<div>The Concordia Unified School District 333 board of education met for its regularly scheduled meeting on October 14.The meeting began with a study session discussing facilities management. Much discussion was made about the recent difficulties with the gas line running to the high school. While repairing a rupture to the line recently, more breaks and damage was found in the line so further repairs were required.During this time, difficulties were also discovered to the electrical power line. It was discovered that a new power pole would be needed and a new transformer would also be required.Currently, power lines are being repaired during Fall Break so there is no power in the buildings at this time.These damages are due to the age of the lines and the building.A potential benefit to this process would be the dirt work involved would naturally lend itself to building a ramp into the band room. The existing room has stairs going down into it and it could easily be converted into a ramp, adding additional ease to entering the building at that end.Also in discussion was the upcoming priorities needed to keep the buildings running. Listed among priorities needing addressed are the roofs in both the elementary and high school buildings, the lunchroom built-in tables at the elementary school, gym bleachers at the elementary school, and the playground yard at the elementary school.In items for the middle school: the curbing and fencing around the school, widening the circle drive, the leaks in the north gym doors, additions to playground equipment and parking and further improvements to the gym floor.In items for the high school: the bathrooms, the resurfacing of the north parking lot, reinforcement of the retaining wall east of the junior high school, the resurfacing/replacement of the junior varsity gym floor, and west high school classroom flooring resurfacing.Some of these potential renovations are beginning to be a pressing issue. They have already impacted the school calendar and caused school delays and/or caused the cancelations of school.In action items at the regular board meeting, the board discussed and ultimately tabled a discussion of the necessity of adding the additional legal counsel of Fisher, Patterson, Saylor and Smith law firm.Bids were also submitted and accepted from Farm Country Ford, Inc. in Concordia, for a 2024 Ford Escape to serve as the LCNCK car, for $28,801.Also discussed was the recent purchase of new user-friendly risers for the auditorium and the classrooms at the schools.Police Chief Brent Gehring reported to the board that a grant to create a school resources officer was not awarded to Concordia and discussed the options available to continue with this project without the addition of those funds. Gehring expressed his commitment to this project, saying that it would promote safety, allow for mentorship and increase community connections, making it important.In updates from the schools, Concordia Elementary School Principal Ashley Blain reported on a “big and busy September” with the formation of new committees and meetings of PIE and building leadership committees.The school also saw a visit from the Kansas state librarian and a visit of students to the Concordia Fire Station.Also discussed was the recently gathered math and reading data for students, K-4 grades. The assessment is still not completely concluded but the early data shows that tiered and specialized instruction has improved the skills of students.In math skills alone, 75 percent of students were retaining skills to their grade level, while nine percent were below grade level and an additional nine percent were significantly below grade level.Some students still need to complete the assessment process, totaling some seven percent.Additional state assessment testing will be taking place in the next few weeks.In updates for the middle school, Principal Curtis Noon’s report detailed the increase in potential tutoring and after-school opportunities available to students and the community-like atmosphere of events like Fun Fridays. Also discussed was the upcoming completion of a resurfacing project taking place on a section of the playground that should be finished in the next few weeks.In reports from the high school, Principal Chad Eshbaugh reported on the recent “Think before you Post” program. The program highlighted the impacts of posting, both positively and negatively, by demonstrating that most students were connected to each other on social media by no more than two degrees of separation.High school fall athletics are nearing their end and winter sports will begin soon with girl’s basketball and wrestling.Eshbaugh also reported on the events associated with the recent Homecoming and Fall Fest festivities.In certified personnel: the board voted to approve Steve Joonas as the interim head of special education, taking the place of Cindy Quinn.In classified personnel: the board voted to approved the hires of Shelby Joyner and Angela Reynolds as para educators at the elementary school and Rhonda Hansen as a substitute bus driver, and the transfers of Sarah Taylor (from full time to substitute para – effective January 1) and Amber Farha (from substitute to part-time para educator).</div>

Mountain View, CA

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USD 333 School Board Meets

The Concordia Unified School District 333 board of education met for its regularly scheduled meeting on October 14. The meeting began with a study session discussing facilities management. Much discussion was made about the recent difficulties with the gas line running to the high school. While repairing a rupture to...