Takeaways from Pittsburg USD 250 Education Board Meeting
Week of June 2, 2026
Pittsburg Board of Education approves bus route reductions in split vote
Digital check-in system piloted for school buses
Cellphone ban policy receives first reading
Proposed social media policy restricts staff-student messaging
Nicotine pouches banned under updated student handbooks
District to launch in-house virtual school
Teen Mental Health First Aid coming to Pittsburg High School
Pittsburg Board of Education approves nearly $400,000 for Pittsburg High School roof replacement
Budget pressures loom ahead of teacher negotiations
Pittsburg Board of Education approves bus route reductions in split vote
PITTSBURG, Kan. — The Pittsburg Board of Education voted 4-1 at its May 11 meeting to expand the walking distance requirement for Pittsburg Community Middle School and Pittsburg High School students to 2 miles, effectively eliminating three to four bus routes for the upcoming school year. The board, led by President Rusty Akins, also established a 1-mile walking boundary for prekindergarten students to align with the current elementary school requirements. USD 250 Superintendent Richard Proffitt cited a severe and ongoing bus driver shortage as the catalyst for the changes. The lone dissenting vote stemmed from concerns that the lack of transportation could prevent vulnerable prekindergarten students from attending a district early childhood program.
Digital check-in system piloted for school buses
PITTSBURG, Kan. — In an effort to prevent unauthorized passengers from utilizing district transportation, the USD 250 transportation department is piloting a new digital check-in system for bus riders, as discussed at the May 11 meeting. The trial program, launching on Bus 33, requires students to scan a QR code or enter their student ID number on an iPad when boarding and exiting the bus. If successful, the system will be expanded to ensure only eligible students ride the bus as routing and mileage changes take effect next year.
Cellphone ban policy receives first reading
PITTSBURG, Kan. — A new districtwide cellphone ban received its first reading on May 11, bringing the district into compliance with new Kansas state statutes. The proposed policy will require Pittsburg Community Middle School students to store their phones in their lockers and Pittsburg High School students to keep them tucked away in backpacks throughout the school day. USD 250 administrators noted that enforcement will fall heavily on teachers and acknowledged the difficulty of preventing students from turning in "burner" phones to bypass the rules.
Proposed social media policy restricts staff-student messaging
PITTSBURG, Kan. — USD 250 staff members would be prohibited from communicating with students on non-district social media platforms under a proposed policy update presented May 11. The Pittsburg Board of Education reviewed a first reading of the social media guidelines, which aim to protect both students and teachers by keeping communications on officially monitored and archived channels. The district is currently transitioning to the ParentSquare platform to replace outside messaging applications like Remind.
Nicotine pouches banned under updated student handbooks
PITTSBURG, Kan. — Nicotine pouches are now explicitly banned alongside smokeless tobacco products following the board's unanimous approval of the 2026–27 building handbooks on May 11. USD 250 administrators added the language to the Pittsburg High School handbook to address the growing difficulty teachers face in distinguishing between nicotine and non-nicotine pouches in the classroom. Officials noted that the handbooks may undergo further amendments this summer as the district finalizes its discipline matrix for the new cellphone policy.
District to launch in-house virtual school
PITTSBURG, Kan. — The Pittsburg Board of Education unanimously approved a $125,000 contract with Edmentum at its May 11 meeting to facilitate a new in-district virtual school for students in grades 6 through 12. The program allows the district to retain half of the $5,000 flat per-pupil state funding for virtual students, with the other $2,500 covering the Edmentum platform seat, implying an expected initial enrollment of 50 students. An additional $32,652 was approved to continue utilizing Edmentum's Courseware for the PASS Academy alternative school.
Teen Mental Health First Aid coming to Pittsburg High School
PITTSBURG, Kan. — Pittsburg High School students will soon receive training on how to identify and assist peers experiencing a mental health crisis. At the May 11 meeting, representatives from the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas presented the Teen Mental Health First Aid program, a grant-funded initiative that teaches students how to recognize warning signs and connect friends with trusted adults. The six-week training will be integrated into high school health classes at no cost to the district, with adult training sessions planned for staff and parents later this summer.
Pittsburg Board of Education approves nearly $400,000 for Pittsburg High School roof replacement
PITTSBURG, Kan. — Nearly $400,000 was allocated for roofing and plumbing repairs at Pittsburg High School and George Nettels Elementary at the May 11 meeting. The Pittsburg Board of Education accepted a $379,150 bid from a roofing contractor to replace the roof over the high school's commons and culinary areas, as well as repair an edge cap at George Nettels. Satterlee Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning was also identified as the proposed contractor for an estimated $19,950 to install overflow drains and temporarily relocate a high-pressure natural gas line during the roof replacement.
Budget pressures loom ahead of teacher negotiations
PITTSBURG, Kan. — USD 250 administrators are bracing for budget impacts following a statewide shortfall in Medicaid reimbursements, which will increase special education assessments owed to SEK Interlocal #637. Furthermore, Superintendent Richard Proffitt warned the Pittsburg Board of Education on May 11 that employee health insurance premiums are currently projected to jump by 9.6 percent next year. The financial pressures were highlighted as the district prepares to enter formal contract negotiations with the Pittsburg Education Association.
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