Valley Heights District Newsletter

Moving Valley Heights Forward: Planning for the Future While Staying Grounded in Community

One of my goals as superintendent is to keep our Valley Heights communities informed about not only what is happening in our schools today, but also the planning taking place for tomorrow.

Whether it is academics, facilities, staffing, student opportunities, or long-term financial planning, our focus remains the same: providing the best educational experience possible for students while being responsible stewards of taxpayer resources.

As we move into another school year, I wanted to provide a brief district update on several important areas of focus across USD 498.

Enrollment and Planning for the Future

Like many rural districts across Kansas, Valley Heights continues to monitor enrollment trends carefully. Long-term enrollment patterns remain an important factor in district planning and impact decisions related to staffing, programming, facilities, and financial sustainability.

Our projected incoming kindergarten class is approximately 17-19 students, which aligns closely with district projections and reinforces the importance of continued long-range planning. While annual enrollment naturally fluctuates, the district remains focused on making thoughtful, responsible decisions that position Valley Heights for long-term stability while continuing to provide educational opportunities for students.

As we look ahead, district leadership and the board of education will continue evaluating future operational needs, staffing structures, and district resources to ensure we remain financially responsible while maintaining a high-quality educational experience for students.

Facilities and Improvements

This summer will bring continued improvements to district facilities.

At the Jr./Sr. High School, the community-supported gym renovation project continues moving forward thanks to tremendous local generosity and support. Improvements to seating, flooring, goals, sound systems, and facility upgrades are helping modernize the space while creating a stronger experience for students, families, and community events.

We are also continuing facility maintenance and capital improvement work across the district, including HVAC upgrades, roofing projects, and improvements to activity facilities. Maintaining quality facilities while protecting taxpayer investment remains a major priority.

Student Safety and Preparedness

Student safety continues to remain at the center of district decision-making.

USD 498 is continuing conversations and planning around emergency preparedness, building safety, and future facility options that support student protection during severe weather and emergencies. We continue to explore long-term opportunities and partnerships that could strengthen safety infrastructure while supporting student and community use.

In addition, the district continues evaluating tools and partnerships that enhance school security and situational awareness while maintaining a safe learning environment.

Community Partnerships Matter

One thing that makes Valley Heights special is the support of our communities. Whether through volunteerism, donations, booster organizations, partnerships, or simply showing up to support our students, Valley Heights succeeds because our communities care deeply about kids.

The progress we continue to make — in academics, activities, facilities, and student opportunities — happens because of that shared commitment.

As always, thank you for your continued support of USD 498. If you ever have questions or ideas, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Sean Spoonts
Superintendent of Schools
USD 498 Valley Heights

1. Academic Excellence

State Assessment Performance

• Blue Rapids scored 16 points above the state average in ELA, 21 points above in Math, and 4 points above in Science.

FastBridge Growth

Multiple grade levels achieved 70–100% Tier 1 in reading and math throughout the year.

• Example: “Third Grade aMath: T1 100%, T2 0%, T3 0%.”

• Winter and spring FastBridge data showed strong growth across all grades, with teachers “very pleased with the results.”

National Assessments

• Fourth graders completed the NAEP assessment, contributing to national academic data.

Academic Competitions

• Read Bowl Champions — 4th grade finished 1st in Kansas in the Read Bowl Competition.

• County Spelling Bee Success — Lexi Dummermuth advanced to the final five, the school's best showing in years.

Top Readers in Blue Rapids

• 6th Grade: Ashlynn Morse and Zaiden Hartley

• 5th Grade: Aurora Conti and Kenny Bigham

• 4th Grade: Dayton Ham and Easten Evans

• 3rd Grade: Jack Toerber

• The top reading class in the building was 3rd grade, and the top individual reader in the school was Zaiden Hartley

2. Student Engagement & Enrichment

Field Trips

• Preschool/Kinder Prep visited Waterville public library, Blue Valley Nursing Home

• Kindergarten: Visited a farm in Seneca, KS

• 1st Grade: Visited a pumpkin patch in Manhattan, KS

• 2nd Grade: Flint Hills Discovery Center

• 3rd grade: Homestead Monument

• 4th grade: K‑State athletic facilities and bowling

• 5th & 6th grade: Kansas Capitol

Schoolwide Events and Cultural Experiences

• Charles Steele Play Day with athletic competitions, bounce house, activity stations, and picnic lunch.

• Read Across Kansas Week with themed literacy activities.

• Students participated in the 100th Day of School and Kansas Day celebrations.

• Chardon Polka Band assembly — students attended a special polka band performance for arts exposure.

• Business Fair for the 4th grade entrepreneurship unit.

• All‑school play sneak peek — students visited the opera house to watch the high schoolers perform this year's school play.

• K-6 students attended a K‑State women’s basketball game in December.

• Topeka Symphony Trip-the 5th and 6th graders attended a performance of the Topeka Symphony

• Kansas Day Celebration at Waterville Grade School with presenters from the Blue Rapids Museum, National Homestead Historical Monument, and more!

School Spirit

• Students joined the Jr./Sr. High student section at sub‑state basketball to cheer on the Lady Mustangs.

• The student body attended a schoolwide pep rally for state cross country and volleyball teams at the high school.

• Elementary students cheered on the volleyball team and girls basketball team as they headed to the state tournament!

• Waterville Elementary students cheered on the forensics team as they headed to the state tournament!

6th Grade Leadership

• Helped with Jumpstart duties

• Assisted with crosswalk after school

• Organized several fundraisers throughout the year

• Put together school wide fun activities to include a dodgeball tournament and a students vs staff basketball game

3. Staff Development & Professional Excellence

Professional Development

• The staff kicked off the school year with a special PD day featuring keynote speaker Don Epps who emphasized “work hard, learn a lot, have fun”.

• Staff attended a collaborative PD with Marysville in January. Sessions included student mental health, technology, and AI in education.

• Assessment security and ethics training.

• Data dives on state assessments.

• Administration attended standards alignment training at Greenbush.

• KESA workshop for accreditation preparation.

• Grade level collaboration and alignment

Staff Culture

• Social lunches and gift exchanges at various PDs.

• Twelve Days of Christmas morale‑building activities.

• Special Teacher Appreciation Week activities.

• Recognitions for Para Appreciation Day, Custodians Day, Administrative Assistants Day, Librarians Day, Nurses Day, and Principals Day.

• Special birthday celebrations for all staff

Hiring & Staffing

• Hired Abby Oatney as the new 6th grade teacher after a competitive process.

• Hired Jasmine Colle as the new band teacher.

• Mr. Zimmerman had a smooth transition after switching from 3rd to 5th grade due to a late‑summer resignation.

4. Family & Community Engagement

High Parent Participation

• 98% attendance at fall Student Success Meetings.

• 92% attendance in spring.

Family Events

• Each class held a Family Fun Night with educational and fun activities, ranging from poetry night to trivia.

• Thanksgiving Meal with 109 parents/guardians attending in Blue Rapids and several families in Waterville.

• Back‑to‑School Open House supported by New Hope Church, who provided treats.

• Back‑to‑School Mustang Spirit Night and pep rally attended by staff, students, and the community.

Community Partnerships

• Hosted Rotary meals in the school buildings on three occasions with presentations in Blue Rapids and three occasions in Waterville.

• Welcomed multiple education majors for classroom observations.

• SITE Council meetings with updates on facilities, technology, and legislation.

• Partnered with the Colts PTO, who helped cover student admission for sub‑state basketball and provided meals for Student Success Meetings.

• Konza Prairie Community Health Center provided free dental screenings for our students. District-wide, 301 students were screened and 7 students received fluoride treatments upon parent request.

• Yungeberg Drug provided free school supplies for all students in grades preschool through sixth.

• The Marshall County Sheriff's Office gave presentations to the Waterville Grade School students for Red Ribbon Week and Read Across America Week.

• Marysville Dental came to the Waterville Grade School to do a presentation for Oral Health Month.

• The Waterville Shakespeare Club presented famous artwork to the Waterville Grade School students monthly and completed art projects with the students.

5. Safety Operations

Safety Drills & Preparedness

• Multiple fire drills, tornado drills, and crisis drills throughout the year.

• Regular safety tabletop exercises developed by the Emergency Preparedness Office were completed as a staff.

• Safety meetings were held quarterly in conjunction with EMS, police, sheriff, and fire department.

6. School Culture & Climate

• Gratitude for our amazing teachers and staff.

• Appreciation for our supportive families and communities.

• Pride in student effort and behavior.

• Recognition of God’s protection, provision, and answered prayer over the district.

2025-2026 has proved once again to be an outstanding year for the Mustangs!! Our organizations and athletic teams have had a very successful year and we have had opportunities to showcase our facilities and the pride we have in our facilities!

The new track and grass on the football field looks exceptional and is a great place to host meets and other contests!

One huge step was the installation of the new bleachers in the gym with more updates to be completed before the fall season starts! We are excited to see what the finished project will look like!

Athletics/Organization

In the fall our high school volleyball team was crowned as the 2025-2026 Sub-State Champions and the 2A State Runner-Up for the second year in a row! The Mustangs were also the TVL regular season champions! We have also been informed that our volleyball squad was selected as the 2025 Program of the Year by the KVA! Coach Steinfort will also be speaking at the KSHSAA clinic in the fall.

Individual Honors: Paige Miller - 1st Team TVL and 2nd Team Class 2A All-State; Ava Smith - 2A State Tournament Team Selection, 1st Team TVL, 1st Team 2A All-State, KVA All-Star Game Selection; and Mia Vermetten - 2A State Tournament Team Selection, 1st Team TVL, 1st Team 2A All-State! We also earned the KVA All-Academic Award.

Football - Honors were earned by: Charlie Warders - 1st Team All-TVL (LB) and 2nd Team All-TVL (OL), All-State Honorable Mention (LB); Aiden Unruh - 1st Team All-TVL (RB) and Honorable Mention All-State (RB); Michael Lowrey - 1st Team All-TVL (K) and Hon. Mention All-State (K); Gabe Padilla - 2nd Team All-TVL (RB); Creighton Smith - 1st Team All-TVL (OL & DL), 1st Team All-State (OL); Lawson Stryker - 1st Team All-TVL (OL/DL) and 1st Team All-State (DL); Gavin Crowder - 2nd Team All-TVL (LB), and Ben Miller - 2nd Team All-TVL (LB).

We had four athletes compete at the state cross country meet in October. On the girl’s side we had Emma Warders and Lindsay Gray and on the boy’s side we had Kebeb Zimmerman and Langston Gray. For once, the weather was actually nice!

Basketball - The Lady Mustangs were crowned as the 2A Sub-State Champions in 2026. They have now qualified for the state tournament 3 out of the past 4 years and 5 out of the last 6 years. They were 2nd in the TVL with an 8-2 record. Individual honors were earned by Ava Smith - 1000 career points, 1st Team All-TVL, 1st Team All State - Sports in Kansas, 2nd Team All State - KSHSAA Covered, 2nd Team All State - KBCA and 2nd Team All State - Wichita Eagle. Mia Vermetten - 1st Team All-TVL, All State Honorable Mention Sports in Kansas, KSHSAA Covered and Wichita Eagle. Paige Miller - 2nd Team All-TVL, All State Honorable Mention Sports in Kansas, KSHSAA Covered and Wichita Eagle.

Baseball - All-TVL Honors were awarded to Gavin Crowder - First Team and Ben Miller and Preston Smerchek - Second Team.

Softball - We had four Mustangs that earned All-TVL honors this season. First team selections were Raegan Berger and Paige Miller. Second team honors were awarded to Teagan Spoonts and Lindsay Gray.

Track & Field

Highlights- At the Nemaha Central Meet, Sophomore Klara McIntyre broke the school 100m record with a time of 12.38 seconds.

We qualified 9 athletes, 3 boys and 6 girls, for the State Meet in Wichita. Freshman Langston Gray qualified in the open 800m and 1600m races by placing 2nd and getting a personal best in each race. Junior, Aiden Unruh, qualified by matching a personal best of 12'6" in the pole vault and placing 2nd. Senior Kebeb Zimmerman qualified in the 3200m with a personal best time, placing 4th at regionals. Freshman Emma Warders qualified in the 1600m, placing 3rd at regionals. Sophomore Klara McIntyre qualified in the 100m hurdles and 100m sprint, placing 4th and 5th at regionals. Klara continued her success in the 300m hurdles, placing 3rd at regionals and 7th in 2A State. Junior Bella Smith placed 2nd at regionals with a personal best in the shot put. At the state meet, she improved that personal best mark even more and ended up placing 6th in 2A State. Senior, Mia Vermetten, placed 3rd in the open 800m, then ran a season best at the 2A state meet. The 4x800m relay team of Freshman Eleanor Toerber, Junior Lindsay Gray, Emma Warders, and Mia Vermetten qualified for the state meet, placing 2nd in regionals with a time that missed the school record by .01 seconds.

Junior High. - Our Junior Girl’s Basketball team was the BVL Tournament Runner-Up. Our 8th grade boys were BVL Track Runners-Up.. Our football team finished with a record of 5-2. The Junior High C-Team had a record of 5-6 and the B-Team was 13-2. The A-Team went 9-7 and finished third in the BVL and third at the league tournament. The 8th grade boys were the BVL Runner-Up in track. A number of junior high records fell this year starting with Chance McIntyre in the 200 Hurdles. Molly Umscheid tied the school record in the high jump. The 8th grade girls broke the school record in the Medley Relay and the 4X100 Relay. The 7th grade girls broke the BVL record and school record in the Medley Relay!

Speech & Drama - Our Speech & Drama students earned the 2A State Runner-Up trophy, a first for Valley Heights!! They were also the TVL Runners-Up this year! State Individual results: Carter Germann - State Champion in Prose and Solo Acting Serious; Lawson Stryker and Everson Parker - State Champion in Improvised Duet Acting; Lawson Stryker - 3rd in Original Oration; Julia Heinen - 3rd in Solo Acting and 4th in Informative Speaking; Klara McIntyre - 6th in Informative Speaking. State qualifiers included: Dino Conti - Solo Acting Humorous; Dino Conti & Julia Heinen - IDA; Everson Parker - Impromptu; Abigail Thorn - Solo Acting Serious and Poetry; Abigail Thorn and Guen Conti - Duet Acting; and Guen Conti - Poetry.

FBLA - State Top 10s:

Langston Gray - 6th Intro to Supply Chain Management

Lawson Stryker - 9th Securities and Investments - Attending Nationals

Guen Conti - 10th Technology Support and Services - Attending Nationals

Chad Bargdill & Violet Slifer - 3rd Visual Design - Attending Nationals

Nationals are hosted in San Antonio, Texas!

Art - 2nd Place in the TVL! Best of Show - Kebab Zimmerman and Kynadee Bishop; 1st Place - Kebab Zimmerman, Ashton Crook (x3), Kynadee Bishop, Selah France, Creighton Smith, Tylehn Martin and Chad Bargdill. 14 second place awards and 7 third place awards. At the GFWC State event - Ashton Crook - Best in Show x 2 and People’s Choice Award x 2! First place was awarded to Guen Conti, Kebeb Zimmerman and Kynadee Bishop. We also had 4 pieces in second place, 4 in third place and 3 earned Honorable Mention. At the Highland CC Art Show we had three students earn Art Excellence 1st place awards and a medal - Creighton Smith, Tylehn Martin and Chad Bargdill. Honorable Mention honors went to Violet Slifer, Abigail Thorn and Ava Smith. At the Missouri State University Art Show we had six students earn Honorable Mention - Ashton Crook, Ava Smith, Kebab Zimmerman, Kinsley Gillig, Cassie Cooney and Tylehn Martin.

FFA - Valley Heights FFA members had a successful year competing and excelling in leadership and career development events. The Horse Evaluation team earned 2nd Place in the State of Kansas, and chapter members advanced to the State Preliminary Extemporaneous Speaking Contest and the State Semifinals in Prepared Public Speaking.

The chapter also celebrated major degree achievements, with three members earning the Kansas FFA State Degree and two members set to receive their American FFA Degrees at the National FFA Convention this October.

These accomplishments highlight the hard work, dedication, and leadership of our members throughout the year.

Annual Events

Back-To-School Night - We had a great crowd for what has now become an annual event. We introduced our fall sports participants and new staff members. Our cheer and dance teams performed and were supported by our Pep Band! It was a great way to kick off our year.

Homecoming - We had a great week celebrating Homecoming at Valley Heights. We hosted all of the events that have become a part of the week! Dress-up days, Powder Puff Football and SpikeFest, Homecoming Bonfire and Pep Rally, and the Homecoming Parade. Our Homecoming King and Queen were Creighton Smith and Ella Swearingen! Student Council is in charge of this event.

Veteran’s Day Program - Another annual tradition is our Veteran’s Day Program to honor our military personnel in the area. KAYS is responsible for this event and did a fantastic job of putting on the program and welcoming our visitors into our school.

Winter Formal - We hosted our Winter Formal in January. Kaitlin Hemry was crowned our Queen and Chad Bargdill was voted in as King! KAYS also sponsors this event!

Harvester’s - One way we try to give back to our communities is to assist with the Harvester’s Food Program each month. An organization, team and even our Junior High Leadership team will volunteer to serve each month!

Prom - Prom was absolutely outstanding this year! The junior class, their parents, and their sponsors did a great job of planning for and decorating our gym and commons. Junior class sponsors are Liz Miller and Samantha Parker.

Graduation - 27 students marched across the stage during Commencement Exercises for the Class of 2026. Lawson Stryker was Valedictorian and Krista Porter was Salutatorian for this class. Mia Vermetten and Kadence Pierson graduated with Academic Honors!

Staff Honors

Susan Steinfort - Selected to be a Seed to STEM Lead Teacher for Kansas Corn. She was also nominated as a National Association of Geoscience Teachers (NAGT) Outstanding Earth Science Teacher by the Kansas Geological Survey. (Selections for this award have not been announced yet.)

Jordan Broxterman will be visiting Germany this summer to learn more about WWII with an emphasis on the German Concentration Camps. We hope to have him present to our staff during Back-To-School PD days this fall.

Academic Honors

Valley Heights High School was awarded the Silver Award for Academically Prepared for Post-Secondary and the Copper Award or Civic Engagement.

In 2025, Valley Heights out-performed all other TVL schools on the State Assessments and the 2026 results show us out-performing the state average on every test!

One of the questions I hear most often is, “How does school funding actually work?” The answer is not always simple.

School finance in Kansas affects everything from staffing and programs to transportation, facilities, technology, activities, and ultimately the educational opportunities available to students. It also directly impacts local taxpayers and the decisions your board of education makes throughout the year.

Because school finance can feel confusing, I wanted to provide a clearer picture of how school funding and budgeting work at Valley Heights.

Where School Funding Comes From

Kansas schools operate through a partnership between state funding and local property taxes.

At the state level, school funding begins with what is called Base Aid for Student Excellence (BASE). The state establishes a funding amount per student and then applies additional calculations, called “weightings,” to recognize that some students require additional educational services and support.

For example, students receiving special education services, students considered academically at-risk, transportation needs, career and technical education participation, and several other factors may increase a district’s weighted enrollment for funding purposes.

In short, districts are not simply funded by the number of students enrolled. Funding is based on a formula that attempts to account for the needs of students and the realities of operating schools.

Understanding Property Taxes and School Funding

Another important piece of school finance comes from local property taxes.

School taxes in Kansas are measured in mills. One mill equals one dollar of tax for every $1,000 of assessed property value. What is important to understand is that taxes are not based on the appraised value of a home, but on the assessed value.

For residential property in Kansas, assessed value equals 11.5% of the home’s appraised value.

That means a home appraised at $250,000 is taxed on an assessed value of $28,750 — not the full appraised amount. The mill levy is then applied to that assessed value.

This becomes important whenever conversations arise regarding district finances, facility improvements, capital projects, or long-term planning because school funding discussions are closely tied to local property tax support.

How a School Budget Actually Works

One of the biggest misconceptions in public education is the belief that school districts can simply move money wherever they want. In reality, school budgets operate through multiple separate funds governed by state law.

Each fund exists for a specific purpose and carries restrictions on how dollars may be spent.

For example:

• General Fund supports day-to-day instructional operations and core educational services.
• Supplemental General Fund (LOB) provides additional operating flexibility for district needs beyond formula funding.
• Capital Outlay is restricted to facility maintenance, equipment, building improvements, and infrastructure.
• Bond & Interest can only be used to repay voter-approved bond debt.
• Special Education Funds support required student services and programming.

This means dollars designated for one purpose generally cannot be shifted into another area. For example, facility dollars cannot simply be redirected toward salaries, and bond funds cannot be used to cover daily operating expenses.

That structure is one reason budgeting in public education can be complex. District leaders must carefully balance student needs, staffing, maintenance, transportation, safety, utilities, and long-term planning while following state requirements on how funds are spent.

The Growing Financial Pressure of Special Education

One of the greatest financial pressures facing Kansas school districts today is special education funding.

Kansas law establishes a goal for the state to fund 92% of special education excess costs — the additional cost required to educate students receiving specialized services beyond general education expenses.

However, school districts across Kansas have experienced a growing gap between that statutory goal and actual funding levels.

When state funding falls short, districts are still legally required to provide services to students. As a result, local districts must transfer dollars from operating funds to meet mandated special education obligations.

This is not unique to Valley Heights; it is a challenge being experienced across Kansas, particularly in smaller rural districts where staffing and service costs can have a greater impact on budgets.

Looking Ahead

The current Kansas school funding formula is scheduled to expire in 2027, and statewide discussions are already underway regarding what future school funding may look like.

Changes to school finance matter because they directly affect staffing, student opportunities, facilities, transportation, programming, and the long-term sustainability of rural districts like Valley Heights.

My commitment is to continue helping our community better understand how these systems work while ensuring USD 498 remains focused on responsible planning, transparency, and providing the best opportunities possible for students.

Sean Spoonts
Superintendent of Schools
USD 498 Valley Heights

Passion, purpose, and connections are essential elements that synergistically work together to create a vibrant and effective educational environment in our schools. Passion fuels students' intrinsic motivation, driving them to pursue their interests with fervor and dedication. When students discover their passions, they gain a sense of purpose, understanding how their interests align with their long-term goals and aspirations. Purpose provides direction and clarity, guiding students in their educational journey and helping them stay focused on their objectives. Additionally, fostering connections within the school community, between students, teachers, and mentors, enhances learning experiences by providing support, collaboration, and opportunities for growth. Through passion-driven pursuits, guided by purpose, and supported by meaningful connections, students are empowered to achieve their full potential and contribute positively to their school and beyond.

The newsletter serves as a beacon, illuminating the opportunities available within our educational community for nurturing passion, purpose and connections. It showcases extracurricular activities and initiatives designed to ignite student's passions and provide avenues for exploration and self-discovery. Additionally, the newsletter highlights programs and resources geared towards helping students identify their purpose, whether through mentoring programs, or community service projects. Through the newsletter, members of our school community are inspired to engage, pursue their passions, find their purpose, and forge lasting connections that enrich their educational journey.

Email: sspoonts@valleyheights.org
Website: https://www.valleyheights.org
Location: 2274 6th Road, Blue Rapids, KS, USA
Phone: 785-363-2398
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vhusd498/
Twitter: @usd498