Board Brief

Board Briefs are informal reports from the regular meetings of the USD 495 Board of Education and intended as a communications service for district staff and patrons.

These are not the official minutes.

All consent agenda items were approved.

Staff additions were as follows: John Pritchett - Assistant Boy's Basketball Coach/LHS

Steve Schrepfer was recognized as our Orange Spot winner, staff of the month at the board meeting. He goes above and beyond for our students and staff at Larned High School!

Steve is always willing to help students when they have questions, offering support, encouragement, and guidance whenever they need it. He is a wonderful role model and mentor to students throughout LHS, making a positive impact both inside and outside the classroom.

Whether he’s helping out in the concession stands, stepping in to fill a need, or being there when we need him the most, Steve is someone we can always count on! His willingness to lend a hand and support others does not go unnoticed.

Thank you, Steve, for being someone our students can look up to and someone our staff can depend on! Your dedication, kindness, and willingness to help make LHS a better place for everyone. We appreciate all that you do!

Tyson Atteberry highlighted the student-run concession stand and recognized the sponsors who help make it possible. Internal school organizations, groups, and athletic teams have the opportunity to operate the concession stand for an event and benefit from the proceeds.

He also praised the students for the valuable people skills, responsibility, teamwork, and customer service experience they gain while working the concession stand. Tyson recognized Joyce Link and Steve Schrepfer for the excellent job they do overseeing the operation and helping students build important life skills they can carry with them beyond high school.

Housing Forward - Larned: The Board received an update on housing development efforts being explored by the City of Larned. The goal is to help address the local housing shortage, attract new residents, and provide another recruitment tool for the community.

Plans currently include three new homes on 18th Street and six additional homes near the existing duplexes off of 120th Ave. The City has also applied for a housing development grant that, if awarded, could provide down payment assistance per qualifying homebuyer.

The City is also pursuing a Rural Housing Incentive District (RHID) for future development. Under an RHID, property tax revenue generated within the district is used for a period of time to help repay infrastructure costs such as streets, sewer, and other development expenses. Once those costs are paid, the property tax revenue returns to the normal taxing entities.

The City is expected to consider approval of the RHID in December or January. Once approved by the City, other taxing entities, including the school district, will have 30 days after receiving the resolution to review the proposal and determine whether to object. The Board discussed requesting additional information and a presentation from City representatives before that decision is made.

League Membership: The Board discussed the district’s current league membership and the future of the Central Kansas League (CKL). Administration shared that there is no recommendation to change leagues at this time, but welcomed Board feedback and concerns regarding the district’s current membership.

Discussion focused on making sure league decisions continue to provide students with appropriate opportunities to compete against schools of similar size and offerings. The Board also reviewed the challenges involved with changing leagues, including school size, available sports and activities, travel distances, and whether other leagues would be willing or able to accept Larned.

Administration noted that the CKL continues to evolve, with membership changes expected in the coming years. At this time, the district believes Larned remains comparable in size to many CKL schools. Other possible leagues were discussed, but each presents challenges related to enrollment differences, activity offerings, league membership requirements, or significant travel.

The district will continue monitoring the future of the CKL and evaluating what provides the best competitive opportunities and overall experience for Larned students.

Kansas School Finance Formula Renewal: Dr. Wachs provided an update on the School Funding Task Force, which is scheduled to meet November 17–18 to continue developing a framework and vote on potential recommendations. Discussion included how changes in state leadership and the upcoming legislative session could impact school funding moving forward. Key areas of focus include maintaining the equalization component of school funding, an annual inflation adjustment, accountability for at-risk funding, and reviewing bond and interest state aid. Dr. Wachs will provide the Board with additional information and updates following the November meetings.

2027 Legislative Priorities: The 2026 platform was distributed to Board members for review to develop the 2027 platform. Members were asked to look over the proposed policies and bring forward any questions, suggestions, or recommended changes for discussion at next month’s meeting.

Playground Addition: A quote was reviewed for the installation of the previously approved equipment, including the mulch surrounding it. Jessie Pleasant asked whether the committee was continuing its fundraising efforts, as community members had also inquired about the project. The purchase was discussed last month to get the process moving, as the company requested delivery by December. The committee is exploring storage options for the equipment and mulch until installation can be scheduled.

Door Access Control System: The Board discussed replacing the district’s door access control system, which has been included in the capital improvement plan for several years. Administration explained that technology and installation costs have continued to increase, and the updated equipment now requires additional labor to install.

The proposed project would replace the controllers and update the access control system throughout the district. While a lower-cost option was discussed, there are concerns that some of the district’s existing controllers, particularly at the middle and high school, may not be compatible with the new system. Administration also noted ongoing software and system issues and expressed concern about waiting until the current system fails.

Because only a limited number of employees have physical keys, a card reader failure could create additional safety and security concerns. The district also considered the advantage of working with INAalert because of their proximity to Larned, which helps reduce labor and service costs.

The Board approved the purchase of the Door Access Control System from INAalert in the amount of $81,428.25.

Fleet Purchase: The purchase of a 2026 Ram 2500 ProMaster 10 passenger Van from KansasTruck Equipment Company, Inc. was approved by the board in the amount of $83,500.

Addition of Account: It was approved to add Esports to Larned High School Activity accounts.

Dr. Wachs discussed and updated the board on the previous discussed National Survey and shared additional information regarding the required KSDE Family Engagement Survey, which is necessary for the district to receive and use federal funds. Based on the requirement of the Family Engagement survey it has been recommended to not over survey our parents so we will not participate in the optional National survey from AASA.

Dr. Wachs also shared highlights from the KSSA Day held prior to the KASB Convention, including information from a presentation on superintendent longevity and workforce trends. The presentation noted that 68.5% of superintendents surveyed anticipate leaving their positions within the next one to five years, largely due to retirement. Discussion included the increasing responsibilities and requirements of the superintendent position, rising salary expectations, and the challenges of recruiting future district leaders as administrators may be hesitant to take on the additional pressures of the role.

Board members shared that they had attended sessions at the KASB Conference addressing the projected shortage of superintendents and the challenges of recruiting and retaining district leadership. Members noted that the forecasted shortage was alarming and emphasized the importance of strong district leadership. The discussion continued with the Board expressing appreciation for Dr. Wachs. Members recognized the progress made under his leadership, including the development of the strategic plan, updates to board policies, improvements to the capital outlay plan, and other districtwide initiatives. Discussion also highlighted the importance of continued professional growth and development for all staff and the positive impact it has on the district as a whole.

The USD 495 Board of Education will meet again on Monday, December 14th at 6:00 PM at the District Office.