Board sets hearings for district budget and revenue neutral rate

District welcomes two school resource officers

Updated emergency operations plan addresses active assailant drills

Board approves strict social media policy for staff

Second public hearing set for Logan Avenue Elementary School closure

Student code of conduct tightens cell phone restrictions

District implements structured literacy program, early diagnostics

District's virtual program officially launches

District adds academic evaluator to combat psychologist shortage

Board sets hearings for district budget and revenue neutral rate

EMPORIA, Kan. — The Emporia USD 253 Board of Education unanimously approved notices of hearing for the district's 2026-2027 budget and revenue neutral rate. Though officials stated the district does not actually intend to exceed the revenue neutral rate, it is legally required to hold an intent-to-exceed hearing to give Lyon County Clerk Amie Jackson Jones flexibility if assessed property values come in differently than anticipated. District leaders noted they shifted some mill levy funds from the supplemental general fund to the bond and interest fund to build up reserves, as recommended by the Kansas State Department of Education. The public hearings are scheduled for Sept. 9.

Second public hearing set for Logan Avenue Elementary School closure

EMPORIA, Kan. — Administrators announced that a second public hearing regarding the closure of Logan Avenue Elementary School is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Sept. 2. The hearing follows recent findings by the Kansas State Department of Education, which determined that the district's previous decision to close the school at the end of the current academic year was rational. A final vote to confirm the closure recommendation is expected at the following regular meeting on Sept. 9.

Board approves strict social media policy for staff

EMPORIA, Kan. — In a sweeping 105-page policy update, the district approved new guidelines intended to establish clear professional boundaries for how staff can interact with students on social media. Under the new policy, staff members are prohibited from directly messaging students or engaging in comment threads on public platforms, including district-sanctioned athletics or activities Facebook pages. Staff must limit digital communications with students to official channels like ParentSquare, a school communication platform, and district email accounts. While there was debate during the meeting about whether turning off comments entirely would be safer, officials ultimately agreed to keep comment sections open but bar staff from replying to students.

Student code of conduct tightens cell phone restrictions

EMPORIA, Kan. — The pre-K through eighth grade student code of conduct features updated language cracking down on personal electronic devices. The revised policy explicitly requires that students' cell phones must be powered off entirely — not merely silenced — and stored away in backpacks, lockers or other designated locations during the school day.

District welcomes two school resource officers

EMPORIA, Kan. — The district officially introduced two Emporia Police Department officers who will serve as the new school resource officers. Officer Gabe Withington has already begun his duties at Emporia High School, while Officer Kenny Rodriguez will join Emporia Middle School later in the school year. Both officers are Emporia natives and graduates of the district. The introductions highlight an ongoing partnership between the school district and the local police department to enhance building safety and student relationships.

Updated emergency operations plan addresses active assailant drills

EMPORIA, Kan. — A unanimously approved update to the district's emergency operations plan brings Emporia USD 253 into compliance with new state legislation regarding active assailant drills. Under the new policy, drills for elementary students will be conducted as age-appropriate tabletop exercises to prevent unnecessary trauma. If a live-action tactical simulation is planned for older students, the district must notify parents in advance and provide them the opportunity to opt their children out of the drill. The revised plan also formally incorporates the newly hired school resource officers into the district's emergency contact structure.

District implements structured literacy program, early diagnostics

EMPORIA, Kan. — District instructional coaches presented an update on Emporia's shift toward a structured literacy approach, detailing how educators will diagnose reading difficulties as early as the second week of school. The district is adopting the "reading rope" model, a framework that integrates both word recognition (such as phonics and decoding) and language comprehension to achieve skilled reading. The curriculum changes align with recently passed state legislation — including the Every Child Can Read Act and House Bill 2485 — which requires individual literacy plans for any student who scores as "high risk" on a universal screener.

District's virtual program officially launches

EMPORIA, Kan. — The student handbook addendum for the district's newly established virtual program was approved, and the program currently has six students enrolled. District administrators noted they are actively reaching out to local students who recently left for other virtual schools, as well as fifth-year seniors, to bring them back into the district. The district is working closely with the state to formalize enrollment processes, including ensuring strict compliance with virtual school count day funding requirements.

District adds academic evaluator to combat psychologist shortage

EMPORIA, Kan. — To address an ongoing, statewide shortage of licensed school psychologists, a new academic evaluator position was approved within the Flint Hills Special Education Cooperative. The new role, which absorbs an existing instructional coach position rather than adding a new hire, will handle academic evaluations for special education students. By shifting these testing responsibilities to a teacher-level evaluator, the district hopes to alleviate the heavy caseload on its current school psychologists.

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