Special Edition: May 4, 2023

Everyone wants good neighbors. They help keep things safer, make life better, and provide a sense of community. That's true for school districts, too, and it’s one of the reasons Maize USD 266 is so fortunate. Thanks to the support of and collaboration with our neighbors, the City of Maize, Maize Police Department, and the Maize Recreation Commission, our environment and opportunities are richer and more robust for our students, employees, and community members.

On Monday, the district hosted a joint meeting between the Maize USD 266 Board of Education and Maize City Council. The meeting showcased our joint projects, highlighting several key developments in our partnerships, including the following.

• We are expanding our School Resource Officer (SRO) program to increase our law enforcement presence in our schools, including adding one officer who will be dedicated to serve our elementary schools.
• A new sidewalk, crosswalk, and crossing signal will be added at 45th Street and 119th Street to increase pedestrian safety. This has been made possible through joint funding efforts.
• We are reintroducing the DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program to our district. Beginning in the fall of the upcoming 2023-24 school year, 5th grade students will have the opportunity to complete the DARE program.
• Swimming lessons and water fitness classes will be available to community members at the Maize Performing Arts and Aquatics Center this summer.

Read more about these developments in this special edition e-newsletter and know that these efforts would not be possible for our students without the help of our city and recreation commission neighbors.

For the sake of our students and district, I am a very grateful neighbor.

• On Twitter: @rockigreer
• Email: rgreer@usd266.com
• Online: www.usd266.com/superintendent

May

• May 5: No school, Professional Development
• May 17: Last day of school for seniors
• May 24: Last day of school

City and school district employees co-presented Monday to provide updates about collaborations that have been developing this school year. The Maize area is experiencing rapid residential growth, with 1,900 housing units under construction or pending. The following are some collaborative projects that will help guide the area in the coming months and beyond.

• Increased police presence in schools: Maize Deputy Chief of Police Craig Brasser and Maize USD 266 Executive Director of Health, Safety and Prevention Tim Brant presented about an updated School Resource Officer (SRO) plan for 2023-24. It would increase police presence in Maize schools by adding a sixth police officer assigned to support the district by spending time developing relationships with students and employees in the five elementary schools. Five police officers will continue to work in the district's intermediate, middle, and high schools. This program is unprecedented and aims to be a model for school districts on a national level. The plan also includes an increased financial commitment to the program for the City of Maize.

• Return of DARE: Plans are in place to bring back the DARE program to Maize schools in 2023-24, with police officers providing 10 45-minute curriculum-based lessons to fifth grade students district-wide. The curriculum teaches students how to navigate peer pressure and about the dangers of alcohol and drugs, including fentanyl.

• Frequent communication and collaboration: Brant and Maize Police Department leaders are in touch regularly, including via weekly meetings, to keep the school district and city working closely together on safety initiatives. This allows information to be shared rapidly, cuts out delays, increases collaboration for crisis planning and management, and minimizes the impact of violence in schools. Together, they will continue to share information, build relevant training for school and district employees, share resources, and continue to look for and remove barriers to enhancing operations between the district and city.

• Improvements at 45th and 119th streets: Maize Deputy City Administrator Jolene Graham and Maize USD 266 Executive Director of Operations Darin Augustine provided an update about pedestrian improvements coming to the intersection of 45th Street North and 119th Street. A new sidewalk will be constructed on the east side of 119th Street connecting Wilkinson in the Eagles Nest development to 45th Street North. A new crosswalk and crossing signal will be added to allow walkers and bicyclists to more safely cross the street. Work will begin this summer and should be completed in time for the first day of school in August.

• Potential improvements at and near 45th Street and Tyler Road: Graham and Augustine's presentation also included information about a Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) study exploring an improvement project that would add a roundabout to 45th Street and Tyler Road and a pedestrian bridge on 45th Street over K-96. There is no timeline yet for this project, and city leaders are applying for grants to help fund the improvements, which would help with traffic flow and pedestrian access. The image below is a visual concept of this project. City leaders are working with TranSystems for a traffic study. The national transportation consulting firm provides engineering, architectural, planning, and construction solutions.

• Water classes, summer musical at the Maize Performing Arts and Aquatics Center: For the first time, swimming lessons and water fitness classes will be offered to residents. Five levels of swimming lessons will be offered during four summer sessions, and two water fitness classes are available. In the auditorium portion of the center, the Maize Rec annual summer musical is returning after a multiyear hiatus. "School of Rock" performances featuring about 65 people from elementary school age to adults will be July 14, 15, and 16. These opportunities will allow community members to enjoy the Maize Performing Arts and Aquatics Center, which is located at Academy Avenue and 119th Street and was part of the district's 2019 school bond issue. Learn about other Maize Rec programing by clicking here to visit the commission's webpage.

• Outdoor Movie Night at new amphitheater: An Independence Day city celebration July 1 will include a movie at the new Clair Donnelly Amphitheater, pictured below, near Academy Avenue and Khedive. Click here to learn more about the event, which will also include a bounce house, concession, and games.

• Additional Maize Rec programs at USD 266: From sports to culinary arts, Maize Rec offers programming for all ages on the fields and in the classrooms of Maize USD 266, including at the Maize Career Academy. Click here to visit the Maize Rec's website to explore options.

Join Maize USD 266 and work in the Maize Performing Arts and Aquatics Center pool! Applicants must be 16 years of age or older.

The Maize Board of Education's next monthly meeting will be at 7 p.m. Monday, May 8 in the classrooms at the Maize Performing Arts and Aquatics Center, 1155 W. Academy in Maize. Meetings are open to the public. Find a link to meeting agendas and minutes, school board member information, and policies at www.usd266.com/schoolboard. Regular monthly meetings are broadcast live at bit.ly/Maize266YouTube.

On April 28, about 40 members of the Maize community attended a Maize Business Association luncheon, the first of such event since 2019. It was co-hosted by the City of Maize and Maize Rec, and Maize USD 266 Superintendent Dr. Raquel Greer was among local leaders who participated. The vision is for the luncheons to take place quarterly. Also in attendance were Executive Director of Health, Safety, and Prevention Tim Brant; Executive Director of Operations Darin Augustine; and Maize Education Foundation Executive Director Travis Bloom.

On behalf of Maize USD 266, Superintendent Dr. Raquel Greer on Monday evening presented Maize City Administrator Richard LaMunyon an appreciation plaque in honor of his exemplary commitment to benefit the students, schools, and community of Maize USD 266. The district is grateful for his service to the community.

LaMunyon announced recently that he will retire in December after spending 23 years in his position for the city, which has become the fastest-growing in the state. During his tenure, the city population jumped from 1,800 residents to 7,100 residents. The city added several components that benefit the school district, as well, including the city park, splash pad, and outdoor amphitheater.

Before joining the city, he worked for 28 years with the Wichita Police Department, including as the chief. Among his best-known accomplishments during his law enforcement career was creating the Special Olympics Torch Run in Wichita and seeing it spread worldwide and raise nearly $1 billion for the nonprofit.

During the joint city-school district meeting, LaMunyon shared that he has been part of the Maize community since 1977. Those nearly 50 years, he said, have been a great run.

“It’s my city and my school district, and it’s been an honor and a privilege," he said. "As I always say, good things are happening in Maize.”

Last week, students at Maize USD 266 middle schools and high schools heard from a panel of individuals with an extremely important message about the dangers and prevalence of fentanyl and how people can keep themselves safe.

The assemblies were the brainchild of Superintendent Student Advisory Team members. Its student leaders urged Superintendent Dr. Raquel Greer to help host an event to educate their peers about the dangers of fentanyl.

Panelists for the drug awareness assemblies included:

• U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Assistant Administrator Erik Smith, a former Vermillion Elementary School student, who shared a national perspective on the prevalence of fentanyl
• Joe Spangler, a Sedgwick County Emergency Medical Services Paramedic with more than 30 years of experience, who shared about the critical and immediate effects of fentanyl
• Dr. Chau Kovach, a local physician with more than 20 years of experience, who talked about the medical dangers of nonprescription drugs
• Audrey Hill, a 2013 Maize High School graduate, who talked about the negative effects of opioid addiction.
• At Maize High School and Maize South High School, students also heard from Mark and Val Sandoval, pictured here, whose son Isaac was a victim of the fentanyl epidemic. Isaac was a senior at Maize High School when he died in April 2022. His mother Val is a Maize USD 266 Food Service employee at Maize South High School.

Maize USD 266 thanks each panelist and local law enforcement officials for sharing their story and supporting these assemblies to help raise awareness and keep students and the community safe.

In August 2022, Maize USD 266 launched the Maize Pulse e-newsletter. It is produced about once a month to help keep the Maize USD 266 community informed about news and updates related to the school district, including Maize Board of Education policies. Click here to access the Maize Pulse archive of past editions.