[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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",6129695,"mediaKeyId","5741681-db40e40c6eccfa500277785d98711659","parentId",5741681,"title","District continues visible‑learning push; expands LETRS, HIPS and screening schedule","audioSeconds",622,"startMs",3598000,"endMs",4220000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5741681-db40e40c6eccfa500277785d98711659&start=3598&end=4220","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5741681-db40e40c6eccfa500277785d98711659/thumbnail_3598000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6129695/Tonganoxie/School-Boards/Kansas/District-continues-visiblelearning-push-expands-LETRS-HIPS-and-screening-schedule","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6129695-80efab53f8437d2aee6d36f3c6410a4e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771092315&Signature=VYh5NgbD6Jm53mlVDjrM0qnpowzPBwSt0-~tqCdaISsqQbA8AuUOpKj2~hpuveJJfuDwhba5GVpjDRD-fT5iohGcDZE6jOlGpR4vSCEhAHvmCLPCNoGgNpamOJkz0G2vnhV3oRIBCg8RWaz46Icyr87GidhHBTXLYlLE-GoMZpa~lVeJ-mpn3wga~Jd1i3N37zs3x56fAOb6kfQEfaIlgpttcpr0-InR4PhelsN7XQO5UNt2z8gHOpeQ029apkB9iy4hKKb2Eq1xatLCh8JiYY51Iu2HSYZLULWOLZAWJojTI1qNTtHvobsEuQ7Qj2AAyozCCWZzsEYAPVuxg4ANRA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Tonganoxie USD 464","date","2025-09-10T02:11:19Z","article","Brandy Taylor, director of school improvement services, updated the board on curriculum, professional development and assessment work during the Sept. 8 meeting.
Taylor described the district’s continuing emphasis on the TONGI framework (rigor, achievement, PLCs) and said the district has reinforced visible‑learning practices so that “if you are in a classroom in Tonganoxie, you should be able to look up and find out what you’re supposed to be learning today.” She said the district earlier held HIPS (high-impact instructional practices and strategies) training and has begun secondary-level professional development to align with the elementary science of reading work.
Taylor said teachers at all levels will continue to emphasize gradual release and integrating background knowledge, and that administrators are using walk‑through tools to document and support instructional practices. She said instructional coaches are supporting PLCs, data dives and interventions, and that coaches are LETRS facilitators working to expand structured-literacy training across the district.
On assessment, Taylor reported that FastBridge universal screening has been completed for the fall and that the next FastBridge window is scheduled for December to allow comparison of fall-to-winter growth. She noted the district is still awaiting state CAP scores and that work on a social-studies resource adoption will begin in October with a planned board adoption in April.
Taylor also described efforts to align building- and individual‑level goals with the district strategic plan, expand teacher supports, and increase communication with families (including a planned district podcast to share updates).
Ending: Taylor said coaches and administrators will continue to monitor classroom implementation and assessment results; the district expects to use the December FastBridge window and forthcoming CAP results to refine instructional priorities.
","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board Meeting 9.8.2025","oneSentenceSummary","Brandy Taylor, director of school improvement services, told the board the district is reinforcing the TONGI framework, rolling out high‑impact instructional practices (HIPS), promoting structured literacy and LETRS training, continuing FastBridge screening (next in December) and planning a social-studies resource adoption.","taxTitle","Tonganoxie, School Boards, Kansas","taxId",56490,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6129700,"Tonganoxie drivers education offers 20 hours classroom, 10 hours driving; seats limited",840,1470000,2310000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5741681-db40e40c6eccfa500277785d98711659&start=1470&end=2310","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5741681-db40e40c6eccfa500277785d98711659/thumbnail_1470000.jpg","/articles/6129700/Tonganoxie/School-Boards/Kansas/Tonganoxie-drivers-education-offers-20-hours-classroom-10-hours-driving-seats-limited","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6129700-3af318ad3a85734faa1f55d2982e4ea9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771092315&Signature=RnC-O5gxxMkDxRw-rF0sz01XSVWKcIj2aKifp7HZRVKdAaY5cgOfPKsWh2XeuK1axzhxRlQxCDukBuDzq7~ZZ~2q-LTjFtkriuCCGY6HlzOxbB-BEYpUKrrk97PkDb9lqGB3MSvnYphKPU25AM8WZ0C0PLv-pBkcIdIJNoj5lpI27mkgmwOAK9lwfofm4aYW3Tc~xFWteQJo8gBU4HcJ~16br7CYk25xgAvtjjqwp2QVHYYSIy5CXJU5692-Fe4~YgOzxv3QBH0vVdGYhLMr98Apqr~DUVVDB45AicqRtNAn6UtAOijlKWNm52XhS-K31Abp-U1AU22n5iR74Ey50A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Stacy Emmett, the driver education instructor at Tonganoxie High School, described the structure, schedule and rules for the district’s drivers education program during the Sept. 8 board meeting.
Emmett said the program has two parts: roughly 20 hours of classroom instruction and 10 hours of drive time. “We spend 10 hours in a car with us. Five of those they are actively driving and the other five, they are actively observing,” Emmett told the board. Students are tested over units and must score 80 percent or above on assessments; the program allows retakes for unit assessments.
Emmett said students often begin classroom instruction immediately after school and that driving sessions are scheduled across multiple weeks in the summer so not all students drive at the same time. Typical annual capacity is 40–50 students, she said; the program’s registration deadline is the last Friday in April, which allows scheduling and pairing of student drivers. Fees are $275 for in-district students and $300 for out-of-district students; Emmett said the program is less expensive than many nearby private driving schools.
She described hands-on learning including simulated traffic stops with the school resource officer, tractor and semi-truck demonstrations to teach truck safety in the district’s agricultural traffic area, and instruction that ranges from basic vehicle operation to highway merging. Emmett said the program does not usually accept incoming eighth graders or out-of-district students if the class fills, because priority is given to current high-school students.
Parents and board members asked about capacity and whether the program can add instructors to increase seats; Emmett said the program currently has two driving instructors and that adding a third certified instructor would expand capacity. The board congratulated Emmett on a nomination as the district’s Kansas teacher-of-the-year applicant.
Ending: Emmett said parents should register by the late‑April deadline and that she maintains a waiting list; the program will continue to prioritize in-district high-school students and to use summer sessions for driving instruction.
","Stacy Emmett, head of the Tonganoxie High School drivers education program, gave an overview: 20 hours of classroom instruction, 10 hours in-car (five driving, five observing), in-district fee of $275, typical annual capacity of 40–50 students and registration deadlines to manage logistics.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6129705,"Board authorizes publication of RFQ for construction manager at risk for elementary HVAC project",3989,2789000,6778000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5741681-db40e40c6eccfa500277785d98711659&start=2789&end=6778","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5741681-db40e40c6eccfa500277785d98711659/thumbnail_2789000.jpg","/articles/6129705/Tonganoxie/School-Boards/Kansas/Board-authorizes-publication-of-RFQ-for-construction-manager-at-risk-for-elementary-HVAC-project","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6129705-3287339b3587b8cc22b7540b45e95db3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771092315&Signature=FqVM3qdtzp7dcLmhRvO2W7hCGfGY~4Z1e34BDc18k9fGNgu2geXZIkKeLnEg2Y9zdOoWJs8-JWs57rZFMWydEddoWZ6dTZukXJtNUvwArWy8pEG07skdfTI1wvnUu~DebQzZtdtXaK2hogPexyVhZ1s2h6oaGKfRTCWPTcqF5EzEhe3GiRxKQyPR8eLlZvwt~ZE3MUCTLktgm1bkxjkxmgO1lRr101pumjklWWlOocbb4z58zLV1~eTs6XLGzk56LzU5N7020GoW5o85fGYbpR~YCoLnBb-n3tr~valKpjoCyzDBJZ6zptS6WDrrqpF4WjdiwjUzjb38hK7v21OGvg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The USD 464 board on Sept. 8 authorized staff to publish notice of intent and to issue a request for qualifications (RFQ) seeking a construction manager at risk (CMAR) to oversee replacement of variable‑refrigerant‑flow (VRF) heating/ventilation equipment at the elementary school.
Mister Loomis presented the project background and timeline and said the board’s approval would only authorize publication of the RFQ; it carries no immediate financial obligation. “There is a 0 financial obligation to what you’re approving tonight,” Loomis said.
Key details Loomis provided:
- Existing equipment: eight VRF units currently serve the elementary — six serve classroom wings, one serves the office and one serves music rooms.
- Proposed approach: replace VRFs with rooftop units that are consistent with the district’s middle- and high-school systems; the selected CMAR would help finalize phasing and provide constructability input.
- Procurement steps and tentative schedule presented by staff: post notice and advertise the RFQ for 15 days; issue RFQ on Sept. 30; shortlist firms and issue an RFP; receive proposals by Oct. 29; interview and select a CMAR in late October/early November; enter contract in early November and present the guaranteed maximum price (GMP) for board approval in December. If approved, the district would order equipment in January to target a May 2026 installation window.
Loomis said the CMAR approach provides price certainty through a GMP and that the firm would be responsible for many project risks, including safety and quality of subcontractors. Board members discussed phasing options (completing the work in a single summer or spreading it over multiple years) and emphasized the need to preserve consistency of trade partners if the project is phased.
Action taken: The board approved publication of the notice to issue an RFQ for a CMAR (action item 8.4). The motion passed by voice/hand vote; the board record shows a second and the chair declared the motion carried.
Ending: Staff will post the RFQ, accept qualifications and begin the short-listing and interview process; the selected CMAR would later present a GMP that requires separate board approval before construction spending begins.
","USD 464 authorized notice to solicit qualifications for a construction manager at risk (CMAR) to manage replacement of eight VRF units at the elementary school with rooftop units; board members emphasized no financial commitment at this stage and outlined a condensed timeline.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6129710,"Special-education cooperative reports $11.28 million budget, staffing and funding uncertainty",1204,2339000,3543000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5741681-db40e40c6eccfa500277785d98711659&start=2339&end=3543","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5741681-db40e40c6eccfa500277785d98711659/thumbnail_2339000.jpg","/articles/6129710/Tonganoxie/School-Boards/Kansas/Special-education-cooperative-reports-1128-million-budget-staffing-and-funding-uncertainty","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6129710-8061e4b0809044220feb63a18f124af7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771092315&Signature=o86OwjgP6q95bL01QDF4rW5w6W0FLclbpF~H~CnKz87xhiUZ2LCMzewdgLW7-cR1VlFDG2yLbNOfXbGw8i4Vj4VJ9BfzZ9NPC5lr665qtKMaru7IzjfuRvgP4sDu9JYSf4aeMAuU8ycRN4IVh-GiLEBNpPRK0HA3zXlffJPzeDToDVROTB1dJePzvIHT9GcqfE8za9ORU5VDq54qHZmINidMaEj8w1ztARBiL4Ns1MtpDFtqDQexK8y-LKvxKXQzWgFCw6E78InaAXivnlAjmys7hhvIFJyi44epvR8U0LoN2uurEtDl5elFGetFQuacRyRbhVVJlNvDXxw6J0zlSw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chris Coleman, the new director of special education for the local cooperative serving USD 464 and a neighboring district, gave the board a detailed update on staffing, programs and finances during the Sept. 8 meeting.
Coleman said the cooperative’s 2025–26 expenditure budget is $11.282 million, and that 95.4 percent of that budget is personnel costs. “The vast majority of our budget is paying salary and benefits to our employees,” Coleman said. As of mid‑last week he reported the cooperative started the year with roughly $132,000 in cash balances and has a short-term goal to raise that to about $250,000 to handle unpredictable needs.
Coleman provided staffing and program counts: the cooperative has two administrators (the director and an assistant director), three office staff (one part time), three special-education support coaches and, within Tonganoxie, 38 certified special-education staff (teachers, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, school psychologists). He said the cooperative is serving 348 students in Tonganoxie and operates nine center-based programs across the cooperative for students with higher-intensity needs.
On funding, Coleman said state special-education reimbursement remains uncertain. He described the state’s current primary funding method as teacher-reimbursement and said the cooperative currently estimates $29,600 per reported staff member — about $1,200 less per staff member than the previous year. Coleman said the cooperative does not know the final state allocation until near the end of the fiscal year and that a legislative committee is studying alternative funding methods.
Coleman described three district priorities for special education this year: student achievement (growth for every student), compliance with KSDE performance indicators, and staff engagement/retention. He said the cooperative’s operational focus areas include improved communication to boards and building leaders, structured professional development (including paraeducator training and monthly administrator PD), and fiscal responsibility through deliberate staffing decisions, limiting costly contract agencies and maximizing revenue through accurate state reporting. He estimated hiring and reducing contract agency use could save about $250,000 this year if staffing needs hold steady.
Questions from board members focused on data and outcomes. One board member asked for future briefings on KSDE indicator data and student outcomes; Coleman agreed to provide further detail at a later meeting.
Ending: Coleman said he will provide periodic cooperative updates and that district leaders will continue to monitor special-education staffing and funding as enrollment and student needs change.
","Chris Coleman, the cooperative’s new director of special education, told the board the coop serves 348 students in Tonganoxie, has an $11.282 million expenditure budget (95.4% personnel) and is managing reduced state reimbursements while seeking efficiencies and improved reporting.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6129715,"USD 464 board adopts 2025-26 budget, approves resolution to exceed revenue-neutral rate",6534,226000,6760000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5741681-db40e40c6eccfa500277785d98711659&start=226&end=6760","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5741681-db40e40c6eccfa500277785d98711659/thumbnail_226000.jpg","/articles/6129715/Tonganoxie/School-Boards/Kansas/USD-464-board-adopts-2025-26-budget-approves-resolution-to-exceed-revenue-neutral-rate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6129715-1230e8ce7b58923852ef897a79f3b883/orig.mp4?Expires=1771092315&Signature=nX6mFARFwv~u8T98~uT8iIq0Aeh3Id~4~IemeM-eyzHASdXauhfXyp8zKlxZ48yuyFc2dv12p1aprmSLuoOUUXto7mXcTIy9Lv6x-mPCjKIoGgYCP3XDO-dsfOX9sh1BuyrdGl6EJl7HMCQCRzrQMqWZcVlb0z1Z4GR~0HJrJuymVJif1W97AsMEsUPzUiXcFTsu-zoWK1c1fDp4mFh5jb7D58HIrntL2YIcTXa4fRZsbVSJqMA3u3pxnE9pD8qB17YqpxwJFFDyyOTMVITIAXOZm2YL8eBwyFo1UJioN1qvaId74t6CV1VLyn-pZ1iN8kdVMywwq3ihffAfNsJejg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The USD 464 Board of Education on Sept. 8 adopted the district’s 2025–26 budget and voted to approve a resolution authorizing property tax levies that exceed the state-calculated revenue-neutral rate, the board said during a public hearing and subsequent roll-call vote.
Board president said the district is proposing a mill levy of 60.944 mills for 2025–26, up from 59.772 last year — an increase of 1.172 mills. “The district has over the last five years actually lowered the mill by roughly 2.7 mills,” the board president said during the hearing, adding that state aid for K–12 and special education has declined and the district faces rising operating costs.
The board read a resolution referencing KSA 79-2988 and adopted it by roll call; board members Dean, Vernon, Shoop, Gratton, Bruni and Batory recorded “yes” votes when the resolution was taken up during the hearing. Later in the meeting the board also approved the 2025–26 budget and a local option budget percentage of 32.3 percent for the supplemental general fund.
Why this matters: The board’s action allows the district to collect property tax revenue above the revenue-neutral rate calculated under state law, a step board members said is needed to cover rising operating costs and lower state special-education aid. Residents at the hearing urged the board to consider the tax impact on fixed-income households and families.
During public comment, longtime resident Cecilia Floyd said local fees and costs add up for families and urged board members to consider the burden on elderly and lower-income residents: “We are all being asked to do more with less,” Floyd said. Erin Ellsworth said more than half of the property taxes she pays go to the school district: “More than 50% of what I’m being charged is coming here.” Retiree Wes Miller said property-tax growth has outpaced his income and warned it could force longtime residents to sell: “If this continues on this way, it’s gonna price me out of my house.”
Officials’ explanation and context: At the hearing the board described a multiyear decline in state support for school operations and special-education funding. The board president said state reimbursement for special education obligations has fallen from roughly 35 percent several years ago to about 25 percent this year, and the district projects it could be about 20 percent next year. Separate testimony during the meeting from the cooperative special-education director (reported elsewhere in this package) provided more detail on special-education finance and staffing.
What the board approved: The board adopted a resolution stating that, under KSA 79-2988, the levy to finance the 2025–26 budget will exceed the revenue-neutral tax rate as calculated for the district. The board also certified a local option budget percentage of 32.3 percent and approved the full 2025–26 budget at the action-item portion of the meeting.
Decisions, direction and follow-ups: The revenue-neutral resolution and the budget were formally approved at the meeting; board members said they will continue to advocate with state legislators for special-education funding. The board invited residents to contact state representatives about school funding and encouraged continued public engagement.
Ending: The board completed the budget hearing, moved into regular business and later adjourned into an executive session for non-elected personnel matters. The board scheduled an additional special meeting (via Zoom) for Sept. 15 to handle a separate agenda item.
","On Sept. 8 the USD 464 Board of Education adopted its 2025-26 budget and passed a resolution to levy property taxes above the state-calculated revenue-neutral rate; board members and residents discussed rising local tax burdens and declining state special-education funding.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

District continues visible‑learning push; expands LETRS, HIPS and screening schedule

Tonganoxie drivers education offers 20 hours classroom, 10 hours driving; seats limited

Board authorizes publication of RFQ for construction manager at risk for elementary HVAC project

Special-education cooperative reports $11.28 million budget, staffing and funding uncertainty

USD 464 board adopts 2025-26 budget, approves resolution to exceed revenue-neutral rate