By Roger Sims, rsims@linncountyjournal.org
MOUND CITY – The Jayhawk USD 346 has about 25 students more for the 2024-25 school year than it did last year at this time. That’s the good news.
“It’s good news for finances,” Superintendent Shawn Thomas told board of education members at their meeting on Monday, Oct. 14.
Then he dropped the bad news: The Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) last month moved the Jayhawk district from Class 2A up to Class 3A for all athletic activities except football. Football, which is based on the student population of 10th through 12th grades, will remain in Class 1A this year.
He said other sports and activities include the entire high school population, grades nine through 12. According to KSHSAA figures, JLHS has 176 students this year.
Class 2A has 64 high schools with total student populations of 109 to 174 students. Class 3A also has 64 schools with total student populations ranging from 174 to 317 students.
To compare other Linn County schools, Prairie View High School remains in Class 3A with a head count of 260 students. Iola High School and Bishop Ward in Kansas City have the most students in 3A with 317 students, and all of the Pioneer League schools, including Prairie View, Iola, Osawatomie, Anderson County, Burlington and Santa Fe Trail, are in the upper third of that classification.
Pleasanton High School remains in the 2A classification with the other members of the Three Rivers League. Now the only league school in Class 3A, Jayhawk's teams won’t change current scheduled opponents, however, the change will impact post-season athletics.
On Saturday, the Jayhawk volleyball team will face Girard in the first round of substate at Girard and could play against Prairie View in the second round. Also on Saturday, the Jayhawk cross country team will compete against runners from Prairie View and other 3A schools at the regional race at Central Heights.
Thomas did note that the district brought back a home cross country meet at the Sugar Valley Lakes golf course, and it has been named for long-time Jayhawk cross country coach Chet Hunter. He said both the girls and boys varsity teams won the home meet. It was the third time this year that both squads have won varsity meets.
In other business at the Jayhawk school board meeting, the board heard a report from junior high/high school Principal Julie Samuels about the progress on removing cell phones from the classroom. After allowing cell phones in the classroom previous years, the Jayhawk district has moved to follow the national trend of banning the devices in the classroom.
Samuels indicated it has been a struggle to implement the new policy. Under the policy, cell phones must be silenced and stored away out of sight once the bell rings to begin classes. During the classroom periods, the students are not to use cell phones even if they leave the classroom.
Students are permitted to use cell phones in designated area and during the following times: before school, at lunch, during passing periods, and after school. She noted that while storing cell phones in backpacks is an acceptable way to prevent its use during class, some teachers don’t allow backpacks in the classroom.
Samuels also noted that 55 times during September parents pull students out of the classroom
Samuels also reported that Jayhawk, Prairie View and Pleasanton high schools have discussed collaborating and plan to meet each month. She also said that the Kansas Supreme Court will be holding a special session on Nov. 12 at Louisburg High School and arrangements were being made to take eighth graders, juniors and senior to that event.
In other business, the board:
Heard student services improvement director Stephanie Nichols told the board that she was working to update career pathways information. According to the Kansas Department of Education, pathways approved for the Jayhawk district for the current school year include Comprehensive Agricultural Science; Construction and Design; Digital Media; Graphic Design; Power, Structural and Technical Systems; and Web and Digital Communications.
Approved the sale or recycling of five cars and one truck.
Heard Clayton Kelley, senior vice president at Piper Sandler & Co., discuss the district’s current cashflow in the bond and interest fund. He presented the board with a mill levy analysis, and projected future cashflow in the bond & interest fund while keeping the mill levy the same. He also discussed the option to overlap bond issues without increasing the mill levy.
Learned that the district received several donations, including $2,000 from Wes and Judy Coffel teacher supplies, a $750 donation from Farmers & Merchants Bank for the Guardian Angel Fund, and a $50 donation from State Farm.
Commentaires