Thursday, February 13, 2025

USD 273 approves bond sale authorization

Posted

At the Beloit USD #273 school board meeting Monday, December 9, the board approved bond sale authorization.

Clayton Kelley with Piper Sandler provided the bond presentation, stating features of the bond process. After Kelley’s presentation, the board approved bond sale authorization, allowing the bond terms to be settled.  

-- The district’s auditor, John Regier, provided the 2023-24 audit report. He highlighted key points and explained issues he encountered that were resolved smoothly. Regier concluded that everything looked good, though there were a few things that needed cleaned up.               

-- In his report, Superintendent Jeff Travis and board members Craig Cousland and Amber Krier reported how they benefitted from the Kansas Association of School Boards (KASB) conference they attended in November. At the conference, Beloit Junior High STEM students gave a presentation of the prosthetic hand prototype they designed.

Cousland said that in he learned about the importance of transparency, how being well-informed is important, and about school security systems and product. With Krier not at the meeting, Kelsey Adams gave her report. The conference increased her awareness, and reinforced that the Beloit district is a good district.

-- Beloit Junior-Senior High School Principal Casey Seyfert reported on numerous music department activities. The musical drew large crowds as the students performed admirably. The orchestra concert was November 21, while a band concert was upcoming on the following Wednesday, December 11.

Numerous students are participating in KMEA district contests, and the KSU string fling band clinic is in January. Also, participation in the pep band keeps its members busy.

Seyfert reported that the BHS Scholars’ Bowl team is a dedicated group that meets with Aimee Buckland Tuesday mornings. In Ellsworth on January 27, it will compete with the other teams in the NCAA for league supremacy.

Seyfert reported that the junior high robotics students would participate in a competition at the technical college on Tuesday, December 10. The principal also told about student-led conference preparation and finals at the end of the first semester.                     

Seyfert also updated the board on the school’s athletics, highlighting girls wrestling. Ten girls are on the team, which participated at a season-opening tournament in front of a packed crowd.  Altogether, BHS has more than 30 wrestlers, with boys practicing in the morning, girls in the afternoon.

Also, Seyfert announced the postseason recognition for the Trojans football team that advanced to Sub-state. Garry Lowry was named Assistant Coach of the year in Class 2A, while Eli Johnson named Class 2A defensive player of the year. Johnson and his teammates Ryker Clark, J.J. Sloan and Brodie Boudreaux were selected first team all-state.

As Seyfert noted that the football team’s season ended with a tough loss, he repeated the principle that athletics are an extension of the classroom.

“You learn a lot along the way,” Seyfert said.

-- Also, Heather Johnson with the USD 273 Educational Foundation told about the collaboration of community partners to raise funds for updates to athletic facilities in the district.

-- Student Council President Olivia Wright reported that StuCo hosted a Powder Puff football game November 9. Also, the group worked to get three new microwaves for the school.

-- JAG-K President Adi Francis reported that the group will participate in a local career development competition on January 13.

-- Beloit Elementary School Principal Janet Principal reported that more than 2,500 items were collected for the school’s food drive, with $500 being raised for the Mitchell County Food Pantry. The third grade won the Student Leadership Team’s competition by donating more than the school’s other grades.

Porter also reported that the BES TEAMs that meet on Fridays were working on a craft to give to nursing home residents. Because With the school topping the food drive goal, classes were to dismiss at 12:35 on Friday, December 20, for the holiday break. Classes will resume on Thursday, January 2.

BES Assistant Principal Garry Lowry continued the school’s report by telling about the prototype that music teacher Jayne Pierson and technology teacher Chris Adams collaborated on. It can help a student who is missing a hand to be able to handle an instrument, such as an ukulele.

Also, the fourth grade music program was Thursday, December 5, and the book fair ended on Friday, December 6.

-- Reporting for the BES Site Council, Lindsey Klema announced that the month’s Friends of BES were: Betty Drake, Vicki Jackson, Nora Rhoades, Aimee Buckland, Jay Rowh and Jennifer Stillwell for volunteering their time to the Math Squad after-school sessions, plus the Mitchell County Clerk’s Office for donating supplies used at the school’s mock election.

Also, the Parent Involvement Committee reported that the Math Squad would begin preparing for the Math Kangaroo event that will be in Manhattan in March.

-- Reporting for the BES Parent-Teacher Organization, which met December 2, Porter announced that a Pizza Hut fundraiser was to be held December 16. On December 18, there was to be a pool party for the sixth grade, while the younger grades watched a movie at Solomon Valley Center.                

-- Mitchell County Partnership for Children Executive Director Brady Dean and Assistant Director Karen McCrory provided the MCPC annual report. MCPC has Learning Centers in the Beloit, Lincoln, and Lakeside districts. It has preschools in the Beloit district, as well as in St. John’s and the Rock Hills, Sylvan Grove, Lincoln, Lakeside and Osborne districts.    

McCrory used a Power Point presentation to illustrate how MCPC compares to other similar organizations in Kansas.

Also, many delinquent payments led the district to take the unfortunate step of discontinuing service for patrons two weeks behind on their payments to MCPC. Travis expressed regret for this measure, but it is necessary because the organization is a business.

In addition, MCPC’s after school program for school age children will resume in January following the semester break. Dean expressed his appreciation for BES for its homework club while service was suspended. 

-- Beloit Special Education Cooperative Director Christie Gerdes provided the board members the latest prevalence data report and mentioned various deadlines that were approaching. She reported that the next Superintendents’ Council meeting will be January 8.

BJSHS science teacher Grant Deneke was recognized as November’s Marigold for being somebody who took time to help others. His nomination notes that Deneke involves all of his students by utilizing their skills and talents. Moreover, he is patient, and “makes himself very available to students with needs.” Students enjoy attending his class, the nomination concludes.

-- In other business, the board approved allowing NCK4 to use for the Perkins Consortium, as recommended by Travis. Also, all of the administrator’s contracts were extended for two years (through 2026-27) except for Dean, whose contract involves grant funding and was extended through 2025-26.