A team of Chase County school district patrons has planned listening tours of current school buildings in the district, with a goal of getting input from students, parents and patrons about the best and most economical ways to meet district needs now and in the future.
The USD 284 District Facilities Advisory Team was organized to review and assess current district buildings in preparation for creating a facilities improvement plan, which it then will recommend to the board of education.
The listening tours resulted from the team’s conclusion that the best way to let parents and patrons know about facilities would be “first-hand and up-close-and-personal” tours and conversations.
The first tour will be on Sunday, following an afternoon vocal music concert at Chase County High School.
Team members will be guides for the tours, which will be from 3:30 to 5 p.m., beginning at the team table in the Chase County High School commons area.
The second tour will be from 8 to 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, following the Chase County Elementary School Spring Concert. People who want to take part need to meet in the CCES lunch room.
A brochure from the team to Chase County residents cautions that the board of education is “facing some very tough decisions in some very tough economic times regarding all school facilities in Chase County.”
Decisions have not been made yet, but will be in coming months, the brochure said.
“Those recommendations and decisions will impact all students, parents and patrons of our county and the entire county itself now and in years to come,” the team said.
The committee asks for “concerns, ideas and suggestions” from residents as the school board considers what lies ahead for the district.
The district has been plagued with budget problems and staff cutbacks created primarily by an unintended consequence of the school funding formula.
Under the formula, because of the district’s low student population and vast acreage, the Chase County school district is considered a wealthy district and consequently receives minimal state aid.