Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Board Actions topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
USD 416 board approves K–5 ELA adoption, handbook and fee changes, capital bids and enrollment report
Summary
At its April 14 meeting the USD 416 Board approved purchase of McGraw Hill’s Emerge K–5 ELA resource (~$159,629), school handbook revisions, fee adjustments, district mechanical capital bids (~$428,300), KSB membership renewal and the district enrollment projection and calendar update.
The USD 416 Board of Education on April 14 approved a package of routine but consequential district actions including a K–5 English language arts adoption, handbook revisions, fee adjustments, capital mechanical bids and the annual enrollment projection.
K–5 ELA adoption: After a multi‑vendor pilot that included CKLA, My View and other resources, the district recommended McGraw Hill’s Emerge for kindergarten through fifth grade. Administration said teachers piloted Emerge and recommended it for embedding science and social studies into ELA instruction. The board approved the purchase; the quoted purchase price in the packet was $159,629 to be charged to the curriculum/textbook fund.
Handbook and fee changes: The board approved revisions to the high school handbook (removing Friday night school as academic discipline and clarifying STARs program progressive consequences with Friday‑night sessions and potential dismissal on repeat offenses). The board also approved modest fee adjustments, including raising the Chromebook fee from $40 to $50 and retaining a $150 fee for credit recovery and summer courses; administrators said hardship waivers and student services remain available.
Capital and operations: The board approved competitive mechanical bids for multiple campus projects — including rooftop units, chilled water control valves and boiler replacements — with recommended awards totaling $428,300, funded from capital outlay. Administration said the work is planned for the coming fiscal year and prioritized by maintenance need and budget timing.
Governance and enrollment: The board renewed Kansas School Boards (KSB) annual membership and legal assistance for 2026‑27. The district also approved its annual enrollment projection and non‑resident enrollment report for state publication; administrators noted the district remains open‑enrollment and shared building capacities and projected counts.
Calendar: The board agreed to shorten the 2025‑26 school calendar by two days, making May 20, 2026 the last half day of school, after administrators noted the district used only one inclement weather day this year. The board confirmed hourly employees’ pay would not be reduced because of the calendar change.
Executive session and next steps: The board approved a motion to enter an executive session to discuss confidential student information under the statutory exception; open meeting resumed and the board adjourned at 8:11 p.m.
The actions were moved, seconded and carried by roll call votes recorded at the meeting; the administration said funds were available in the applicable budget lines for the ELA purchase and capital outlay before the purchases were authorized.
