule; work includes temporary walls, fencing and interior construction tied to next‑year occupancy.

District staff said the nonresident application total was about 90 at the time of the meeting, but that most applications were for grade levels without openings — that middle and high school had limited capacity — while first grade had about 17 openings and nine applicants so far. Staff said they will review nonresident application numbers with district leadership before final placement.

Administrators also announced a special board meeting on June 30 for budget closeout and a budget workshop; staff said the district currently estimates about $9,000,000 in bond funds are available because projects came in under budget, and the June 30 session will include a presentation from Dustin at Piper (district financial advisor) on options for that money. No formal decisions about those bond funds were made at the meeting.","Administrators reported progress on middle‑school, elementary and high‑school/CTE construction, announced a public boundary input night and survey, slated a June 30 special board meeting on budget closeout and bond options for roughly $9 million under budget, and noted the nonresident application window closes June 15.",{"_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},6203269,"USD 262 approves cardiac emergency response plans, will submit to KDHE before July 1",158,2981000,3139000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3783582-683b0db29d7b064dc284a6817321bfc6&start=2981&end=3139","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3783582-683b0db29d7b064dc284a6817321bfc6/thumbnail_2981000.jpg","/articles/6203269/Kansas/USD-262-approves-cardiac-emergency-response-plans-will-submit-to-KDHE-before-July-1","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6203269-83f3eba1e4d4caf2402c7bea0ad93486/orig.mp4?Expires=1771103843&Signature=PD7t8aibsB7o-9iR9JPSP7GUV4lAwB~2pZoZfw8FgtoJBh0-ds1Vo2YiMsG7QyeKlo6VdZQuAAVtHM05mRCkQWsVqKmPs-v3Z-3oLFQnBxmKNYMcgUBIk-dZTzf2dvbjmsHmFHwNMcDePt5QUat7XCzgZEHNeZY0QpDPfgv-8odzTKPCOIaLZ--cOL35pizCkYC9-V2qZIdLyRequ8yDD7MLnSJz~yCztPlZe63vm~5YaHcyTW3YSiHRDfoM6miZlZVWrv0PO-0UTntNaiIwSTWJu9WgaL4239QiZYrwOahpvUWwILtWjZBhYGUSIm7A7c6GGlPLDu4Y8vOTDdD3Nw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The USD 262 Board of Education unanimously approved cardiac emergency response plans Monday for each district attendance center and directed staff to submit the plans to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment before July 1 as required by recent legislation.

The plans formalize the district’s use and placement of automated external defibrillators, provide drafted notification letters for parents and EMS providers, and establish consistent building‑level teams and response procedures, district staff said.

A district staff member who presented the plans said the materials include letters to parents and local EMS first responders and noted the likely primary EMS contact would be the local fire chief. \"Essentially helping to have some consistency across the district to ensure that plans are synonymous building to building,\" the presenter said. The motion to approve the plans was made and approved 6–0 (motion by Mike, second by Spike).

After approval, staff said they will file the plans with KDHE to meet the statutory submission deadline and ready the procedures for implementation at the start of the next school year. No board member opposed the action.

The vote does not create new district obligations beyond implementation of the required plans and training; staff will proceed with training teams and sending the draft communications to parents and first responders.","The board approved cardiac emergency response plans for each attendance center, including AED locations and notification letters to parents and emergency responders, and will submit required plans to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment before July 1.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6203274,"Valley Center USD 262 ratifies 2025–26 teacher agreement, approves districtwide pay changes",537,3231000,3768000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3783582-683b0db29d7b064dc284a6817321bfc6&start=3231&end=3768","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3783582-683b0db29d7b064dc284a6817321bfc6/thumbnail_3231000.jpg","/articles/6203274/Kansas/Valley-Center-USD-262-ratifies-202526-teacher-agreement-approves-districtwide-pay-changes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6203274-0a6c46d3d3f97add21bb57e342560ab2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771103843&Signature=YTrrMwlb74dD2ACbzYHuZtAxdK1bjOaGpES~qiRY7V3XJTbTSUF9O9WMBvncDSbiDE8VJKXLee6kG~QJ3eub88hIINwBXAVE8piitz8n6nuV2jyfechWEY9U1dpHBXk26yecnCLe3YALLt7n7EiwhsrnhaKz9wJEC0hqiQ7h8KEub1cS7F5e~jamAXIlOAFmuDPGr~NHEuHZ~VvAariqRvGNbfUF3mTvv1coGqjoMT00s8Dx5z1uHVzHHr2knJwWLxrKko0m5bzeGozYdSf87g3s2di467fl4sFqXvK5jnVaJC7HnDUskkruTG5cGUKxbiYC-v-E-77L5rpLbi-Eew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The USD 262 Board of Education on Monday ratified a negotiated agreement for the 2025–26 school year that applies a 2.5% increase to each cell on the certified salary schedule and includes related changes to classified and non‑negotiated pay scales, supplemental contracts and staff handbooks.

Board approval matters because the ratification establishes compensation commitments, preserves a health‑insurance contribution memorandum of understanding and keeps a pilot for personal leave in place while the district continues data collection.

Mr. Lewis, a district staff member who presented the agreement, said, \"Ultimately, in terms of compensation this led to a 2.5% increase on each cell of the salary spreadsheet.\" He told the board the percentage was applied to each salary cell rather than a flat dollar add-on and that step and column movement on salary schedules would increase pay for individuals beyond the 2.5% base raise. The negotiated‑agreement vote was moved by Spike, seconded by Mike, and passed 6–0.

The ratification also incorporates a previously approved memorandum of understanding on board contribution rates for employee health insurance into the agreement, making that contribution level a permanent part of the contract language. The bargaining team agreed to continue a personal‑leave pilot for another year to gather more data on substitute use and absence patterns before making the change permanent, the presenter said.

Separately, the board approved a new classified pay scale that applies a 2.5% increase to base pay rates, removes a previous 27‑year cap on experience for longevity increases, and reclassifies bus drivers to bring pay more in line with regional rates; the driver reclassification includes an additional $1 per hour on top of the 2.5% adjustment. That motion passed 6–0.

The board also approved non‑negotiated salaries for administrators and non‑classified staff at 2.5% (6–0), supplemental contracts for coaches and sponsors (6–0), and updates to multiple staff handbooks to align with negotiated changes, including the health‑insurance contribution language and adjustments to sick‑leave payout dates (6–0).

Board members asked for more precise district cost figures; the presenter estimated total cost across negotiated and other increases in the low hundreds of thousands and said a more exact figure would be provided after accounting for classified and non‑negotiated adjustments. He noted the district had prepared figures used by local union representatives that closely matched the district's calculations. The district characterized the total impact as approximately $400,000–$500,000 but said that number was an estimate and not formally calculated on the record.

The board’s approvals take effect for the 2025–26 school year; the district will finalize salary schedules and implement updated handbooks and supplemental lists during the summer.

Questions from board members focused on the personal‑leave pilot’s effect on substitute usage and the precise dollar impact of the percentage increases; the district said it will continue to monitor and report data before any permanent adoption of the pilot. No member voted against any of the items.","The USD 262 Board of Education ratified a negotiated agreement that applies a 2.5% salary increase across the certified salary schedule, continues a personal-leave pilot, and locks in a board contribution MOU for health insurance; the board also approved classified and non‑negotiated pay adjustments, supplemental contracts and handbook updates.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Valley Center Recreation Commission reports growing programs, seeks district staff membership discounts

USD 262 schedules public boundary input, reports construction progress and bond options

USD 262 approves cardiac emergency response plans, will submit to KDHE before July 1

Valley Center USD 262 ratifies 2025–26 teacher agreement, approves districtwide pay changes