Takeaways from McPherson USD 418 School Board Meeting
Week of October 13, 2026
Board approves bus driver pay increase amid shortage
District considers easing education requirements for bus drivers
Bond construction projects enter final design and bidding phases
High school tennis court repairs approved before winter
District evaluates placements for Head Start and early education programs
Raptor visitor screening system tabled following board debate
Washington Elementary celebrates sweeping academic achievements
Special work session scheduled to review academic accountability
Board approves bus driver pay increase amid shortage
MCPHERSON, Kan. - The McPherson USD 418 Board of Education approved a $2 per hour pay increase for all district bus drivers in a 6-1 vote to combat a critical driver shortage. The increase raises the starting wage for drivers with a commercial driver's license from $14 to $16 an hour. Superintendent Cody Rierson noted that the district is currently one driver away from having to contract out its transportation services, which would double current costs.
District considers easing education requirements for bus drivers
MCPHERSON, Kan. - In an additional effort to address the district's bus driver shortage, Superintendent Cody Rierson announced plans to present a policy change in November that would remove the high school diploma or General Educational Development requirement for bus driver applicants. Rierson reported that the district recently had to turn away two otherwise highly qualified candidates who had extensive experience working with children solely because they lacked a high school diploma. If approved next month, the board will officially strike the education requirement from the job description to widen the applicant pool.
Bond construction projects enter final design and bidding phases
MCPHERSON, Kan. - District staff provided an update on the ongoing bond projects, announcing that the high school and middle school renovations are heavily involved in the construction documents phase. The Career and Technical Education building project was released to a contractor for bidding last week, with groundbreaking expected before winter. The administration also noted that preliminary planning is underway for updates to Lincoln Elementary, Roosevelt Elementary and Washington Elementary. Meanwhile, the district is preparing to completely vacate Eisenhower Elementary by late summer as part of the transition plan.
High school tennis court repairs approved before winter
MCPHERSON, Kan. - The board unanimously approved nearly $20,000 from the district's capital outlay fund to repair the high school tennis courts. The sealant between the courts' cracks has deteriorated, allowing water to pool. Maintenance Manager Bryan Chesbro and staff recommended completing the repairs in the coming weeks before freezing temperatures cause the asphalt to break apart and result in costlier damage. Following the approval, the district's capital fund balance remains healthy at approximately $1.91 million.
District evaluates placements for Head Start and early education programs
MCPHERSON, Kan. - As part of the district's ongoing "right-sizing" and facilities management plan, administrators are evaluating long-term locations for programs like McPherson County Head Start and T3. Superintendent Cody Rierson emphasized the need to find permanent, sustainable homes for these programs so they do not have to move repeatedly over the next decade. The district is assessing the capacity of buildings like Lincoln Elementary, which currently houses 352 students, to determine the most efficient and least disruptive distribution of staff, students and specialized programs across the district.
Raptor visitor screening system tabled following board debate
MCPHERSON, Kan. - A proposal to implement the Raptor visitor management system across the district for approximately $5,000 annually was tabled after substantial debate. While Superintendent Cody Rierson presented the system as a way to screen volunteers and visitors against background checks, board members raised concerns about unintended consequences. During the discussion, questions were raised regarding whether requiring state-issued IDs to enter the building would deter family engagement, particularly for at-risk families, parents without current identification or custodial parents attending required meetings. The board opted to delay the vote, directing the administration to gather more research and establish clear procedural protocols before revisiting the proposal.
Washington Elementary celebrates sweeping academic achievements
MCPHERSON, Kan. - Washington Elementary staff and student ambassadors presented a highlight of their recent academic and cultural successes. The school was recognized with a Capturing Kids' Hearts National Showcase School designation for the seventh consecutive year, received a 2024 Challenge Award from the Confidence in Kansas Public Education Task Force recognizing outstanding achievement, and ranked as one of the best elementary schools in Kansas by U.S. News & World Report. Notably, Principal Jill Beam and building administrators reported that Washington Elementary students demonstrated strong performance on state assessments, exceeding district and state averages in multiple areas during the last academic year.
Special work session scheduled to review academic accountability
MCPHERSON, Kan. - The Board of Education scheduled a special work session for Oct. 26 to review comprehensive student assessment data. The board will meet with district staff to analyze results from state assessments, i-Ready and FastBridge benchmarking. The session aims to give board members a deep dive into the district's academic accountability before entering the spring testing season. Following the data session, the district will host its first town hall meeting regarding the new bond projects at the high school auditorium on Oct. 27.
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