[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-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",[32,75,86,98,110],{"_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":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6475877,"mediaKeyId","5731914-f85f2bd6ea68fea913a50cdd93c5f2c2","parentId",5731914,"title","Board approves Joey Simpson as high school football coach for 2025-26","audioSeconds",28,"startMs",4740000,"endMs",4768000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5731914-f85f2bd6ea68fea913a50cdd93c5f2c2&start=4740&end=4768","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5731914-f85f2bd6ea68fea913a50cdd93c5f2c2/thumbnail_4740000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6475877/Hiawatha/School-Boards/Kansas/Board-approves-Joey-Simpson-as-high-school-football-coach-for-2025-26","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6475877-3adcaec4f3d0b77cec0878bf4890a90c/orig.mp4?Expires=1775392976&Signature=aeMiwiC280IBMmTZQNy2OqPT9QX8s8RCFKH7XjL0ci9cVoFqzYfBbulHS9k8h5xHT3sGPmEijYrRlJWAiUvImJz9kmVVQqNgTh2RX96ncnsYPW7jtZ1BMmTvCfDXxl3mnK3Q-Iv4dmBSe~QitTQkgL-w1pMh2xYwwbFT-Xf2wlsx9SifWJ80WnyE1d80YDxkLcIAyaw-auF4PFqTVa1sHP0kfqdrlHf7zWlvQRqmt77Rv~suX3dwU8MCzHrk1k3p9oTKo8DZ2zyh-Ukg3InUxrp3k-L6hDMIcLlq~GZMuoktJotbpRJKeiABMocfsJMwTgmVQ8N~6eflieDWA9Ik5Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Hiawatha USD","date","2025-09-08T22:57:26Z","article","The Hiawatha School Board approved the recommendation to hire Joey Simpson as the high school football coach for the 2025-26 school year during Wednesday\u000fs meeting.

A board member recommended approval and another seconded the motion. The board then voted; the transcript records the motion as passing 7-0.

No additional conditions or amendments to the appointment were recorded in the meeting minutes available in the transcript.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Hiawatha USD 415 Regular BOE Meeting 9/8/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Hiawatha School Board approved Joey Simpson as the high school football coach for the 2025-26 school year by unanimous vote, 7-0.","taxTitle","Hiawatha, School Boards, Kansas","taxId",49320,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6475882,"Board hears report on rising special-education needs; district says more intensive supports required",0,3763000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5731914-f85f2bd6ea68fea913a50cdd93c5f2c2&start=3763&end=3763","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5731914-f85f2bd6ea68fea913a50cdd93c5f2c2/thumbnail_3763000.jpg","/articles/6475882/Hiawatha/School-Boards/Kansas/Board-hears-report-on-rising-special-education-needs-district-says-more-intensive-supports-required","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6475882-8117303230401b58addf7aab1a53d01f/orig.mp4?Expires=1775392975&Signature=ZEiwE-xN5AKJz7yndK~UiUtyoWnSQAFNCFlaTDs9DAaiOrRsw5HpdjiyZSzfc7dTIgNVR8sCW0BnrkcCuBvGNNY0gUqGLYN~4c3EgAbwU~fQzymo-gWXyAwBKZRuyu~7Sot4Ww~hs3WKrKTUNzqmOP3H79zPJxC~in-G06fy5sB2nn0H40i31XRb1L4s3EXsfETI5aqYBZFcKFV51J-HLADSJyZNHS95XzuO2WM5~wffxaFjAColsxgZGjVhcL1rR7iRFh~pAvuzPDMwXpOSO1QqcsJ01pb4N4RkI59h0sbND5VZigpq5FGvtxNwFVZ7S2V6UrPpfuJubkDokBvmmQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Hiawatha School District special-education staff reported that the district\u000fs proportion of students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) exceeds the state average and that the severity of needs has increased, particularly among young children.

The district reported a local IEP rate of about 23% compared with a cited state average of 17%. Staff described growing needs for one-on-one aides and specialized services, and urged that the district continue recruiting paraprofessionals and therapists to meet student demands.

Administrators described the district\u000fs child-find and intervention process: classroom teams and general-education staff meet regularly to monitor progress and implement targeted interventions; if those interventions do not produce improvement, formal evaluation and special-education testing can follow. Staff said many newly identified students enter the system at pre-K and kindergarten ages, increasing demand for early-childhood special-education services.

Board members asked whether the trend was unique to the district or mirrored statewide patterns; staff said contacts with other directors show similar increases in need. Staff noted that the rising intensity of needs means higher costs and staffing challenges for the district.","District special-education staff reported an IEP rate above the state average and described increasing severity of needs among young children, prompting a request for additional paraprofessional staff and ongoing monitoring of early-identification processes.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6475887,"Elementary enrollment steady; unusually small kindergarten cohort this year, principal says",150,2826000,2976000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5731914-f85f2bd6ea68fea913a50cdd93c5f2c2&start=2826&end=2976","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5731914-f85f2bd6ea68fea913a50cdd93c5f2c2/thumbnail_2826000.jpg","/articles/6475887/Hiawatha/School-Boards/Kansas/Elementary-enrollment-steady-unusually-small-kindergarten-cohort-this-year-principal-says","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6475887-524599e1c1407ec9a48febb3cd5a2eda/orig.mp4?Expires=1775392975&Signature=NlhmYZIP0GVOIGqG8w1pJKtD1t36WE5gyMezrZdbFmzAXvMazXlh3Bl~VCu55i6krF3OD7MzmAZtn9YdM7-ssPxg-1wMwSBk4bYPCSBsvNcFybuluAQc1zya0AApygcJFOzGh5mZcyfPxLVtBovbPI4LYuIFcgHMcoT9cJn4VZoaj3XM3ac-OfbH2yGhzuQwNCbAR49HDom0beWMmDEtZCIyoBST6mLp6Ix6~Kjfg-5mdqwOWNBVpj4R6FJnUm3TddiYLxGhGnG4RFakuUnqYyWRCrFXOcYhb1do3mVcBz-ExegbOtLPriOYenxzvmFlgRPZyJGcy1twnBsmN-i8Aw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The principal at the district\u000fs elementary school told the Hiawatha School Board that the school year began strongly, with teachers establishing classroom routines and implementing a new English-language arts resource.

Principal Danielle said staff have completed beginning-of-year assessments and will begin targeted intervention \u000f\"WIN groups\" \u000fin the coming days. She described the start of school as \"positive and encouraging,\" and said teachers are focusing on classroom community-building and social-emotional supports.

Danielle reported an elementary head count of 347 students; middle school was reported at 250 and the high school at 251, for a district total of 848 as of the meeting. She noted kindergarten enrollment was unusually small this year (approximately 40 students), which district staff said will permit more individualized attention and targeted intervention for that cohort. Board members discussed how volatile year-to-year kindergarten cohorts complicate staffing and planning decisions.

The principal said district officials will rely on the official September head-count day to finalize funding weightings and that staff will continue outreach to encourage families to complete free-lunch applications that affect weighted counts used for state funding.","The elementary principal reported a positive start to the school year, rigorous early assessments and a notably small kindergarten class that will allow more targeted intervention; districtwide headcount figures were provided ahead of the September official count.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6475891,"District facilities update: drainage repairs, LED stadium lights, KDHD monitoring for groundwater contamination",185,2322000,2507000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5731914-f85f2bd6ea68fea913a50cdd93c5f2c2&start=2322&end=2507","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5731914-f85f2bd6ea68fea913a50cdd93c5f2c2/thumbnail_2322000.jpg","/articles/6475891/Hiawatha/School-Boards/Kansas/District-facilities-update-drainage-repairs-LED-stadium-lights-KDHD-monitoring-for-groundwater-contamination","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6475891-01cea22cd12aed7b00bd8929c1975c1f/orig.mp4?Expires=1775392975&Signature=SwquHv~Xp48lApsUf2hgOASKIJtjQgWycdeVn-on~sQDrT4OaOTs~Na7Ve-22Nhmu2BtOyXBj3osUhlxZI8xU-zp9NEwS6GdnhWx4LmOwHPW6SuYSl3G6Q-rphP~j2NUToRpZb3uTVCY8JnIj9H3tv18MZcoRSP~xFtXdnrdruL7k9TLGgA4CyqbUSfZvmT9Uja90rIQG8MGZoYEyFHrTFr4BFZw8G0RytAAY0~IOQ1W~Tw2mwvvjPhvKe5dchV6m5suY3jivuw5lw1XyQWhdBtW1z0K7v7MQHlp3kSiaHvr1XWgxW24oaLE45FmfE8NJfX-fumHu9xmwA8JxSrB7A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District facilities staff updated the Hiawatha School Board on several maintenance projects and an environmental monitoring program during Wednesday\u000fs meeting.

Maintenance staff reported that a drainage cleanout at the bottom of the high school parking area had been found broken; crews installed two cleanouts (one oriented west and one toward the school), encased the bottom in concrete and used perforated four-inch PVC to route storm water to the district storm sewer. Staff said gravel and filter medium were used around the perforation where appropriate to reduce future infiltration.

The district also reported the storage trailer at the elementary school has been removed; utilities at the site remain to be disconnected. LED lights at the high school stadium were replaced ahead of recent football games, and custodial and grounds staff painted and prepared the field.

On environmental monitoring, staff said the district had been accepted into a KDHD program (identified in the meeting as the Kansas environmental monitoring/management program). Under that agreement, a monitoring agency will install groundwater monitoring wells at the site, sample quarterly for one year and then analyze results to determine whether site monitoring should continue or the site can be closed. The district paid a one-time entry charge (described in the meeting as a roughly $4,000 payment) into a trust fund that can be used to cover well installation and follow-up work; staff said the program manager will determine whether monitoring continues after the initial year.

Staff also described a drainage \"big hole\" repair near the bus barn and said the changes should reduce future problems. The board discussed a proposed controlled burn of the nature trail behind the high school for vegetation management and firefighter training; the fire chief, Patrick Sheldon, indicated the burn would require city commission approval because the trail lies inside city limits.

Board members asked staff to confirm details on contracts for snow removal and to note locations of new concrete so contractors avoid salting newly poured surfaces.","District maintenance staff reported repairs to a high-school parking drainage system, replacement of stadium LED lights, the removal of a storage trailer, and enrollment in a KDHD monitoring program to test groundwater at a previously contaminated site.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6475896,"Hiawatha school board adopts alternate budget plan, sets mill levy at 49.343",107,2043000,2150000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5731914-f85f2bd6ea68fea913a50cdd93c5f2c2&start=2043&end=2150","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5731914-f85f2bd6ea68fea913a50cdd93c5f2c2/thumbnail_2043000.jpg","/articles/6475896/Hiawatha/School-Boards/Kansas/Hiawatha-school-board-adopts-alternate-budget-plan-sets-mill-levy-at-49343","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6475896-84d94bb468b5f113059e7227daed3c29/orig.mp4?Expires=1775392976&Signature=NKwzHnYUpdYJLYpCiry2vdiiRNtE0kNY6pgtlHxWrpth6qa9MzzqIzWBgtk33aImx788Zcf7pVA9gjEEUSGwTLh03wbnXPhE7Y9J4O9XFfqrsO14xRE~jqfZVbygSmzqCdhvn56~82m4m7EP99uMaVKmppdj-~DJeyWW22HNGRMe4cNB-nfO60nQjCCHPP2QZ0Gz61yM589VgvLuYsxL9u7bkJNmSwZuEZ-B55hWJlrLImxtZq9c8lpvuXy-Cqa1OdJkAagjyzI-ISg6gXsQtkTN-En2ZUnCvSPPKkdHhumurFuK6JO6Mvp3BzBMZYGq~4ZEewn~-pO0yEUOH~agCQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Hiawatha School Board voted to adopt an alternate budget plan Wednesday that sets the district\u000fs overall mill levy at 49.343, after a lengthy discussion about rising property valuations and the tax burden on residents.

Board members and attendees spent roughly an hour debating whether to move the mill levy all the way back to historical levels or to phase increases more slowly. Board member Mitch moved the motion to adopt the superintendent\u000fs alternate budget, saying, \"I move to accept the budget as presented with the exception of the mill levy being at 49.3.\" The motion passed; the transcript records the result as \"Motion passed 4 to\" but does not provide a complete opposing-vote tally in the record available.

Staff earlier told the board that state law requires adoption of a resolution establishing the Local Option Budget (LOB) percentage for the coming school year. The record references a resolution (identified in the meeting as Resolution 2608) that sets an LOB percentage of 31% for the 2025-26 school year.

During discussion, board members noted that property valuations in the district have risen markedly in recent years, increasing homeowners\u000f tax bills even when the mill rate is unchanged. Speakers urged the board to weigh the district\u000fs capital needs\u000fincluding aging HVAC systems and other facility repairs\u000fagainst the impact of near-term tax increases on families. One board member highlighted the district\u000fs recent capital outlay spending and the continuing need for facility investment; another said keeping the increase smaller this year might make it harder to finance a future bond.

Several members described the chosen mill levy as a compromise intended to ease the immediate tax impact while moving the district toward what some described as a historically typical level for capital outlay funding.

The board\u000fs vote adopted the alternate budget plan as moved. The transcript records the motion as having passed with four affirmative votes; the number of dissenting votes was not fully specified in the available record.

The board did not adopt a separate bond or capital project at the meeting; members discussed that a future bond measure would face public scrutiny given recent increases in tax bills.

Board members said staff will incorporate the board\u000fs direction into budget documents and follow required statutory steps to finalize the budget and any associated resolutions.","The Hiawatha School Board voted to adopt an alternate budget plan that sets an overall mill levy at 49.343; the board debated balancing rising property valuations and taxpayer impacts while staff noted a required Local Option Budget percentage of 31% for 2025–26.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves Joey Simpson as high school football coach for 2025-26

Board hears report on rising special-education needs; district says more intensive supports required

Elementary enrollment steady; unusually small kindergarten cohort this year, principal says

District facilities update: drainage repairs, LED stadium lights, KDHD monitoring for groundwater contamination

Hiawatha school board adopts alternate budget plan, sets mill levy at 49.343