Wabaunsee High School's Student Newspaper
As Wabaunsee County prepares to vote for three spots on the USD 329 school board, the Charger asked each candidate about issues facing the district. Three candidates are vying for the district 4 seat, and one candidate is up for district 6.
USD 329 administration have set forward plans to try to help encourage substitute teachers and other classified staff ( food workers, bus drivers, etc,) to continue working at Wabaunsee. “We’ve been investigating what other schools in the area are paying substitutes to make sure that pay stays competitive. We’ve also implemented a salary schedule similar to that of the teachers to ensure that as substitutes and other classified workers gain more responsibilities their pay reflects that,” said superintendent Brad Starnes.
USD 329 has a new face this year with the addition of Charmin Miller to the staff as Covid Coordinator. Her duties this year as Covid Coordinator are to educate the students and staff on covid safety guidelines and to oversee testing of those who have been exposed to the virus.
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.
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 schools were closed on Wednesday, February 17 and many people are wondering why.
Going into the weekend the forecast was looking to be lower temperatures than had been experienced so far this winter. In preparation for the below freezing weather the custodians throughout the district left water dripping in the modulars and other buildings with water lines exposed to outside in the hope of keeping the pipes from freezing.
Friday, February 12 and Monday the 15th were already scheduled off for parent teacher conferences and professional development comp time, and Tuesday the 16th was canceled due to extreme cold.
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.
The Charger staff discusses the USD 329 bond issue with teacher and parent Brandi Miller.
On November 3, Wabaunsee county community members will be voting on whether or not to pass a bond that will address the needs of the district. It will specifically go towards renovating or existing school buildings and creating new buildings to create a better learning environment for students and faculty. Bringing in a new bond... Continue Reading →
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.
The Charger 