Middle school Chromebook damages prompt policy review

District prepares for potential cellphone ban

District scrutinizes athletic fundraising and fees

Both high school head basketball coaches resign

Board approves science, technology, engineering and math grant for agriculture and arts

Middle school digital media program showcases success

High school earns state All-Star designation

Board approves nonresident enrollment capacity in split vote

New state legislation sparks local concerns over walkouts

Middle school Chromebook damages prompt policy review

WELLINGTON, Kan. - The take-home Chromebook policy for middle school students may be halted after administrators reported over $31,000 in device damages since the one-to-one initiative began. Of that total, $12,500 remains unpaid by families. Teachers and administrators cited ongoing disruptions, including uncharged devices, forgotten chargers and students accessing inappropriate content or emailing late at night. District staff will research the costs of keeping class sets of laptops securely in classrooms versus the current repair expenses before a final decision is made for the upcoming school year.

District prepares for potential cellphone ban

WELLINGTON, Kan. - Deliberations on a potential districtwide cellphone ban will begin at the next meeting, following new guidance released by the Kansas Association of School Boards. Ongoing gray areas regarding the enforcement of a total ban were acknowledged, particularly concerning the logistics, liability and potential costs of securely storing student devices during the school day.

District scrutinizes athletic fundraising and fees

WELLINGTON, Kan. - Following community complaints regarding fundraising fatigue, how to better fund supplemental sports activities was debated. The athletic department currently operates without a fixed district budget, relying instead on gate receipts — such as the roughly $4,000 generated per home football game — and community donations. To reduce the financial burden on parents and local businesses, administrators discussed capping the number of team fundraisers and evaluating a potential increase to student activity fees to cover rising equipment and tournament entry costs.

Both high school head basketball coaches resign

WELLINGTON, Kan. - A series of personnel changes were approved via the consent agenda, headlined by the resignations of both Wellington High School head basketball coaches. Boys basketball coach and teacher Joe Newman submitted his resignation to accept a teaching and coaching position at Derby High School. Girls basketball coach Eric Adams also submitted his resignation, announcing his retirement after 13 seasons and a state championship with the program. The hiring of Mike Wilmoth as the driver's education coordinator was also approved.

Board approves science, technology, engineering and math grant for agriculture and arts

WELLINGTON, Kan. - A substantial $50,000 science, technology, engineering and math grant from NextEra Energy Resources was accepted to fund four major educational projects across the district. The grant will pay for a new outdoor classroom with raised beds, a barn to house animals for the Future Farmers of America and animal science pathways and updated equipment for the robotics program in partnership with Cowley College. Additionally, the funds will be used to replace the high school auditorium's 20-year-old lightboard, which is heavily utilized by both students and the broader community.

Middle school digital media program showcases success

WELLINGTON, Kan. - Students from the Wellington Middle School digital media class presented a video showcase of their recent projects, highlighting the growing success of the school's student broadcast program. The class, which limits enrollment to 15 students per period due to equipment constraints, teaches practical skills in video editing, livestreaming and broadcast software. The program has already yielded real-world opportunities, with a middle school student being invited to provide play-by-play commentary for high school football and basketball games.

High school earns state All-Star designation

WELLINGTON, Kan. - Wellington High School was named a 2026 All-Star High School by the Kansas Board of Regents' Apply Kansas initiative. The award recognizes the school's commitment to postsecondary readiness, specifically highlighting the efforts of counselors Carmen Hatfield and Kelly Nance, alongside Athletic Director Elly Johnson, for organizing comprehensive free college application days, Free Application for Federal Student Aid information nights and expanded student signing day events. The structured events aim to remove financial and logistical barriers for graduating seniors pursuing college, tech school or military careers.

Board approves nonresident enrollment capacity in split vote

WELLINGTON, Kan. - The district's nonresident enrollment capacity numbers for the upcoming school year were approved in a split vote. The state-mandated publication requires districts to declare how many out-of-district students they can accept based on current class sizes. While administrators noted that the district regularly and amicably exchanges students with neighboring towns like Oxford and South Haven, debate surfaced over the baseline "ideal" class sizes previously established for the district's elementary schools, prompting dissent during the final vote.

New state legislation sparks local concerns over walkouts

WELLINGTON, Kan. - Recent actions by Kansas lawmakers were discussed, with warnings of steep financial penalties tied to student protests. Under the new provisions, districts could face penalties equal to the superintendent's contract base salary for each school day a qualifying student walkout occurs if required conditions — such as written parental permission and enforcement of attendance and discipline policies — are not met, and the district is barred from assisting in such events. Concerns were also raised that the legislature's special education funding increase falls short of covering current costs.

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