Takeaways from Dodge City USD 443 Education Board Meeting
Week of July 14, 2026
Ryan Ausmus, Traci Rankin elected to board leadership roles
Board keeps mill levy flat, expects revenue increase due to rising valuations
Board approves $42,000 retaining wall for student-built house
State to fully reimburse district for new math assessment screener
Administrators outline slow rollout and new guardrails for AI use
District expands high-tech visitor security system to 12 schools
Centralized enrollment and back-to-school dates announced
Ryan Ausmus, Traci Rankin elected to board leadership roles
DODGE CITY, Kan. — The board reorganized its leadership for the upcoming year, electing Ryan Ausmus as board president and Traci Rankin as vice president. Absent from the meeting was board member Kirstin Bangerter.
Board keeps mill levy flat, expects revenue increase due to rising valuations
DODGE CITY, Kan. — The board of education approved publishing the proposed 2026-2027 budget, which keeps the district's mill levy rate flat but will exceed the state's revenue neutral rate. Patrick Crowdis, the district's associate superintendent of business operations, explained that rising assessed property valuations in Ford County will result in an estimated $300,000 increase in tax revenue for the district without raising the actual tax rate. A public hearing to exceed the revenue neutral rate and officially adopt the budget will be scheduled between Aug. 20 and Sept. 20.
Board approves $42,000 retaining wall for student-built house
DODGE CITY, Kan. — The board authorized $42,000 from the capital outlay budget for a retaining wall at a home currently being built by Dodge City High School building trades students. The house, located at the old district office site, requires the structural wall due to an alley-facing garage design that places the main porch significantly above ground level. Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Education Matt Turner noted that future student-built homes planned for the site will feature street-facing entries to avoid similar design challenges and retaining wall costs.
State to fully reimburse district for new math assessment screener
DODGE CITY, Kan. — The board approved a $51,170 contract to implement a new math proficiency screener for students in grades three through 10. Deputy Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Scott Springston told the board the 10-to-20-minute digital assessment will be administered four times a year, allowing teachers to review results within 36 hours and adjust their instruction prior to state testing. Because Dodge City is one of six Kansas districts participating in the pilot program, the Kansas State Department of Education will fully reimburse the district for the cost of the software.
Administrators outline slow rollout and new guardrails for AI use
DODGE CITY, Kan. — District officials discussed an ongoing, deliberate rollout of artificial intelligence (AI) in schools, emphasizing the need to preserve students' critical thinking skills. Victor Guerrero-Vazquez, the district's executive director of information technology, presented updated AI guardrails, which include a database of submitted student assignments designed to identify AI-generated content. The district's human resources department also added a new employment safeguard to the policy, ensuring that AI will not replace human judgment in hiring, evaluations, investigations or disciplinary decisions affecting staff and students.
District expands high-tech visitor security system to 12 schools
DODGE CITY, Kan. — A new visitor management system is expanding to 12 Dodge City schools following a successful two-school pilot this spring. The board unanimously approved the Raptor Visitor Management System, which requires visitors to scan their driver's licenses or use a mobile QR code in a secure vestibule before staff can buzz them into the building. David Miller, the district's director of safety and security, noted the system automatically checks visitors against a national sex offender database and keeps individuals in the secure vestibule pending verification.
Centralized enrollment and back-to-school dates announced
DODGE CITY, Kan. — District officials announced key dates for the fast-approaching academic year, starting with centralized enrollment at the Civic Center on July 14 and 15. The district will host a Back-to-School Night for students and families on Aug. 7 at the Civic Center from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The first day of classes for K-12 students is scheduled for Aug. 18, with preschool students beginning their school year on Aug. 21.
Click here for local obituaries
Found a mistake? Have a news tip or feedback to share? Contact our newsroom using the button below:
