Dear Community Members,
I am pleased to share a review of our year, highlighting our progress and achievements. This year, we established three primary areas of focus: Passion, Purpose, and Connections.
In our efforts to strengthen community and business connections, we have:
- Conducted in-service visits to local businesses as a gesture of appreciation.
- Toured Titan Manufacturing and the Weaver Hotel, and plan to tour GP and the Blue Rapids Museum in the fall.
To enhance our connections further, we:
- Engaged with the Rotary Club monthly, rotating between our buildings.
- Increased communication through district and building-level newsletters.
Our district's activities have seen significant success:
- Sports teams and activities have had excellent seasons.
-Added Baseball and Softball
In our schools, driven by purpose and passion, we achieved:
- Receiving the National Blue Ribbon Award and ESEA Distinguished Award for the second time, with the support of Rotary for the Waterville sign and Blue Rapids Community Action for the Blue Rapids Sign.
- Applied for Kansas Star Recognition in Social Emotional, Civic Engagement, and Kindergarten Readiness areas.
USD 498 State assessment results were outstanding across all categories, reflecting the hard work of our staff, parents, and students. Great job to everyone involved!
Next year, our district will focus more deeply on data and instructional strategies as part of our KESA (Kansas Education Systems Accreditation) efforts.
Regarding facilities, we are working with Anderson Knight Architects on long-term planning and capital improvements, addressing critical areas like roofs, track, HVAC, and lighting.
The goal for facilities this year focused on addressing capital improvements and establishing a long-term capital outlay plan, particularly regarding deferred maintenance. Immediate needs were prioritized, with roofing and lighting at the forefront of the initiatives.
We have applied for the SVPP Grant for school safety, which, if awarded, will provide $392K in funding, matched by $98k from the district. This will enhance our security systems, including cameras, intercoms, signage, outdoor security, the E3 app, and key fobs for all entrances and teacher doors.
Lastly, our strategic planning process, led by KASB, will involve three meetings with the community, school, and board. We will focus on key areas such as student development, educational programs, physical infrastructure, personnel, and culture/communication. These meetings will address future changes, strengths, and challenges.
Thank you for your continued support and dedication to our district's success.
Sincerely
Sean Spoonts Superintendent
Valley Heights USD #498
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