Jayhawk district anticipates exceeding revenue neutral rate

Journal staff report with reporting by Kayla McGrew, board clerk

MOUND CITY – Shawn Thomas, Jayhawk USD 346 superintendent, told the district’s board of education that the district’s budget for the 2025-26 school year would be above the revenue neutral rate.

At the board’s meeting on Monday, Aug. 11, said that the budget was reviewed by former Kansas State Department of Education budget guru Dale Dennis. It is two mills above the revenue neutral rate.

Upon Thomas’ recommendation,  the board unanimously approved setting the revenue neutral rate hearing for 5:40 p.m. and the district’s budget hearing for 5:50 p.m. on Sept. 8.

Kelly Mohler, the school resource officer for Jayhawk Elementary School, and Kyler Parscale presented the updated district and county crisis procedures. Ms. Mohler noted that crisis procedures will be reviewed and updated annually. The board unanimously approved the procedures.

In other business, the board:

• Set credit card limits of $1,000 for the elementary school and a limit of $2,000 for the high school. Thomas recommended, and the board approved, the cards be issued in building principals’ names.

• Learned that a memorandum of understanding had been signed with Fort Scott Community College for the funding of the Southeastern Technical Academy for Rural Students (STARS). 

• Heard a report from district principals on initial enrollment figures for the fall semester. JES principal Russ Hermreck said as of Friday, Aug. 8, enrollment was at 295 students. JLHS principal Julie Samuels said enrollment numbers were at 145 students for high school and 84 students for junior high.

• Approved a change in the vehicle disposal schedule. Instead of getting rid of the 2017 Ford Fusion as approved last month, Thomas requested that the district keep that vehicle and sell the 2020 Ford Fusion instead.

• Approved the employment of Hannah Marshall as JLHS secretary for 2025-2026.