District Newsletter

As we wrap up another school year, I want to thank our students, staff, parents, and communities for an outstanding year across USD 243. It has been a year filled with growth, achievement, and countless moments that made our schools and communities proud. From the classroom to competitions and performances, our students continued to represent our district in a tremendous way. Their hard work, leadership, and commitment were evident throughout the year, and our staff continued to provide meaningful opportunities and support for students every day.

Our students continued to excel in academics, activities, clubs, and athletics, representing our schools with pride both inside and outside the classroom. Academically, we continue to see strong growth, with our district test scores once again outpacing the state average. These accomplishments are a direct reflection of the effort our students put in each day, the dedication of our staff, and the continued support from our families and communities.

I want to sincerely thank every person across the USD 243 community for supporting our schools and helping make this another successful year for our students.

Mr. Dustin Wilson, Superintendent of Schools

The district would like to make families aware of a new state statute regarding student cell phone use in schools for the 2026-2027 school year and beyond. This is not a USD 243 initiative, but a requirement established at the state level that all districts in Kansas must follow. As with any new statutory requirement, we are committed to implementing the law in a way that is clear, consistent, and focused on supporting a positive learning environment for students.

Our administrative team and Board of Education are currently working through the development of district policy and procedures to ensure full compliance with the new law. This includes reviewing expectations, defining appropriate use guidelines, and determining how the policy will be implemented across all grade levels. Once finalized, this information will be shared with students and families so expectations are clearly understood before the start of the next school year.

As we move through this process, we appreciate the role families play in reinforcing expectations with students. Consistency between home and school will be important in helping students understand and follow these new requirements. We will continue to communicate updates as policy language is finalized and implementation plans are put in place. Thank you for your cooperation as we work to meet these new state requirements while maintaining a strong focus on student learning.

The increase in special education expenditures required the district to amend our budget to reflect those additional costs. As districts across Kansas continue to face challenges related to inadequate special education funding from the state, USD 243 was also faced with making several difficult financial decisions heading into next year. While those decisions are never easy, every decision made has been with the students of USD 243 at the center of the conversation.

Our focus remains on maintaining strong opportunities for students while also being responsible stewards of district finances. Moving forward, we will continue to closely monitor district spending, evaluate financial priorities, and keep a close eye on legislative decisions that may impact school funding in the future.

The district has officially started the bond planning process focused on addressing deferred maintenance and long-term facility needs across USD 243. This process is still in the early stages, but it is an important step as we evaluate aging infrastructure, necessary repairs, and improvements needed to ensure safe, functional, and effective learning environments for our students and staff.

We are committed to keeping our communities informed throughout the process and will continue sharing information, timelines, and opportunities for feedback as we move forward. Thank you again for your continued support of our schools and for being an important part of another successful year.