[{"_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",6518620,"mediaKeyId","5386785-41b03c51a7213451701fe9e83e072dc5","parentId",5386785,"title","Board reorganizes leadership, approves logo, committee assignments and out-of-district placements in unanimous votes","audioSeconds",3228,"startMs",101000,"endMs",3329000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5386785-41b03c51a7213451701fe9e83e072dc5&start=101&end=3329","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5386785-41b03c51a7213451701fe9e83e072dc5/thumbnail_101000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6518620/Kansas/Board-reorganizes-leadership-approves-logo-committee-assignments-and-out-of-district-placements-in-unanimous-votes","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6518620-bd605b803cf12327c879a88129f9536e/orig.mp4?Expires=1774936018&Signature=G1Jt-~TKmGe4eXW60FE9tjw3TbhNIoWHYLCtumDQhORAV-~8iKDp0VXRKWXc6boNWnW2qs2zflANe2n5FouJYb5oWpzxTNR1gn8ZUhxWKW9ulmNpig5YyqYPMzcl01sEwtiTIVrTrMew-czCG~gx8RkUArcAocoRObHtA03F0J7CqjSRMdPEglQUqQELvnE9YvVhQRT0yvtm-pORDZnSeaQhhlUVcQuGGo8m2-QXSmeIsgyTym0P-6McCXPFBKXvQDCd~9B4vNigAI976PPwuUfto2lUl743vLajfbLlMCa2PKUuncIkEmE~B-J89XAiIeU36hKKiDeaZyaXMdMxaA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Valley Center Public Schools USD262","date","2025-07-15T13:33:28Z","article","The Valley Center USD 262 Board of Education completed routine organizational and administrative actions and approved several motions unanimously during the meeting.

Leadership and appointments
- The board appointed Spike Anderson (current board vice president) as board president by motion and voice vote (motion carried 5–0). Don moved to nominate Spike Anderson as president; the motion was seconded and approved.
- The board appointed Mike McCormick as board vice president by motion and voice vote (motion carried 5–0). The motion was moved and seconded as recorded in the meeting.

Board officials and consent agenda
- The board reappointed annual board officials (Mrs. Harris, Sarah Shelley Thomas, Mr. Lewis and Andrea Saffel) as presented; motion passed 5–0.
- The board approved the consent agenda as presented; recorded vote 5–0.

Donations
- The board acknowledged a sizable donation from Pathway Church toward projects at the middle school auditorium and other facility upgrades; the gift was recognized publicly during the meeting.

Logo and committees
- The board approved a proposed district logo redesign (a purple logo with the district name and hornet mark) by motion; vote recorded 5–0.
- The board reviewed and approved committee assignments and alternates for district committees (special education interlocal rep, health insurance committee, KASB delegate, calendar, negotiations, supplemental committee, sick leave committee, and others) by motion; vote recorded 5–0. Board members volunteered and staff clarified meeting cadence for several committees.

Out-of-district student applications
- The board approved the recommended set of out-of-district student admissions for the coming school year (the board’s capacity table and specific grade-by-grade approvals were recorded in the packet). Staff recommended admitting an additional second-grade out-of-district applicant (4 approved vs. the board’s usual 3) because the extra student would not cause a class-size hardship; the board approved the admissions list by motion 5–0.

Adjournment
- The board adjourned by unanimous voice vote.

Votes at a glance
- President: Spike Anderson — motion passed 5–0
- Vice President: Mike McCormick — motion passed 5–0
- Board officials reappointed (Mrs. Harris; Sarah Shelley Thomas; Mr. Lewis; Andrea Saffel) — motion passed 5–0
- Consent agenda — motion passed 5–0
- New district logo approved — motion passed 5–0
- Committee assignments approved — motion passed 5–0
- K–12 social studies pilot (separate agenda item) — motion passed 5–0 (see separate article)
- Out-of-district admissions (as presented) — motion passed 5–0

Ending: All organizational and routine items on the agenda were approved unanimously; no board member votes were recorded in opposition or as abstentions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","USD 262 Board of Education Meeting, July 14, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Valley Center USD 262 trustees appointed Spike Anderson as board president and Mike McCormick as vice president, reappointed board officials, approved a new district logo, finalized committee assignments and authorized a set of out‑of‑district student admissions; all recorded votes were 5–0.","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},6518624,"Board approves K–12 social studies pilot; committee recommends multiple resources and a phased timeline",882,3682000,4564000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5386785-41b03c51a7213451701fe9e83e072dc5&start=3682&end=4564","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5386785-41b03c51a7213451701fe9e83e072dc5/thumbnail_3682000.jpg","/articles/6518624/Kansas/Board-approves-K12-social-studies-pilot-committee-recommends-multiple-resources-and-a-phased-timeline","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6518624-77955ed7e3a84d66be2c9f7200b6cb41/orig.mp4?Expires=1774936018&Signature=jh77P~vPsTFfRcIcFyiDLvK8Rs0Dna~ongiq46hxOvF65mxsCzZdWmqs-4-ZlqOd39W-OFGrwBGVY~-oZDLFXbjbwTCfaBsF89xT5dFxjeijfcIYdrcacE5B6X0MUmWLDTRksRbYfNwpUulkabou~69pVJ16xAOP8Ug9wprisUxhbLYOu49QE6Vl90y9czsthkFcbJvcxh7FTGM~fyOBQZhPLo0oy2ydStRlDCpylT-KaVNy2gmRDEaUFpo3KaP7TkzCccCJPUxEcI8ye253ZbjgVOi9Cd~U0PeqcgHzSWlzR2ZI~UAqBumftOJMMpETkF5QeT-gUU-lRZ6iHJZtEw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Valley Center USD 262 board unanimously approved a K–12 history, government and social studies pilot after a presentation by district curriculum staff and a 13-teacher committee that spent two years reviewing resources against Kansas standards.

The pilot proposal asks the board to pilot the following resource packages: K–4 — Studies Weekly; grades 5–8 — Teachers Curriculum Institute; grades 7 — additional Kansas-specific resource (Kansas Journey) alongside the geography resource; and grades 9–12 — SABIS Project Imagine for U.S. and world history. The committee weighed 15 instructional resources, used a rubric aligned to KSDE standards and considered longevity, professional development support and access for families.

Timeline and logistics
- K–8 pilot: proposed August 12 through May 20 (the entire school year).
- 9–12 pilot: proposed August 12 through December (shorter pilot per vendor agreement).
- Parent/guardian notification and links to pilot resources would be distributed if the board approves the pilot; professional development is planned to begin in August–September so teachers can learn the materials and develop lesson plans.

Presenter’s rationale
The presenter said the committee intentionally used a rubric and multiple review cycles to avoid selecting resources based on preference alone. “Once a resource is piloted, then during those times, we're really just checking in with teachers, how are they doing, allowing them some time to work, lesson plan, curriculum map, all of the things that go along with once you get the resource, that's great, but the real work starts, after that implementation,” the presenter said.

Vote and next steps
A board motion to approve the pilot passed 5–0. Staff will issue parent/guardian notifications, continue committee meetings through the pilot and return to the board with interim (January) and final (May) reports and an adoption recommendation for the relevant grade bands.

Ending: District leaders thanked the teacher committee for the two‑year review process and said they will bring pilot findings and an adoption proposal back to the board on the stated timeline.","Trustees approved a districtwide K–12 social studies pilot that will test resources in K–8 and 9–12 on staggered timelines, with parent notification and teacher professional development planned for fall implementation.",{"_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},6518629,"District told federal education funds are being withheld; Valley Center USD 262 faces roughly $102,000 shortfall",426,2642000,3068000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5386785-41b03c51a7213451701fe9e83e072dc5&start=2642&end=3068","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5386785-41b03c51a7213451701fe9e83e072dc5/thumbnail_2642000.jpg","/articles/6518629/Kansas/District-told-federal-education-funds-are-being-withheld-Valley-Center-USD-262-faces-roughly-102000-shortfall","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6518629-0f21ab974c4aeeed387d85ae06ec23de/orig.mp4?Expires=1774936018&Signature=fRumbgy5wOp3DfmUyZxazyE-9i8FjA0Hz-OW515P91Kn4c4q3rUw2tEEakncsB8IXfr1Hhnb1od4Rn1Dn17qsNK7JSc8OXpi7YYywFudll-TcUTcP6y8GPzfZ3qt5BG75ylUMCb-sN2uBGWbogPFJfcnFTnula7QN49KFykzuUNkwQ91FcK2I19mVlfEvvlPD6h9Dt8xs7hpoLRoLKYg~5du5IEYzyjTgbECAOpxY1xvzMgHky0u~~M8-oUsP1Hel~NeRTG78-hnVdsuGGikR8faVx8oJT0tiF0mecQgjqGzklCn50iL~6JCv8YWXF7gzRD22kROU8JUBgtLbqwW4Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District staff provided a federal funding update to the Valley Center USD 262 board explaining that some federally allocated education funds are currently being held for review by the U.S. Department of Education.

A district staff member, identified in the meeting transcript as Mr. Lear, told trustees that the appropriation bill allocating the funds was signed by the President in March and the money has been allocated, but the Department of Education has withheld distribution while it conducts a review. “The federal government has the money, but we don't know if we're gonna see it,” Mr. Lear said.

Key figures and program impacts
- Mr. Lear reported about $6.2 billion nationwide in the affected appropriation; Kansas’ share in the allocation was roughly $45 million.
- USD 262’s allocated amount from these specific federal sources is approximately $102,000, Mr. Lear said.
- Title II-A (professional development and related substitute costs) constituted the largest portion for USD 262 (about $76,000). Title IV-A (STEM, college/career counseling and other activities) accounted for roughly $55,000 in the district’s allocation. The district reported no allocation for Title I-C (migrant education) or Title III-A in this round.

Mr. Lear also told the board there is a separate federal voucher proposal included in the larger package that the speaker described as having no cap; he quoted one estimate that the uncapped voucher program “could be anywhere. It could be $50,000,000,000.” He noted states would need to opt in for the program to apply at the state level.

Board members cautioned staff on budgeting: several members encouraged the district to avoid counting the funds in the budget until they are actually received and cited prior instances where federal funds were withheld temporarily and later released.

Implications
District staff said the withheld funds would most likely affect professional development plans and other line items that rely on federal allocations; staff will reassign or find alternative local funding if the federal money does not arrive.

Ending: Staff invited board questions and said they will report further updates as the Department of Education releases guidance or funds.","District staff reported the U.S. Department of Education is reviewing a federal appropriation, with roughly $6.2 billion nationwide and about $45 million for Kansas withheld; USD 262’s share was estimated at about $102,000, affecting Title II-A and Title IV-A allocations.",{"_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},6518634,"Valley Center board reviews three boundary options as new elementary school opens in 2026-27",2486,276000,2762000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5386785-41b03c51a7213451701fe9e83e072dc5&start=276&end=2762","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5386785-41b03c51a7213451701fe9e83e072dc5/thumbnail_276000.jpg","/articles/6518634/Kansas/Valley-Center-board-reviews-three-boundary-options-as-new-elementary-school-opens-in-2026-27","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6518634-ad1a1f94e2dc43b880fd807ee36f20f0/orig.mp4?Expires=1774936018&Signature=BsWZQSO5i96Pxm~x4DcAyohDimL0rMXpWEEumkL1WketB0dAatJvwfHwcuNKWUl4GEJjizx4cnNKSgi33ouIIpt~hlg1~XOowTNMyifnau7nQtjqg7PJJMkneYxpQjLHpuB2evfekBTFu1RIe29Sq1gN7MWitcjJTd1CNhHeIXyRT2BZSlW8-WGcMtj-X7TASuiIi5FQnqKRzNfiUhIPiOZyBc09pwgowXOcUgRIBbscdDU0HcoKyCuOTPYCu4eA8u-OQNN9jp4KPQsV181Qykkjmk5n9QpGgHsIX5VpfMdEl3HfddV1QjpKLXY9-fh4zDBD2AsckEuL47qOZg-zzw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Valley Center USD 262 trustees on Monday heard a detailed enrollment and boundary planning presentation from Jenna Wallace of RSP and Associates as the district prepares to open a new elementary school for the 2026-27 school year.

Wallace summarized a multi-month analysis of enrollment trends, housing development and student geography and presented three options for placing students in four elementary buildings: maintain the current school-choice model; establish attendance boundaries (two variants labeled 2a and 2b); or adopt a hybrid approach that limits choice to two-school zones on either side of Meridian.

The consultant said the district’s statistical enrollment model accounts for birth rates, household geography and more than 2,700 potential housing units within the district. “We were contracted with you all to go through an enrollment report and then start facility planning and future considerations as you open your new school and change your grade configuration,” Wallace said during her presentation.

Why it matters: the board’s decision will determine how many students move to the new school, how families will be assigned or choose schools, transportation routing and potential grandfathering policies for currently enrolled students.

Key findings and figures
- Current districtwide trends show modest growth (about 1–2% per year recently), but kindergarten cohorts are currently smaller than 12th-grade cohorts, a factor that can limit near-term growth.
- RSP’s model counts roughly 2,700 potential new housing units in the district’s pipeline; however the firm notes a declining “yield rate” (fewer students produced per new house) in some new developments.
- Under the district’s planned grade-configuration change for 2026-27, RSP projects roughly 550 middle-school students, 460 intermediate-school students and about 1,000–1,100 total elementary students across the four-elementary configuration.
- If boundaries are used, two attendance-boundary options would open the future elementary between roughly 260 and 360 students depending on preschool placement and how pre-K is distributed (RSP’s Concept 2a vs. 2b).
- RSP’s impact analysis estimates that a pure attendance-boundary approach (concepts 2a/2b) would affect roughly 440 current students in the cohort most immediately impacted; the hybrid model (option 3) would affect about 285 students, approximately 44% of that cohort.
- The district survey produced 385 responses; maintaining the school-choice model (option 1) received the most support at about 48.3% while the attendance-boundary option received about 20% support. The optional open-ended survey question produced 83 comments.

Grandfathering and other policy levers
Wallace walked the board through several grandfathering scenarios, including (a) allowing all current third- and fourth-grade students to remain at their current schools and (b) limiting grandfathering only to students who would not be assigned to the new school under a boundary map. RSP noted sibling matches are not visible in their student‑ID dataset and recommended the district cross‑check IDs if it wishes to model sibling impacts.

Board members questioned transportation and staffing implications. One board member suggested doing a follow-up survey after school starts to measure parent interest in the new school under a choice model; RSP and district staff noted that the district’s transportation planner, Mark, will run routing scenarios using routing software and return that analysis to the board.

Quotes
“We’re giving you that most likely forecast based on our firm and then our experience working with school districts,” Jenna Wallace said while explaining the enrollment model.

“...the new school was not currently representative of choice—would you choose that? That could definitely be now I will tell you that not every family will fill it out,” a board member said while discussing the idea of a follow-up family survey at the start of school.

Next steps and timeline
District staff told the board they expect continued discussion over the next months. Staff indicated a likely decision window of November–December so that staffing and parent planning can proceed; the transportation analysis will be developed and brought back to the board before a final determination.

Ending: The board did not vote on boundaries at the meeting; members thanked RSP for the analysis and directed staff to run transportation scenarios and refine grandfathering options ahead of later meetings.","Consultant Jenna Wallace presented enrollment projections, three boundary models (school choice, attendance boundaries, a hybrid), survey results and grandfathering scenarios as the district prepares to open a new elementary in 2026-27.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board reorganizes leadership, approves logo, committee assignments and out-of-district placements in unanimous votes

Board approves K–12 social studies pilot; committee recommends multiple resources and a phased timeline

District told federal education funds are being withheld; Valley Center USD 262 faces roughly $102,000 shortfall

Valley Center board reviews three boundary options as new elementary school opens in 2026-27