February 2026 Maize Pulse

Hi, Maize family!

We are gearing up for Parent-Teacher Conferences, and it’s an event I always looked forward to, both as a parent and as a teacher. No matter which side of the table I was sitting on, the goal was always the same: working together to do what’s best for the child.

There is real power in schools and homes coming together for the benefit of our students. When we work hand-in-hand to share insights, celebrate progress, and talk honestly about challenges, we can better support our children and help move them toward success.

Parent-Teacher Conferences will take place on the afternoon/evening of Wednesday, Feb. 11 and throughout the day on Thursday, Feb. 12. Please see the schedule below and reach out to your child’s school for specific details.

Above all, please know that supporting our students is what it’s all about for us. If you ever need support or would like to have a conversation, we are here for you. You can find contact information for our schools and district team by clicking here.

Thank you for being such an important partner in your child’s education. We look forward to seeing you at conferences!

Dr. Raquel Greer

Maize USD 266 Superintendent

• On X: @rockigreer
• Email: rgreer@usd266.com
• Online: www.usd266.com/superintendent

February

• Feb. 11: Parent-Teacher Conferences 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. for grades 7 through 12

• Feb. 12: No school, Parent-Teacher Conferences 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for kindergarten through grade 6 and 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for grades 7 through 12
• Feb. 13: No school

March

• March 13: End of Term 3
• March 16-20: No school, Spring Break
• March 23: Start of Term 4

April

• April 6: No school, Professional Development

Mark your calendar for an upcoming community discussion about district facilities and help us Build for the Future! Choose any of these sessions to learn more about the Facilities Steering Committee's work and priorities. Since first meeting in December 2024, members of the Facilities Steering Committee have reviewed data, toured schools to better understand current needs and future opportunities, examined district finances, and prioritized potential long-range options for Maize USD 266.

• 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 10: Maize South High School, 3701 N. Tyler Road in Wichita
• 7 p.m. Thursday, March 12: Maize High School, 11600 W. 45th St. in Maize
• 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 24: Vermillion Elementary School, 501 James in Maize

Maize USD 266 has been approved to receive state grant funding through the Kansas Safe and Secure Firearm Detection Grant Program to add the ZeroEyes firearms detection system at our middle and high schools. This system adds another layer of security and works alongside the people, training, and security practices already in place.

ZeroEyes is a proactive preventative artificial intelligence (AI)-powered system that will use our existing security cameras to identify visible firearms outside school buildings and alert law enforcement and school officials if a threat is detected. It does not replace people or current security practices but strengthens our overall approach.

The Kansas Legislature allotted $10 million for the program, administered by the Kansas Attorney General, to provide up to $500,000 per school district on a first come, first served basis. ZeroEyes will be implemented at Maize High School, Maize South High School, Complete High School Maize, Maize Middle School, and Maize South Middle School.

To support the ZeroEyes installation and implementation, the district will work to prepare its security camera system. In recent years, the district has been upgrading and expanding that system with new units and technology to provide additional visibility of parking lots, entrances, and other critical viewpoints across campus.

The district first reviewed ZeroEyes in Fall 2025 as part of a broader evaluation of school security, with input from parents, employees, high school students, and community stakeholders. In the Fall 2025 Safety Survey, 71 percent of respondents, including parents, employees, and high school students, said new safety measures would make schools feel safer, and 72 percent were neutral or supportive of AI-based security screening software.

Keeping our schools secure is a top priority for Maize USD 266. ZeroEyes will complement existing measures, including security cameras in every building, the Raptor Visitor Management System, SafeDefend panic alarms, Behavior Threat Assessment processes, anonymous reporting tools, school resource officers, and our newly hired school security officers. Together, technology and trained professionals continue to strengthen our commitment to secure, welcoming schools that support student learning and success.

• Click here to learn more about the ZeroEyes system
• Click here for information about the state’s firearm detection grant program
• Click here for a recent article about our new school security officers

The district’s artificial intelligence (AI) Pilot Group is continuing its work to understand how AI can support teaching, learning, and school operations while keeping student safety at the forefront.

The AI Pilot Group has been exploring tools with built-in student safeguards, exploring AI options available through Google Workspace, and prepared hands-on sessions for staff member professional learning. These sessions give teachers time to experiment, ask questions, and see how AI could enhance instruction or streamline workflows.

Team members are also gathering insights from conferences and research to inform the district’s emerging AI policy. Their focus remains on learning and listening. No AI tools are required for employees or students at this time.

This work continues to build a foundation for safe, thoughtful, and innovative AI use in the future. The goal is for the team to gather feedback from multiple stakeholder groups and to provide AI policy recommendations to the Maize Board of Education later this year about which tools the district may support. Any recommendations would align with the district’s current acceptable use policy, which is included in Article 7 of the Board of Education Policies & Regulation.

Click here to read our January article about the AI Pilot Group.

Maize USD 266 pre-K and kindergarten enrollment for the 2026-27 school year begins March 2. Families have until March 31 to complete the enrollment process.

How to enroll

Click here to visit the Maize USD 266 enrollment page and follow the steps to register your child. Please note that all enrollment must be completed on a computer.

Requirements

• Pre-K: Available for children who are 3 or 4 years old on or before Aug. 31, 2026.
• Kindergarten: Children must be 5 years old on or before Aug. 31, 2026.
• Students must reside within the Maize USD 266 district. Click here for our searchable boundary map.

Need help?

• Pre-K enrollment: Contact our Maize Early Childhood Center at 316-722-3105 or meccenrollment@usd266.com.
• Kindergarten enrollment: Contact our Enrollment Center at 316-350-2050 or enrollment@usd266.com.
• Visit our Enrollment Center in person at 201 S. Park, Maize.
• Translation services are available at our Enrollment Center.

Learn more

• Click here to learn about early childhood education at Maize USD 266.
• Click here to learn about elementary education at Maize USD 266.
• For more details about enrollment, click here to visit www.usd266.com/enrollment.

Parents, don’t forget that you can see your child’s school bus pickup and drop-off times and locations using the free BusQuest app.

How to access your bus information:

• Download BusQuest from the Apple Store (for Apple users) or Google Play (for Android users).
• Log in with your credentials to view your child’s information.
• For security, only guardians listed as “Family 1” in Skyward Family Access can see their child’s details.

For users signed up to receive BusQuest communications, delays in the normally scheduled school bus route times will be communicated via the app, email, and text from our Transportation Department’s routing software.

You can contact our Transportation Department with questions regarding the app by calling 316-722-0582 or emailing transportation@usd266.com.

Please keep these reminders in mind:

• Please ensure that you have updated your information for notifications: If you want to receive phone calls and/or text messages from Maize USD 266, please log into Skyward Family Access and click “Skylert” on the left. Skylert enables you to receive notifications concerning your child(ren). Snow day-related notifications and the majority of district-sent parent communications fall into the category of “General.” You can check the boxes under “General” in Skyward to select how you prefer to receive this information. Please also make sure your phone number is accurate. Please click “Save” in the upper-right corner if you make any updates.

• Make sure to opt in to notify your carrier if you want to receive text messages: Those who want to receive the district’s School Messenger text messages also will need to opt in by sending a text message of “Y” or “Yes” to 67587. This informs your mobile carrier that you approve of receiving text messages from School Messenger. Those wishing to opt out can do so by sending “Stop.” Please click here for more information. Text recipients will receive automated district messages from the number 67587.

• In the event of school being dismissed or canceled because of inclement weather: The district will send out notifications via phone call, text (SMS), and email to those who have elected to receive them. Phone notifications will go out as early as 5:30 a.m. on the day of the closure. If a decision is made the night before to call off school, calls and texts will go out no later than 10:30 p.m. District officials will update the district’s website (www.usd266.com), official X account (@maize266), and official Facebook page as soon as the decision is made to call off school. When in doubt, the district encourages parents and employees to verify school closings by consulting multiple official district sources. Please do not rely on only one form of notification, such as a text message, if you are uncertain.

Thank you for your cooperation in preparing for potential inclement weather this winter.

The Maize Board of Education's next regular monthly meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 9, 2026 at the Maize Performing Arts and Aquatics Center (MPAAC), 1155 W. Academy in Maize. Board members will also attend a work session at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. at MPAAC. Meetings are open to the public. Find a link to meeting agendas and minutes, school board member information, and policies at www.usd266.com/schoolboard.

Congratulations to Maize South High School senior Grace Oard on being named a top 11 finalist in the Wichita State University Distinguished Scholarship Invitational! She competed against students from across Kansas and as far away as Texas for one of three $64,000 Harry Gore Memorial Scholarships, among the largest undergraduate scholarships in Kansas. She was recognized as a student demonstrating a strong commitment to leadership in her school, student organizations, and community.

Congratulations to longtime Maize South High School teacher and baseball coach Chad Christensen for being inducted into the Kansas Association of Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame. From building the Maverick baseball program from the ground up to mentoring students in the classroom and on the field, his legacy is rooted in culture, leadership, and lifelong lessons. We’re proud to celebrate this well-earned recognition and the lasting influence he’s had on generations of students and student-athletes. Click the link below to read more about his Hall of Fame induction and career.

From flag football continuing to gain traction in Kansas to wrestling and basketball students making their mark on their teams and beyond, check out recent coverage of our Eagle and Maverick students!

Congratulations to Sarah Gardner, teacher at Hope Learning Center, for being honored as part of KSN TV's Treat the Teach program!

She was surprised recently with school supplies from Project Teacher and a $250 Amazon gift card from Credit Union of America. Her recognition was featured this week on Good Day Kansas, a well-deserved honor after being nominated and selected as this month’s winner for her unparalleled commitment and dedication to students.

“Going here has given me hope, because I enjoy doing this, and I want to make this my career.”

Those words came from a Maize High School sophomore after a Maize Education Foundation Student Enrichment Grant helped him attend the VEX Robotics World Championship. His experience didn’t just build skills. It sparked a future.

That’s the power of Student Enrichment Grants: helping Maize USD 266 students discover purpose, build confidence, and imagine what comes next.

Spring 2026 applications are open and are due by 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 25, 2026.

Thanks to the generosity of several donors, we are excited to bring dueling pianos to our 2026 Birds and Bulls Gala!

With songs based entirely on audience participation, you get to decide what the evening will sound like. Tickets will sell out, so don’t delay.

Ticket sales and sponsorships directly support the Maize Education Foundation, helping fund grants, scholarships, and programs that enrich the educational experience for students and educators across the district.

Join us at The Hudson on Thursday, April 23, 2026 for the Birds and Bulls Gala, presented by Credit Union of America!

Know someone interested in teaching in Maize USD 266? Opportunities for the 2026-27 school year are starting to appear on our website! We offer great opportunities for experienced educators and new graduates. Apply now at usd266.com/careers.

Our #MaizeFamily showed up Feb. 6, bringing the energy and school spirit as Maize High School and Maize South High School basketball teams faced off on the court. Click here to check out additional photos from the night.

Second graders from our elementary schools recently visited our Maize Career Academy for Grow, Build, Create. The field trip gave students a chance to learn by doing as they riveted sheet metal, explored robotics, built birdhouses, checked out big trucks, and even pet a pony. It was a fun and engaging experience for our young learners!

Maize Middle School students had a taste of “real life” recently with Reality U! As part of a Pando Initiative experience, students learned how choices today, including school performance, can affect their future. They completed a lifestyle survey imagining life at 26 and made real-world budgeting decisions at 12 interactive booths.

Students also met with high school counselors, learned from a veteran about military opportunities, received financial tips, explored pathways with Maize Career Academy and WSU Tech, and learned social-emotional skills and cyber safety.

Maize South High School students recently stepped inside the United States Air Force Performance Lab, a mobile trailer packed with virtual reality flight simulators, motion-tracking challenges, and interactive games. Students tested their skills and agility while getting a glimpse of the exciting opportunities available in the Air Force. We were excited to host this opportunity for our students and are grateful to the Air Force for bringing this hands-on, high-tech experience.

To celebrate Kansas Day on Jan. 29, 3rd-grade students at Pray-Woodman Elementary School made Kansas-shaped crackers, learning about our state, and enjoying a tasty treat.

Our crews worked hard on Sunday, Jan. 25 and Monday, Jan. 26 to prepare our facilities for school following the snow day. Thank you to our custodial, maintenance, and grounds workers for their hard work! With more than 80 acres of parking lots and miles of sidewalks to clear, their efforts make a big difference after winter weather. We also appreciate our bus drivers and transportation staff members who came in on the snow day to make sure all buses were good to go!

Explore our story series dedicated to showcasing career pathways at our Maize Career Academy!

At our Maize Career Academy, the Media and Web Pathway is designed to reflect how the media industry works: fast-paced, collaborative, and built around experience.

Students don’t just learn about journalism, video production, or digital storytelling. They practice journalism, producing content for actual audiences while building portfolios that often rival what many students encounter after they graduate.

“Most schools treat this as an elective,” Ryan Tarletsky, Maize Career Academy media instructor, said. “But here, this is the professional experience students get if they’re interested in media.”

Maize High School senior Hailey Blurton credits the pathway with shaping her plans after graduation. After starting in broadcasting as a freshman, she has stayed with the program throughout high school and plans to major in broadcast journalism in college. She said the experiences, from filming weddings to covering a Division I football bowl game, set the program apart.

“When I tell colleges about my experience, they’re surprised,” Blurton said. “A lot of students come in never having touched a camera, and I already know the workflow.”