The USD 503 Board of Education approved the purchase of a new Thomas 71-passenger school bus as part of the regular rotation of buses in the district’s small fleet.
However, this year the district chose to keep one of the older buses rather than selling it, in order to expand the number of buses the district has. There are currently 9 buses and one 10 passenger van, Transportation Director Rick Giefer reported/ Two buses are used to transport special needs students along with the van. The district runs 6 routes daily to transport 317 students daily in the morning and 374 in the afternoon. Four of the 9 buses are used primarily for activity trips. As of Monday, the district had taken 113 activity trips using 138 buses.
Cost of the new bus is $149,000 compared to $107,000 two years ago. The Thomas bus is about $7,000 more than another option, but affords drivers adjustable brake and accelerator and a larger windshield with fewer blind spots for safer driving. As for trading in the old bus, the district would only get about $20,000. It would be of greater value to the district to keep it.
Giefer told the board that oftentimes there are no buses available because of the large number of activities going on. If one of the buses were to break down, they would be scrambling to transport those students to their destination.
Should the district be able to hire enough drivers, the added bus could also be used to transport middle school and high school students on regular routes to and from school, separate from elementary school students.
The only matter is finding enough bus drivers to man them. The district desperately needs bus drivers now to handle current routes and activities. It is operating on the least number of drivers since the district started operating its own routes. When asked what he considered the barrier to the district being able to find drivers, Giefer said he believes it is relative to people’s perceived difficulty in obtaining a CDL, as more training is required nowadays. Giefer said it is not as difficult as some believe, though. It takes 4-6 weeks to train someone and the district covers the defensive driving training, the cost of the CDL, and pays for the physical. The district also offers benefits.
Pay could be another barrier for some. Superintendent Lori Perkins said they will be examining wage rates compared to other districts in the area to ensure they are remaining competitive.
Should the district not be able to hire enough drivers to man the additional bus, Giefer said plenty of interest has been expressed by other districts to purchase the old bus.
The board also approved the purchase of a remanufactured passenger van from Diamond Coach at a cost of $60,000.
Chronic absenteeism
Assistant Superintendent Jeff Pegues reported to the board that as part of the Strategic Plan the district continues to address Chronic absenteeism.
A task force was formed two years ago to help make improvements in chronic absenteeism, identifying the barriers students have in getting to school. Transportation was one of the key problems stated, and the district has worked to remedy that to the best of its ability.
Pegues said the district improved by 5% compared to the overall improvement of only 2% across the state. Daily attendance in the district was behind the state the last three years, but is now tied with the state.
Pegues said Lincoln and Garfield improved by 10%, Parsons Middle School is looking good, but they need to find something to incentivize students at the high school. While improvement has been shown, Pegues said the bad news is the district is still near the bottom in chronic absenteeism in Southeast Kansas.
“Student achievement is looking really good. If we can get students into schools, it would look even better,” Pegues said, noting students have to be in school to be taught.
Having the new Community Health Worker hired will help. That person will be working with families.
Pegues said the district administration meets with building administrators weekly to discuss the data.
IN OTHER BUSINESS, the board:
Approved a reduction in payment of $10,000 from PRC for the soccer field usage for the 2023-24 school year. PRC was to make a $20,000 payment in July. No payment was made. PRC desired to negotiate the agreement based on the overall costs of maintenance and equipment being lower than estimated the year before. The reduced payment would be due by Dec. 31.
Accepted a total in donations of $2,682,09.
Heard the KASB Convention is Friday through Sunday. The superintendent will be attending with board voting delegate Kala Weidert-Green.
Heard there will be No School Friday. Friday is professional development. Elementary schools will be reviewing the updated version of Go Math. PHS and the middle school will focus on horizontal curriculum alignment.
Heard Thanksgiving recess will be Nov. 27, 28, and 29. Nov. 27 there will be limited staff in the District Office. The 28 and 29 the District Office will be closed.
Heard parent teacher conferences were well attended. PHS and PMS moved to student-led conferences in the fall, as well as spring, and saw a large percentage increase in parent attendance. PHS saw a 40% increase. PMS had an overall attendance of 76%.
Accepted the resignations of Adam Brubaker bus driver, Theresa Taylor recovery room aide
Recommended for employment Brittney Carter, part-time custodian, Guthridge; Ivory Kelly, full-time substitute teacher; Jeremy Stenstrom, full-time substitute teacher; Kayla Taliaferro, adult sweeper at Garfield; Jaran Dixon, Community Health Worker; and Hailey Mills, first grade teacher.
Approved the termination from employment of Olivia Chase, middle school child nutrition staff.
Approved the transfer of employment for Bob Hoffman from substitute activity bus driver to full-time route driver and Jose Munoz-Delgado from Garfield behavior support aide to middle school recovery room aide.
Accepted the resignation for retirement of Janelle Smythe middle school language arts interventionist, effective June 1, 2025. This year was her 41st year in the district.