Tuesday Talk with Dr. Dain

Piper Nation,

As we continue the important work of selecting the next Superintendent of Schools, I want to take a moment to thank our community for your engagement and thoughtful participation throughout this process.

Below you will find a brief update from the Piper USD 203 Board of Education outlining the progress made to date in the superintendent search. The Board remains committed to a transparent and inclusive process, and I appreciate their leadership and diligence in gathering and reviewing valuable community input.

Thank you for your continued support of the Piper School District!

#PurpleReign

Proud to be a Pirate,

Dr. Jessica Dain, Superintendent

Piper USD 203

Dear Piper Community,

This message serves as an update on the work being completed to identify our next Superintendent of Schools.

First and foremost, thank you to the community members, parents, staff, and students who participated in the community survey. We are grateful for the strong engagement, with more than 700 respondents providing thoughtful input to guide this important decision.

In addition, our search firm, KASB (Kansas Association of School Boards), has conducted nine different focus groups involving 124 individuals. These groups included community members, parents, administrators, classified staff, certified staff, and students. The perspectives shared in these conversations have provided valuable insight into the priorities, expectations, and hopes our community holds for its next leader.

Last evening, the Board of Education met with Dr. Michelle Hubbard from KASB to review the preliminary feedback collected thus far. KASB will now compile and analyze all survey and focus group data to identify the critical attributes our community believes are most important in the selection of our next superintendent. This information will directly inform the development of the leadership profile and guide the next phase of the search process.

We remain committed to transparency and meaningful engagement throughout this process. We will continue to provide updates as the search progresses.

Thank you for your continued involvement in our incredible school district!

Sincerely,

Ashley Biondi, President

Piper USD 203 Board of Education

It has come to our attention that Children's Mercy Hospital will no longer be In-Network for those enrolled in the Sunflower Network through KanCare. Changes of the KanCare provider may be made up until March 5th. Children's Mercy providers are having their staff direct parents to their insurance provider for questions, and informed us that negotiations are still happening. Please reach out to your insurance to change your network provider if you receive services through Children's Mercy Hospital to continue to receive ongoing services.

The Mock Interview event gives seniors the opportunity to practice interviewing with real industry professionals as they prepare for their final Capstone Presentation. During the event, students strengthen their communication skills, gain valuable feedback, and experience a realistic interview setting. Community partners can participate by signing up for flexible 1–1.5 hour time slots on April 14, 15, or 16. Volunteers will be provided with student-prepared questions but are also welcome to ask their own. This experience helps students become #FutureReady while also building connections between local businesses and our future workforce.

This week's Purple Reign Award winner is Carla Ladish, 4th grade teacher, at Piper Creek Elementary.

A parent wrote, "She goes above and beyond for her students. She truly cares about their well-being and their happiness. She notices when things seem off and is quick to move into action on behalf of the students. Her love runs deep for her students and she is passionate about her job. She spends extra hours off the clock making sure she is doing all she can for them to be healthy, happy, and safe!"

Piper Early Childhood Center is hosting a kick-off event on May 8 to welcome and screen new incoming students for the 2026-2027 school year. Students who are currently attending PECC will not have school this day (and do not need to attend the event).

Piper High School is proud to announce the creation of a Military Hall of Honor, a tribute to our alumni who have answered the call to serve our country. We are transferring the military service pictures currently housed at Piper Middle School (the old high school) to their new home at Piper High School. However, we are missing photos for the Classes of 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025, and we need your help to complete this important display.

If you are a recent graduate serving in the military—or know someone who is—we ask that you provide an 8x10 photo in uniform, landscape (horizontal) format. Photos may be dropped off at the Piper High School office and left with Dr. Justin Bogart, Principal.

There is no cost for alumni or families to participate. This is our way of honoring your service and sacrifice. From all of us at Piper Schools, thank you for serving our country and for representing what it means to be part of the Piper community. We are proud to include you in this lasting tribute.

Text messages will now accompany emails and phone calls to share important updates, including weather-related notices and cancelations. To setup text alerts, please follow the link below for instructions on updating your contact information in Parent Skyward to ensure you're connected.

If you have questions or concerns, please contact your building secretary.

The March Board of Education Meeting will take place on Monday, March 9, at 6 p.m., in the Board Room. Community stakeholders who wish to address the Board of Education should complete the following form (linked below) and send the completed form to the Board Clerk, Kim Buckner, at kim.buckner@piperschools.us no later than 12 p.m. (noon) the day of the meeting.

Access Board Docs (Agendas and Corresponding Reports)

Reminder that patrons can access agendas and corresponding reports via the website prior to or after each Board of Education meeting. For access, click here, where you will find agendas and reports from previous Board meetings.