The Leavenworth Board of Education heard a superintendent presentation laying out options to close an elementary school or repurpose intermediate centers to close a roughly $1.54 million budget gap. A motion to combine moving 5th/6th grades with a hiring freeze was made and debated but not resolved by the end of the recorded meeting.
The Leavenworth Unified School District board approved a budget-reduction package including a hiring freeze and grade reconfiguration estimated to save about $1.5 million, voted to relocate central-office and nutrition services into the Intermediate Center, and appointed negotiators for upcoming talks.
Board members heard the results of an RFP and an interview committee recommendation to consider replacing the district’s existing counsel with a K‑12‑specialized firm that would also offer trainings; board members asked to see rate information and more detail before taking action.
After hours of discussion and public comment, the Leavenworth Unified School District board voted to adopt a package of budget reductions that includes moving fifth graders into elementary schools, implementing a hiring freeze and related facility realignments intended to save about $1.5 million this fiscal year.
Trustees discussed an RFP recommendation to replace the district’s long‑standing counsel with a firm specializing in K–12 law; members asked for more detail on rates, training costs and transition planning and did not take immediate action.
The Leavenworth board held executive sessions for personnel and for attorney consultation, and named Amy Sloan, Amy Joy Troyer, Beth Maddox and David Cunningham as its negotiating‑team representatives.
Leavenworth USD 453 trustees approved two roofing actions on Jan. 12: Tremco materials and American Roofing installation for David Brewer (total $306,007.47) and Tremco materials and Kerberk/Kirberg installation for Richard Warren (approx. $265,463.71); board discussed timing to avoid classroom disruption.
Superintendent Kellen Adams told the Jan. 12 board the district faces an enrollment-driven budget gap of about $3.3 million and presented options including closing an elementary, repatriating fifth graders, or consolidating central services; a formal recommendation is scheduled for the Feb. 9 meeting.
Trustees adopted resolutions to shift board officer elections to the July reorganizational meeting per KSA citation, set regular meeting dates for the year, and established a recurring fourth-Tuesday work session from 5–7 p.m.
The board recognized fall athletes and heard a presentation from JAG‑Kansas staff describing employer engagement, certifications (OSHA‑10, Stop the Bleed, CPR) and follow‑up services; presenters said the local JAG program serves about 41 students and Success Academy reports a 98% graduation rate.
