Valley Center USD 262 approves 2025-26 calendar, posts two board vacancies and OKs administrator contract extensions

Valley Center — The Board of Education of Unified School District 262 on Jan. 14 approved the district's 2025-26 calendar, voted to publish notices for two board vacancies under Kansas statutes, named representatives to the district's negotiations team and approved extensions of administrative contracts. The board also heard a mid-year fiscal report, an enrollment update, an insurance renewal briefing and a preview of new logo designs.

The board unanimously approved the school calendar identified in the packet as "option 3" for the 2025-26 school year. That calendar keeps the week of Thanksgiving as a full week off after a staff survey showed broad support, adds a professional development day and moves the district's traditional end-of-year celebration to the final week of school.

Why it matters: the calendar sets staff professional development time and student contact days for the next school year and includes a one-year adjustment to replace a second-semester flex professional-development day with a district work day tied to moving and construction activities next summer.

Among other formal actions, the board accepted the immediate resignations of two members and approved resolutions directing the district clerk to publish board-vacancy notices in the Arc Valley News, as required by statute. The board also named two negotiators and approved one set of administrative contract extensions after an executive session.

The meeting featured several informational briefings. Superintendent Mr. Lear presented an enrollment update showing small declines at several elementary schools and growth at the district's Learning Center; the district noted transfers and post-holiday entries could raise the numbers in coming weeks. The district's business staff delivered a mid-year fiscal review showing the general fund and local-option-budget (LOB) balances are comparable to recent years and that the district remains "in good shape" for the year to date.

On employee health insurance, the district reported an initial proposed renewal increase of roughly 8 percent from Blue Cross was reduced to 5.21 percent after insurer concessions. The presenter calculated the cost of the increase at roughly $203,000'$204,000 annually and recommended a memorandum of understanding splitting the extra cost between the board and the teachers'negotiated group; the board did not vote on the MOU but gave general assent to pursue an insurance-committee review of longer-term options, including partial self-funding for prescription drug benefits.

The board previewed new Valley Center Schools logo concepts created for USD 262 and directed staff to narrow options to two designs for community feedback, including an online ballot. Board members discussed including the names of the district's communities (Valley Center, Park City, Kechi, Wichita) and refining fonts and separators before a public vote.

Recognitions on the agenda included a presentation by Wheatland second-grade teachers detailing the district's MTSS (multi-tiered system of supports) reading interventions, with two students describing small-group work and a STEM rotation; and the board honored Lindsey Kane as the district's nominee for Kansas Teacher of the Year.

Votes at a glance

- Adopt agenda as presented. Motion: "I move that we accept the agenda as presented." Mover: Mike; Second: Bridal. Outcome: approved, vote 4-0.

- Approve consent agenda. Motion: "I move that we approve the consent agenda as presented." Mover: Mike; Second: Spike. Outcome: approved, vote 4-0.

- Accept resignation of "Mister Randell" (recorded in minutes). Motion: (as read) "Move that we accept the resignation of mister Randell effective immediately." Mover: Mike; Second: Ryan. Outcome: accepted, vote 4-0.

- Vacancy resolution (Resolution 10-25) directing clerk to publish notice for the vacancy in the Arc Valley News (citing KSA statute cited in the meeting). Motion: read by a board member; Motion: Spike; Second: Ryan. Outcome: approved, vote 4-0.

- Accept resignation of Ben Wilson, effective immediately. Motion: Spike; Second: Ryan. Outcome: accepted, vote 4-0.

- Vacancy resolution (Resolution 11-25) directing clerk to publish notice for that vacancy in the Arc Valley News. Motion: Spike; Second: Mike. Outcome: approved, vote 4-0.

- Appoint negotiation representatives. Motion: "I move that we name Mike McCormick and Ryan McCullough to the negotiation team for the board." Mover (as recorded): Spike; Second: Ryan. Outcome: approved, vote 4-0. (An alternate negotiator was discussed.)

- Approve calendar option 3 for the 2025-26 school year. Motion: Spike; Second: Mike. Outcome: approved, vote 4-0.

- Move into executive session for non-elected personnel to discuss an employee contract (5 minutes). Motion: (as read) Mover: Spike; Second: Mike. Outcome: approved, vote 4-0; the board returned and acted on contract extensions.

- Approve contract extensions for building administrators, directors and coordinators as presented in the personnel report. Motion: moved and seconded in meeting (mover recorded as Spike; second recorded as Mike). Outcome: approved, vote 4-0.

- Adjourn. Motion: Spike; Second: Ryan. Outcome: approved, vote 4-0.

Context and next steps

The board directed staff to post the two vacancy notices and scheduled interviews for applicants at the next regular meeting; posted appointees would serve until the seats come up for election, consistent with the statutory language read at the meeting. Staff will return with two refined logo options and a proposed community feedback process for a public ballot. The insurance discussion will move to a staff-led insurance committee that will study partial self-funding and prescription benefit options in the coming year.

What was said (selected)

- Superintendent Mr. Lear summarized enrollment: "These are numbers as of today. My guess is these numbers will go up in the next couple weeks as students come into the district, from other districts."

- On fiscal position, staff noted the district has "more budget remaining than we did last year and the year before" and described general fund and LOB balances as comparable to recent years.

- On insurance, staff said Blue Cross's proposed concession reduced renewal to 5.21% and that a split of that increase with the teachers'group was the suggested short-term approach while an insurance committee researches longer-term options.

Ending

Board members said they will return in February with narrowed logo choices and the posted vacancy application period will run at least the statutorily required 15 days after publication. Other informational items raised but not requiring immediate board action included the MTSS classroom presentation and the district's plans for staff participation in School Mental Health Advocacy Day at the state capitol.

(Details and quotes summarized from the Jan. 14 USD 262 Board of Education meeting.)