ELLY GRIMM
• Leader & Times
The USD 480 school board will have a busy agenda to help continue its summer work at its next meeting Monday evening starting at 6:30. Monday’s meeting will be in Room C107 of the Liberal High School East Campus.
The board will be asked to approve the renew of Canvas learning management system used at the secondary level) for $65,240.18 and a bid from Contract Paper Group in the amount of $26,871.60 for the purchase of copy paper.
The board will then be discussing LETRS Facilitator Training.
“USD 480 has the opportunity to send five staff members to training to become a LETRS Facilitator trainers through Pittsburg State University/TASN for $2965 each,” the agenda information noted. “The training will take place July 22 through 25 at Garden City. Once trained, the LETRS Facilitators would train our district teachers. Staff is recommending the board approve five staff members to attend LETRS Facilitator Training for a total of $14,825.”
The board will then be asked to approve a bid from Davis Pest Control in the amount of $19,160 for pest control services and then discuss professional development for Teach Like A Rock Star.
“Hal Bowman is a remarkable energetic & accomplished speaker, author, and thought-leader. He specializes in revolutionizing classroom and campus culture,” the agenda information noted. “Dedicated to understanding what makes great schools great, Hal has traveled the country sharing his research and insights with hundreds of thousands of teachers and administrators. In addition to being a 2-time best selling author, Hal is also the creator of programs such as ‘Teach Like A Rock Star,’ ‘Be The One,’ ‘Change A Kid's Life,’ and ‘Culture Shock: From Surviving To Thriving.’ His genuine passion for supporting educators to bring back meaning, purpose, and fun to their jobs makes him a needed voice to hear from today. Staff is recommending the board approve the professional development for Teach Like A Rock Star for $10,500.”
The board will then be discussing the use of a federal programs compliance consultant.
“Vicki Ansley has more than 20 years of experience with federal programs and was the Director of Federal Programs at Region 16 which served 64 schools. Dr. Mauk has also advised that this would be a good program for compliance and is a great value,” the agenda information noted. “Our intent is to give Kendra Haskell, our new director of federal programs support throughout the year. Staff is recommending the board approve the federal programs consultant contract.”
Also up for discussion will be the potential creation of the position of director of recruitment and education.
“After extensive study and feedback from directors and reviews conducted over the past year, we believe that creating a Director of Recruitment and Education position will reduce the loss of instructional and leadership time caused by principals and teachers attending recruitment events,” the agenda information noted. “To strengthen our efforts in attracting certified teachers, dedicating one individual to this role will be highly effective in building and maintaining relationships. This initiative aligns with our needs assessment and KESA goals. Additionally, the director would oversee and track teacher pathway programs, including the apprentice program, mentoring initiatives, interim instructional coach support, and the high school young apprentice program. Staff is recommending the board approve creating the position of director of recruitment and education.”
The board will also be asked to approve one Special Education teacher position for MacArthur Elementary and four paraprofessional positions for the district’s Special Education Department.
“Projections indicate a special education enrollment of approximately 45 students, resulting in a significantly higher student-to-teacher ratio than is advisable for effective service delivery. In addition to this elevated enrollment, we are already aware of at least one incoming transfer student from out of district which will further increase the intensity of required supports. To ensure we can adequately meet IEP service requirements and provide appropriate academic, behavioral, and social-emotional support, I am requesting the addition of one special education teacher and two paraprofessionals at MacArthur Elementary School,” the agenda information noted. “Due to a shortage of classroom teachers, we are considering the reassignment of one of our current SPED teachers to a general education classroom position. This shift will reduce our special education teaching capacity. To help maintain necessary support for students with IEPs during this transition, I am requesting two additional paraprofessionals at Cottonwood Elementary School. These additional staff members are essential to maintaining service quality, supporting our existing team, and ensuring all students receive the support they need to thrive. It should be noted that we will still be looking for a replacement for a SPED teacher at Cottonwood; however, we need the capacity to make decisions to meet the needs of students for the 2025-2026 school year.”
The board will then spend the rest of the new business considering purchases of a new wrestling mat, printer ink, a door on one of the activity buses, and new time clocks.
