USD 453 board says district is "in the red zone," outlines staffing cuts and building decision timeline

LEAVENWORTH, Kan. — At its Feb. 10 meeting, the USD 453 Board of Education heard a budget update from Superintendent Dr. Kellen Adams laying out a multi‑million‑dollar shortfall and a list of proposed cost‑saving measures that include staffing reductions, program and subscription cuts, and potential sale or closure options for a district building.

The briefing matters because the board must decide whether to use one‑time cash reserves as a bridge and approve recurring reductions to balance the district’s budget. Dr. Adams told the board the district faces a roughly $5 million context for reductions and that leaders are “inside the red zone.”

Dr. Kellen Adams, superintendent of USD 453, said enrollment declines and the end of federal stimulus funding are the main drivers behind the gap. The district has experienced about a 10% decline in student enrollment, he said — describing current enrollment around 3,500 students and a loss of more than 300 students in the past two fiscal years. Adams said those enrollment changes are compounded by projected cost increases in utilities, insurance and employee compensation.

To close the gap, Adams reviewed a menu of options and preliminary figures: a planned reduction in administrative full‑time equivalents of about 13% (which he said represents “just under $400,000” in savings), a roughly 7.5% reduction in certified positions and about 5% in classified positions; targeted operational efficiencies; and shifting some current operating expenses to the capital outlay fund. He also identified several specific savings items discussed with the board: eliminating a Chamber Bucks program (about $35,000), switching from a large 53‑passenger bus to one or more district vans for Pioneer Career Center runs (an expected transportation reduction of roughly $43,000 without cutting student access), and an immediate $165,000 average annual savings tied to exiting an underused district building (about $120,000 in reduced repairs and roughly $45,000 in lower utilities while the building remains district property).

Adams emphasized the district’s preference to preserve student access to career programs. “I would not support any type of reduction in the ability for students to attend,” he said during the discussion of transportation to the Pioneer Career Center. “I don't want your ability to be transported to become a hurdle or barrier to be able to participate.”

Board members pressed for clarity on what has already been done to reduce costs and asked for follow‑up detail. Several requested a report by April (or May if needed) showing energy‑efficiency actions already completed and the remaining scope — light replacements, HVAC and plumbing adjustments, and any in‑house capacity to complete additional work.

Adams also told the board that decisions on the future of a district building (referred to in discussion as Eddie Hartnett) are a board‑level choice and that he will place that item on a future open‑session agenda at the board’s direction. He noted the district remains responsible for insurance and essential maintenance until a sale or other final disposition, which limits how quickly operating costs fall.

On personnel procedure, the board approved a motion to enter executive session under the Kansas Open Meetings Act to discuss non‑elected personnel; that motion passed 7‑0. Following executive session, the board approved a staffing report by motion, also 7‑0. Earlier in the meeting commissioners adopted the agenda and the consent agenda by unanimous votes.

Votes at a glance - Motion to adopt the agenda (mover: Mrs. Wells; second: Mrs. Murphy) — approved, vote 7‑0. - Motion to adopt the consent agenda (mover: Mrs. Wells; second: Mrs. Murphy) — approved, vote 7‑0. - Motion to go into executive session to discuss non‑elected personnel under the Kansas Open Meetings Act (mover: Mrs. Price; second: Mrs. Murphy) — approved, vote 7‑0. The motion specified the board would invite Dr. Kellen Adams, Amy Sloan and Isaac Caverly into the session at 6:12 p.m. - Motion to approve the staffing report (mover: Mrs. Wells; second: Mrs. Murphy) — approved, vote 7‑0.

Discussion versus decisions Board members repeatedly framed many proposals as preliminary or reversible; Dr. Adams said some positions could be “frosted” now and reinstated later if enrollment or revenues change. He described certain numbers (for example, vendor contract costs and some five‑year averages) as hard or methodology‑driven and other figures as conservative projections intended to avoid underestimating expenses.

What’s next Adams said the capital improvement plan will come to the board in March and that decisions on employee raises likely will fall to the board in May or June. He also asked the board to set a schedule for discussion of the building’s future and confirmed he will add that to an upcoming open session agenda when the board is ready.

Speakers cited in this article - Dr. Kellen Adams, Superintendent, USD 453 (spoke throughout budget presentation and Q&A) - Mrs. Murphy, Board member - Mrs. Wells, Board member (mover on agenda and consent motions) - Mrs. Price, Board member (mover on executive session motion) - Mrs. Reed, Board member - Mrs. Wilson, Board member - Mrs. Oveby, Board member - Mike Carney, Board member (led pledge)

Proper names referenced - Leavenworth Public Schools (district) - USD 453 (district) - Pioneer Career Center (program/partner) - Eddie Hartnett (district facility referenced during discussion)

Authorities cited in the meeting - Kansas Open Meetings Act (referenced for executive session justification)

Clarifying details drawn from the meeting - Student enrollment: about a 10% decline; current enrollment cited at roughly 3,500 and a loss of more than 300 students over the past two fiscal years (as stated by the superintendent). - Planned staffing reductions: ~13% administrative FTE cut (described as “just under $400,000”), ~7.5% certified, and ~5% classified (figures discussed as planning assumptions and subject to change as separations/fills occur). - Identified discrete savings: Chamber Bucks elimination (~$35,000), transportation change to vans (~$43,000), facility repair/utility reduction while building remains district property (~$165,000 combined estimate). - Timeline notes: capital improvement plan to be presented in March; raises likely decided in May or June; board will consider building fate on an open‑session agenda per board direction.

Community relevance - Geographies: Leavenworth (city), Pioneer Career Center, district buildings including Eddie Hartnett. - Impact groups: students (districtwide), certified and classified staff, families dependent on district transportation, taxpayers. - Funding sources referenced: general fund/LOB operational funds, capital outlay fund, federal stimulus (noted as ended), insurance premiums.

Meeting context - Engagement level: extended budget discussion with multiple board questions and staff responses; presentations and Q&A occupied much of the evening. - Implementation risk: medium (decisions about building sale/closure have statutory process implications and insurance/maintenance obligations until final disposition). - History: enrollment decline was predicted in an RSP enrollment study completed about four years earlier; actual decline has exceeded projections.

Searchable tags ["budget","staffing","USD453","Leavenworth","facility-closure","transportation","Pioneer-Career-Center","Kansas-Open-Meetings-Act"]

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