Board votes 6-1 to close Logan Avenue Elementary School

USD 253 adopts $102.8 million budget for 2026-27

District cancels revenue neutral rate hearing

Board approves 11.5 percent health insurance increase

State grant funds purchase of four new school buses

District shifts to "Science of Reading" framework

Village Elementary instructor named PE teacher of the year

1. Board votes 6-1 to close Logan Avenue Elementary School

EMPORIA, Kan. — The Unified School District 253 Board of Education voted 6-1 to close Logan Avenue Elementary School, effective for the 2027-28 school year. Board member Barb Fowler cast the lone dissenting vote, while Board President Art Gutierrez, Vice-President Leslie Seeley, Jeremy Dorsey, Grant Riles, Jami Reever and Lillian Lingenfelter voted in favor of the closure. Board members cited declining district enrollment and what district officials characterized as a $2.8 million special education funding shortfall from the state as primary drivers for the cost-saving measure. While acknowledging the intense emotional toll and community disruption the closure will cause, board members stated the decision was a necessary step for the district's long-term financial health and to avoid future budgetary crises.

2. USD 253 adopts $102.8 million budget for 2026-27

EMPORIA, Kan. — The board unanimously adopted the district's 2026-27 budget, which features $102.8 million in net expenses. This marks a $4 million reduction from the previous year's $106.8 million in net expenditures, reflecting ongoing cost-containment measures. District officials noted the budget maximizes capital outlay funds to prepare for upcoming heating, ventilation and air conditioning and roofing projects while working to manage the state's ongoing special education funding deficit.

3. District cancels revenue neutral rate hearing

EMPORIA, Kan. — Taxpayers will not see the school district exceed the state's revenue neutral rate this year. Superintendent David McGehee announced the cancellation of the planned public hearing on the matter, noting that after reviewing state revenues and the district's supplemental budget, administrators determined the district could comfortably finance the 2026-27 budget without exceeding the rate.

4. Board approves 11.5 percent health insurance increase

EMPORIA, Kan. — The board unanimously approved an 11.5 percent premium increase for the district's employee medical insurance plan through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas, while dental and vision rates will remain flat. Insurance consultants noted the increase is lower than the broader market average, largely due to the district's recent shift to a partially self-funded model. Despite the savings, board members expressed concern over the financial burden rate hikes place on district staff, citing a desire to increase district contributions to employee premiums in future budget cycles.

5. State grant funds purchase of four new school buses

EMPORIA, Kan. — The district will acquire four new rear-engine transit buses after the board unanimously approved a purchase utilizing a state Volkswagen mitigation grant. The grant covers 25 percent of each vehicle's cost, effectively allowing Unified School District 253 to purchase four buses for the price of three. As a condition of the state grant, the district is required to decommission four older buses currently in its fleet.

6. District shifts to "Science of Reading" framework

EMPORIA, Kan. — Instructional coaches Erica Fianu, Jessica Kellison and Megan Powers presented updates on the district's transition to the "Science of Reading" curriculum, which emphasizes explicit phonics instruction and orthographic mapping over traditional context-clue guessing. The new framework replaces traditional alphabet word walls with "sound walls" and utilizes mirrors and mouth-placement techniques to help students — especially English language learners and those in speech therapy — better articulate phonemes. Presenters noted the evidence-based approach is already showing positive early results.

7. Village Elementary instructor named PE teacher of the year

EMPORIA, Kan. — Village Elementary School physical education teacher Andy Battenfield was recognized during the superintendent's report for being named the Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year by the Kansas Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. Superintendent David McGehee praised Battenfield's achievement as a major highlight for the district.

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