The USD 329 board made changes that will affect next year’s elementary students at its meeting Monday night. The board voted to change the variance line between Alma and Maple Hill Elementary schools to send McFarland students to Maple Hill. The vote went 4-2 with Jim Vapita, Jerom Hess, Tony Conrad and Kelly Oliver voting to change the line whereas Justin Frank, and Callie Meinhart voted against it. At the start of next school year, McFarland students will be included in the Maple Hill Elementary classes. The board hopes this will help even out the class sizes between the two schools.
329 Board hires company to promote plans
USD 329 board hired ASA Strategic Funding to help develop and promote a new plan to address facilities issues. At the April 12 board meeting, ASA Strategic Funding was hired for $12,200 to help promote and develop a new bond. They have worked on over 200 research projects and have a 94 percent success rate. They plan to work with the community to develop a plan that everyone can agree on.
329 board discusses masks rules at meeting
The USD 329 board received new information on lessening masks restrictions at its monthly meeting Monday night.
There was a discussion about masks due to Wabaunsee County lessening its restrictions. Wabaunsee Health Department administrator Ray Finley advised against making masks no longer necessary in USD 329 buildings for now and instead advised the board to wait thirty days and see how surrounding areas lessening their restrictions affect us. So far USD 329 has had very little transmission of the virus through school.
USD 329 Board Meeting | Paxico Middle School to close after school year
The USD 329 board met January 11, and focused on the closing of Paxico Middle School and the results of the bond survey giving to community members. Here are some highlights from the meeting.
USD 329 promotes bond issue on November ballot
On November 3, Wabaunsee County voters will decide whether or not the county should pass a new bond to fund USD 329 schools.
The bond, worth $24.65 million, would fund renovations and maintenance of district school buildings.
329 postpones bond election due to virus precautions
Even with the coronavirus restriction, the USD 329 Board of Education met for its monthly meeting, taking precautions to ensure the safety of the members. During the meeting, the board members distanced themselves from each other and the meeting was live-streamed via the district’s Facebook page to follow the new CDC coronavirus guidelines of no more than 10 people in a gathering.
Letter to the editor | K-12 building would not unify district if built in Alma
To whom this may concern. Building a K-12 new school would be great, providing it is not built in Alma. Doing so would not unify the district — it would pull it further apart.
Doing so would cause more dislike because this is not USD 329 Alma, it is USD 329 Maple Hill, Paxico, Mcfarland and Alma. Alma has never lost a school, has never had to bus young children down the road. They get to keep it all.
USD 329 Board approves bond option for community vote
After many board meetings discussing the facilities and bond options, the board was able to pass a motion for an election to occur on May 12 at 6 polling places in the district for the potential 25 year bond, on Option 16.
The regular board meeting started with continued discussion to answer a few leftover questions over the facilities. Once the board had most of their questions answered, a motion was made for Option 10 to be the option moving forward. The potential K-12, Option 10, was seconded, but failed with a vote of 2-5. Seconds later, another motion was made, but for Option 16. The motion was seconded, and passed 4-3. Now it is up to the community to vote either for or against the K-6 in Paxico and 7-12 in Alma.
Editorial: K-12 building would be best for USD 329
With the board set to take action on a bond, the Charger staff believes option 10 is the best choice for the future of our district. The option, which calls for a new K-12 building, unifies the school district, which will make the district more financially efficient and benefit many aspects of the students’ experience.... Continue Reading →
329 board discusses bond options at town hall
Community members meet with board members to raise questions concerning bond options The USD 329 Board of Education held a town hall meeting Tuesday to discuss the bond options. The meeting format involved splitting attendees into three groups with board members spread throughout to allow for more opinions to be heard. Board members Jim Vopata... Continue Reading →
