USD 231 Board Briefs (Oct 2024)

The students of Gardner Elementary presented information related to the Panther Pride Leadership Council (PPLC) . They take the student leadership role seriously by modeling for younger students as they help with projects and jobs around the school (door cleaning, greeting students in the morning, helping younger students, and more).

To view a video highlighting the program, click HERE.

The students from Trail Ridge Middle School presented an overview of the Sources of Strength (SOS) program.

SOS is a radically strength-based, upstream prevention, intervention and postvention program that enhances innate protective factors and coping strategies of students and staff. At TRMS, 13 Adults Advisors (teachers and staff) guide a diverse group of 64 Peer Leaders (students) to impact the entire school community.

SOS fosters relational connection and belonging through play, storytelling, and strategic messaging campaigns by empowering Peer Leaders as Agents of Change.

To view the slide deck, click HERE.

USD 231 is proud of our partnerships with many stakeholders (students, parents, employees, churches, local vendors, etc.). Often, due to these partnerships, our students and employees are the recipients of generous donations.

To view a list of recent donations and grants, click HERE.

Director of Operations Mark DeWitt and Josh Erhart, PLA (DLR), shared highlights from the recent Build-a-Bond workshop. The workshop included community members identifying the priorities for a potential bond. In the presentation, viewers can see what was proposed for each level.

To view the slide deck, click HERE.

To learn more about the planning process, click HERE.

Dr. Jody Marshall, Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Services provided an update on 2024-25 student enrollment and class sizes. Highlights included:

• Elementary
• Slight decline in building enrollment, except GSE
• Smaller kindergarten class
• Vast majority of the grades, across the buildings are below 20 students per class
• Well below the pre-COVID averages
• Remains in-line with our class size matrix/models
• Middle Schools
• Slight decline in each building's enrollment
• Below pre-COVID averages, in-line with our class size matrix/models
• GEHS
• Core classes sit right at 22-23 students per class, a slight decrease
• Firmly within our class size matrix/models
• Overall
• The planning process and budgeting process we went through to establish the 2024 -2025 staffing model - was very accurate
• OPEN ENROLLMENT - no impact
• Must give careful consideration, adding staff when enrollment is flat or declining

Dr. Huff provided a draft of the SY 24-25 Strategic Plan. This plan was collaboratively created with the Board of Education and district administration. The goals align with the boards "Leadership Priorities", established last school year.

To view the draft plan, click HERE.

Representatives from Holmes Murphy presented information related to the 2025 plan year healthcare insurance renewal.

The decision to switch to BlueKC was made after comparing plan options and assessing the value they offer to staff, including particular consideration of those covering dependents, which carries a higher paycheck impact. The proposed BlueKC plans were found to provide the best value for employees while being more consistent with what was budgeted for health care.

To view the slide deck, click HERE.

• 6.1 - 6.6 - Approval of the minutes from the board meeting on September 9, 2024; Approval of financial statements as presented; Approval of out-of-state band field trip to Washington D.C. from May 24-27, 2025 to the 250th Anniversary of the United States Army, Navy, and Marine Corps (1775-2025) National Memorial Day Parade; Approval of Contracts/Purchases attached subject to the requirements of Kansas law; Approval of resolutions to authorize new building activity funds as presented; Approval of Claims.
• To view the items listed above, click HERE.
• 10.2 - Approval of the employee healthcare insurance contract with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City for the 2025 plan year as recommended by the Benefits and Finance Committees
• 10.4 - Approval of personnel items as presented.

​Board Briefs are informal reports from the Gardner Edgerton Board of Education's regular meetings. They are typically released a day or two after each meeting and are not meant to be accepted as meeting minutes.

To view previous Board Briefs, click the image on the right.

Regular Board Meeting on Monday, November 11, 2024 - 6:00 p.m.