Project Achieve
USD 417 is one of four area school districts (Junction City, Manhattan, and Wamego) that has partnered with Kansas State University (KSU) to participate in a recently awarded state/federal Math Science Partnership grant program. Our . . . read more
Summer Food Service Program
A second piece of news that I believe is very important for our families involves our community’s involvement this summer in the State/Federal Summer Food Service Program. This will be the first summer that Morris County has been . . . read more
The State’s Search for Sources of Income
Currently two bills, SB 505 and HB 2728, are being worked in the state legislature. The reason that these two bills have been introduced is, simply put; the state does not have enough revenues to account for their approved state . . . read more
Kansas Reading Roadmap Program
It has been several weeks since last I posted a message. Since my last post, there have been items that will impact our students, their education and nutrition, that I want to share with you. The first piece of news involves USD 417 . . . read more
Research on What Student Skills, Behaviors, and Other Characteristics Can Help Predict Student Success
In preparation for my role in a meeting to be held with sophomore parents later this month, I reviewed many documents. One article in particular, “Predictors of Postsecondary Success” from the College and Career Readiness . . . read more
USD 417 Accreditation Newsletter Issue 1
Initial Accreditation Newsletter This is the first in a series of newsletters designed to provide information about the new state accreditation process and what USD 417 has implemented in relation to the new accreditation system. . . . read more
On Saying Thanks to So Many People
As USD 417 has transitioned from five facilities to three, including the establishment of a 7-12 facility, there are some things that I feel compelled to say. While I may repeat myself, unintentionally, it is seldom a bad decision to . . . read more
Administrator Appreciation
In my last letter I took time to thank a significant number of people specific to our move that took place on May 20 & 21. What I did not talk about in that letter was a discussion regarding the leadership that has taken place in . . . read more
Grade 7th-12 Configuration Report
The document below contains the information that the Board of Education will discuss on March 12th @ 6:30pm at the Council Grove High School auditorium. Grade 7th - 12 Configuration Report read more
Let’s Talk About Our New School Year - Part 3
In last week’s articles, Mr. Conwell gave the “big picture” about American education and our long history with trying to improve math performance. In this article, I want to explain some of the details in our . . . read more
Let’s Talk About Our New School Year: Part 2
In the first part of this series, I initiated a discussion regarding conceptual math instruction and the use of metacognitive techniques for the development of thinking skills. As I approached this discussion, please know that I have a . . . read more
Let’s Talk About Our New School Year: Part 1
The new school year is now five weeks into the school year and things have started well for our schools. From the student activity perspective of our year, there are many positives. The boy’s cross-country team has a large . . . read more
Information for the September 29, 2014 BOE Meeting at CGHS 6:30pm
As per BOE request from the last BOE meeting, the following documents address the questions given to me in regards to which PH school to close and what should be the grade configuration at the remaining school. I have also included . . . read more
Answers to Questions Asked at July 28 BOE Meeting - September 8, 2014
(And Answers to Other Questions) September 8, 2014 Why not use all of our school facilities and move students from Council Grove to the Prairie Heights schools to “balance” the revenue/expense ledger? I have . . . read more
A Summary of Work Accomplished On BOE Goal 1
Over the course of the past two weeks, I have heard several rumors regarding the work the USD 417 BOE is doing in relation to Goal 1 of their 2013-14 Board Goals.Let me take a minute to dispel the rumor that the BOE is closing the Prairie . . . read more
February 2014 Superintendent Articles
February 27, 2014 Why Did the BOE Establish Goal 1 Over the course of several months I have written periodically to share information regarding our school district.One article regards the BOE Goals established for this school . . . read more
Information Covering the February 24 BOE Work Session
On Monday night, the USD 417 Board of Education held a second work session dedicated to BOG Goal 1 addressing the issue of resource allocation and meeting our student and facility needs. Before delving into last night’s information, . . . read more
BOE Goal 1 - Let's Look at Enrollment Pojections, 2013-14 Expeditures, and the Capital Outlay Fund
On January 27, the BOE held a work session to discuss additional information regarding our district’s finances.The first item for review was a report on future . . . read more
BOE GOAl 1 - Let's Look at Our Revenues
On January 28, the Council Grove Republican ran a headline article regarding the report that I provided at the USD 417 BOE work session on January 27.This report covered primarily three topics.First was a report from . . . read more
Common Core: Truths, Falsehoods, and Why They are Good for our Children… Tactics and Why Common Standards are Good (Part 4)
Common Core: Truths, Falsehoods, and Why They are Good for our Children… Tactics and Why Common Standards are Good (Part 4) To help you get a feel for what the Common Core (CC) and the proposed assessment system . . . read more
Common Core: Truths, Falsehoods, and Why They are Good for our Children… Tactics and Why Common Standards are Good (Part 3)
Currently in our state, special interest group levels, are implementing misinformation tactics to scare the public about the Common Core (CC). You can hear ads on the radio or television and read stories in local papers expressing . . . read more
Common Core: Truths, Falsehoods, and Why They are Good for our Children... How They Really Began (Part 1)
In order to fully understand how and why Common Core (CC) came about and concerns regarding CC, it is important to understand its origins and the history of federal involvement in public education. A quick disclaimer/spoiler, CC is NOT . . . read more
Common Core: Truths, Falsehoods, and Why They are Good for our Children… Falsehoods (Part2)
If you are current on your news, you know then that there are some people, including several Kansas legislators, who would like our state to back out of the implementation of the Common Core (CC) Standards. Similarly, some people across the . . . read more
Some Random Items to Begin the School Year
Ok, I have to say that I have been a little remiss lately. School started 6 weeks ago and I have yet to pen any message regarding the school year or important issues that you need to know about. So, you will now have a small . . . read more
Some Important Information Regarding this Year's State Assessments
Education in Kansas, and throughout our nation, is currently undergoing significant change. We have talked about many of these changes in prior messages. One of the significant changes . . . read more
A Story of Two Students, Peter and Jill (Part 2)
For Peter, now in college, being on academic probation was disappointing but it really did nothing to change his work ethic. Habits developed over the majority of his young life were hard to change. Having to retake College . . . read more
A Story of Two Students, Peter and Jill (Part 1)
It has been a couple of weeks since I last wrote. At that time I talked about the high cost to our children for not having a post-secondary education of some sort. Of the students I have known in my 30+ years in education, . . . read more
