Great Bend USD 428 is looking into updating its telephone system. Moving into the new Support Services facility prompted Assistant Superintendent John Popp to start looking at the entire system. At last Monday’s school board meeting, he introduced the board to a preliminary proposal to replace the district telephone service with a “cloud-based” Internet Protocol (IP) system.
The district’s existing system is out of date, he said. Nex-Tech Business Solutions has provided a proposal to implement a system and provide installing, customizing of hardware, as well as training of USD 428 personnel.
The total monthly price for an eight-year (96 months) term would be $6,607.41, Popp said. While that service agreement includes phone, hardware and equipment, it does not include taxes and mandated charges.
This would more than double to approximately $3,000 a month the district currently pays “but what it would provide is a huge benefit,” Popp said, listing some of the features. For example, in the event of a disaster, employees can forward calls to their home or mobile phone and Nex-Tech’s network (if that plan is chosen) would automatically handle calls and messages during power outages.
The phone upgrade was not on the agenda for action this month. It was an information item and Popp said he has not sought quotes from other vendors at this time.
Accepting nonresident students
A new law passed by the Kansas Legislature means students can now enroll in school districts where they are not residents. Great Bend USD 428 is working on a policy that reflects the change. The district will still have some discretion when it comes to accepting students, Superintendent Khris Thexton said.
Thexton shared a draft of the “Enrollment of Nonresident Students” policy at Monday’s school board meeting. A final draft will be ready for board approval before the end of the year.
According to the policy, students may be automatically denied enrollment if they are “deemed not in good standing.” There are several criteria for that; one is if the nonresident student in question is currently under a period of suspension or expulsion from any other Kansas school district.
The district can also turn students away if there is no room for them.
“After the first of the year, we’ll need to set capacities for our classrooms,” Thexton said. If an elementary student is granted permission to enroll here, the family won’t necessarily get to choose the attendance center.
Great Bend already allows nonresidents to apply for admission. The new policy is required because of the legislation.
Graduation requirements to change
Last Monday’s school board meeting also included a review of Kansas graduation requirements. These are set to change for this year’s eighth graders, the Class of 2028.
Instead of four credits of English Language Arts, the students will be required to have 3.5 ELA credits (such as reading, writing, literature and technical writing), and one-half of a credit in a communications course (such as speech, debate, forensics, journalism or public speaking).
Society and Humanities requirements with include three units of history and government, which shall include world history, U.S. history, and U.S. government, including a unit on the Constitution of the United States, along with one credit of Fine Arts, which may include art, music, dance, theater, forensics and similar students approved by the school.
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineer and Mathematics) requirements are three units of math, including algebra and geometry; three units of science, which shall include physical, biological and earth science concepts with at least one unit as a laboratory course; and one STEM elective, such as computer science, advanced math or science, robotics, advanced technology, advanced Career Technical Education (CTE), etc.
Employability skills: one-half credit of physical education, one-half credit of health, one-half credit of financial literacy and 4.5 units of elective courses driven by Individual Placement and Support (IPS) planning are required.
Contributions approved
In action items Monday, the board approved the following donations:
• Great Bend High School’s Speech and Debate Department received $25 in memory of Dr. Mary Misegadis from Bill and Mary Grant
• The GBHS Zero Reasons Why Club received $175 from Nels and Karen Lindberg
• GBHS received $100 in medical supplies from Xpress Wellness Urgent Care for the nurse office
• GBHS Panther Pantry received $100 from Dawn Szot
• GBHS Athletic Department received $195 from Panther Booster Club raffle proceeds
• Lincoln Elementary’s Parent Teach Organization contributed $100 to Lincoln Elementary School for Family Night incentives.
