Usd

By Michael Schwanke (WICHITA, Kan) It ranked among the most important to parents and other community members. The Wichita School Board says transportation is high on the so called "value list" But, like many other school services, it could be facing major cuts as the district expects to lose at least $25 million over the next year. "Probably the worst case would be if we have to eliminate bussing to the magnet schools. That would be worst case," says USD 259 Operations Director, Darren Muci.

By Dave Roberts (WICHITA, Kan.) In these tough economic times, more agencies are tightening their budgets. That includes the Wichita School District, which is asking parents what's most important to them. Among those things: technology in the classrooms. "Technology helps me learn, like the different types of programs on the computer," said seventh grader Kaylynn McClish. She and other students at the Brooks Middle Magnet School take a technology class. "I feel like it can help me with future jobs.

While most schools will be in session on Friday, the schools in the Greeley school district are still closed. School officials say a water main broke in one of its buildings. All district activities, including Friday night's away basketball games, will go on as planned.

USD 259 has canceled all after-school and evening activities for Tuesday due to dangerous weather conditions. According the district's website, the cancelations include rehearsals, parent conferences, athletic practices and competitions, and the middle school after-school program. Elementary latchkey programs will continue as scheduled, though parents will be encouraged to pick up their children as soon as possible after school. The status of Wednesday classes will be reviewed during a weather team meeting at 9 p.m. this evening.

Wichita Public Schools breaks ground on a new elementary school. Martin Ortiz Elementary is being built at 3361 N. Arkansas. Ortiz will help relieve overcrowding at Cloud Elementary. The school will cost more than $7 million to construct, the money comes from a voter approved bond issue. The building will be 62,000 square feet and hold 450 students, Kindergarten through 5th grade. It will be ready at the beginning of 2012 - 2013 school year. The school is named for Martin Ortiz (1919-2009)

School Board members have been dealing with how to deal with a 30-million dollar budget shortfall for months. Superintendent John Allison has proposed cuts across the board from staff to athletics to music programs. Monday, they were expected to discuss 2.6 million dollars that the district wasn't expecting to get. It comes from reimbursements for medicaid and special education services. Allison asked the board to wait one week while he investigates all the options. Many are hoping that money could save some of the programs that were once on the chopping block.

By John Boyd (WICHITA, Kan.) Class size, athletics and music are common themes across all three levels of education as USD 259 releases the results of its Value Ranking survey.  The district is expecting to cut at least $25-million from its budget for the next school year.  As part of the budget process, the district asked school site councils, school and district leadership and high school students to provide input on services and programs they value. The district says this list is not a "cut list", but a resource to help the School Board make decisions on the 2010-2011 budget.

By Cliff Judy (WICHITA, Kan.) The day-to-day work may not seem special.  Standing and talking to teenagers in a high school hallway may not seem inspirational.  At Wichita's East High School, Officer John Biagini calls it the most important part of his job. You won't likely find any bigger fan of Biagini, East High's school resource officer, than Ricardo Escalera. When Escalera met Biagini as an East High freshman in 2005, the teen had only one completed credit to his name.

by Kara Sewell (WICHITA, Kan.) Friday, at Park Elementary, students watch the clock. Waiting to trade in their book for another type of lesson, this one in crab walking. Randy Mcvay teaches physical education. "It may look chaotic but they're actually learning about how to use that and do it later in life," says Mcvay. He says jumping rope and frog hops are actually ways to promote fitness and instill a love for movement. "Really there's no other place in the school other than P.E. class that they're going to learn how to socialize with each other in that way," says Mcvay.

By Kara Sewell (WICHITA, Kan.) "Hard work just comes naturally to them," says Bret Goter. It takes a lot of work to sound as good as the 7th grade band class at Wilbur Middle School. "My ultimate goal is that these kids learn how to play an instrument and that they will play for the rest of their life," says Goter. Band director, Bret Goter is the man behind the music at Wilbur Middle School. He works with his students everyday. "When they start out as beginners and they're squeaking and squawking and they don't know any of the notes until the last concert of the year when they're playing full band arrangements of songs," says Goter.

The Maize school district will reverse course on the issue of random drug testing next fall. Students who take part in sports and other extra curricular activities will no longer be required to submit to random testing. Maize High senior Lucas Schauer's routine was brifely interrupted Tuesday.  He was called into the office to give a urine sample. "I just went in and gave them my sample and then went back to class," he said. Schauer tells Eyewitness News he's never had a problem with the district's policy.  He thinks staying drug-free is part of the privilege of participating in school activities.  But Schauer knows many of his peers found the testing too invasive.

Wichita students will not have school Thursday.  The district announced all buildings will be closed because of the expected worsening weather conditions. Click here for school and community closings The basketball games scheduled for Thursday night, February 21, will be rescheduled for Friday night, February 22. In addition, there will be a two-hour delay for all state wrestling events on Friday, February 22. Student athletes involved in this competition will receive additional information from their coaches.

The threat for severe weather has prompted several western Kansas districts to cancel school Wednesday.   Below is a list of closings. USD 219 Deerfeield USD 227 Hodgeman County USD 255 S. Barber USD 310 Fairfield USD 347 Kinsley- Offerle USD 351 Macksville USD 381 Spearville USD 422 Kiowa County USD 438 Skyline USD 482 Dighton USD 496 Pawnee Heights ...

A stolen gas card is used to rack up more than $8000 in charges; all at the expense of the Haven School District. Haven Police Chief Rob Pell said the card was stolen from a classroom at Haven High School and first used on October 31st. It was used by "many people" to make diesel and gasoline purchases from the Mid Kansas Co-op station in Haven, he said. It was also used at least once at a Co-op station in Buhler. USD 312 said no one knew the card was missing until the bill arrived in mid-December.

The entire Wichita Public Schools family is deeply saddened to hear of the news of the tragic elementary school shooting in Connecticut. Our thoughts and prayers are with those families and the community. There will no doubt be extensive coverage of this event on the news, and much discussion about it in the coming days. I want to assure you that the safety of our students is our top priority, and that our district schools have comprehensive safety plans in place to help avoid tragedies such as this.

Students are back in class at Wichita's North High School after someone lit a fire in a trash can this morning. USD 259 Spokesperson Susan Arensman says the fire was out before fire crews made it to the scene.  Students were evacuated briefly as a precaution. They're all back in class. No one was hurt. The situation is under investigation.

The Kansas Highway Patrol is inspecting the buses that will take Wichita students to and from school. Photos from the Inspections Troopers started inspecting First Student's 500+ buses at around 7:00 Thursday morning. They're inspecting equipment and mechanical systems on each bus including brakes, steering, fuel systems, mirrors, lights, stop arm and emergency doors and exits. Each bus that passes gets a sticker from KHP. The first day of Wichita Public Schools is Wednesday, August 15, with a half-day orientation for sixth and ninth graders on August 14.  

Three Sedgwick County Jail inmates have a better chance at a better life when they get out. The inmates earned high school diplomas while behind bars. They were part of South Central Kansas Education Service Center. All three received high school diplomas from the SCKESC and USD 259 Friday morning. The new educatin program was brought to the detention facility in August of 2011 after budget cuts forced them to end a long-standing agreement for GED training and testing. SCKESC provides classes Monday through Friday at no cost to the Sheriff's Office or to the inmates.

Voters in the Canton-Galva school district have approved a new $8.55 million school bond. The measure passed with 62% of the vote. The bond means a net mill levy increase of 6.81 mills. It is currently 3 mills. The district plans to reduce the number of schools in USD 419 from 3 to 2. The PreK through Grade 3 school will be expanded and go up until Grade 6. The high school will also be expanded to include 7th and 8th grades. The district would eventually close the elementary school.

It was a day full of fond memories and sadness at Emerson Elementary school. Former and current students, teachers, and parents got to visit the school one last time before it closes for good. It's a nearly 40-year old program but it was one of the schools USD 259 decided to close during recent re-     districting plans and budget cuts. Those who are familiar with the program say it was more than just a school but a close knit family and say the school board made the wrong decision.