Centre superintendent wants to focus on education big picture

Beeson says office help would give more time for initiatives

By ROWENA PLETT

Staff writer

After attending a regional meeting of Kansas Association of School Boards last week, Centre superintendent Susan Beeson shared a new vision for education with board members Monday that she said would require more administration to fulfill.

She said the vision requires moving beyond state testing to focusing on individual success. An individual plan of study would be developed for every student entering ninth grade, and their progress would be tracked through graduation and post-secondary education to ensure success.

Beeson said she spends a lot of time answering emails and communicating with students and staff and does not have enough time to focus on the big things.

“We are a great school district,” she said. “We are not a big district, but we need additional administration in order to do these things.”

She spoke passionately about the need for the board to share her vision and to cultivate a positive school image by communicating with parents and community members in an upbeat way.

Official enrollment on Sept. 20 was 191 students in kindergarten through 12th grade. There are 16 preschoolers who receive no state aid.

Beeson noted that with 22 students graduating this year and fewer than that entering school for the first time next fall, enrollment might continue to decline. The virtual program helps to make up for that, Beeson said, with 99 kindergarten through 12th grade students enrolled in Kansas Online Learning. Approximately 250 adults are enrolled online but completion results will not be known until the end of the school year.

After a presentation by athletic director Sheldon Patton, the board approved purchase of 30 new football helmets and uniforms for junior high and high school athletes at a cost of $16,100.

Mark Heiser, Jesse Brunner, and Anita Svoboda were appointed to conduct negotiations with teachers regarding next year’s contracts.

In an attempt to shorten the lengthy spring academic/athletic awards banquet, the board approved a fall sports athletic awards banquet for Nov. 14.