The board met for their second meeting under new Superintendent Don Epps. They discussed bills and asked about a $300 charge from Dreamscape Solutions for the football field.
Epps, and Board member Tanner Ogden, said the field is now in much better shape for the upcoming football season. They both chimed in that the grass is now green, the correct height, and the field is safe to play on.
Principal Nathan Meik said he enjoyed his month off and said enrollment went well; the elementary has 188 students enrolled with a potential of three more students. He said pre-school has made a nice impact on enrollment.
To celebrate good math scores last year, Meik said the district is taking students to an Olathe water park to swim Oct. 13.
He mentioned he is excited about new paras Teresa Williams and Addie Mead working for the district.
Meik and the board then discussed class sizes and he said he will sit down with Epps to decide on a method they want to use to determine when a class is split into two classes. He said both pre-school and kindergarten have approximately 10 students each in them.
Epps complimented Meik and High School Principal Sarah Conley for their work bringing in good employees over the summer.
Conley then addressed the board and said they had 168 students enroll from 7th grade to 12th grade.
Epps spoke next and said the district wants to remember teacher Donna Crockett who recently passed away from cancer. He asked that teachers honor Crockett at her funeral Thursday in Butler by attending the service.
He continued that the budget hearing will be held next month.
Epps said STARS faculty is ready for students; and the facility is ready after a remodel. He said 52 students are enrolled, to date.
After going through a plan to determine where all students in the district are and how to reach them, he said he wants to focus on ‘Strategic Thinking’. With that the district will provide a safe environment where people love the kids. See separate story in this edition.
Epps gave three points with the first being how the district treats each other; second, how they take care of the school, and third, “how do we tell our story.”
Truly Insurance quoted insurance for the district at $116,797; see separate story in this edition.
Hiland Milk’s bid was accepted; it was the only bid.
Executive session was held with the following actions taken: the board hired Amanda Goddard as K-12 music instructor, Melinda Gee as bus driver, Becky Grant as SPED driver, Marc Ballinger as head High School Basketball Coach, Christy Cutshaw as Sophomore Class sponsor, Derek Brown as FCA Sponsor, Colleen Sweat as Asst. High School Cheer Coach, Wendy Conley as High School STUCO sponsor, and Ann Johnson as Junior Class sponsor.
They also accepted the resignation of Darick Chapman as Junior Class Sponsor and Cathy Sherman as SPED driver.
MEETINGS
LINN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS - Monday, October 23, 2023

The Linn County Commissioners met in regular session on Monday, Oct. 23, and began their weekly meeting with the approval of the minutes of the last meeting followed by the approval of claims in the amount of $272,818.97. Linn County Rural Fire Chief Randy Hegwald presented... [More]
LA CYGNE CITY COUNCIL - Wednesday, October 18, 2023

Among actions at the regular La Cygne council meeting last Wednesday, Oct. 18, was a split vote in which the city accepts a draft agreement for title search and warranty deed preparation of seven lots at 402 S. Broadway in exchange for absorbing a $16,400 house demolition bill.... [More]
LINN VALLEY CITY COUNCIL - Monday, October 23, 2023

The Linn Valley City Council held its bi-monthly meeting at 7:00 PM on Monday, October 23, 2023, with Mayor Cindy Smith presiding and all council members present. Following approval of the October 9th and October 14th meeting minutes, Mayor Smith opened the floor... [More]
More Meetings
- USD 362 SCHOOL BOARD - Tuesday, October 17, 2023
- LINN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS - Monday, October 2, 2023
- PLEASANTON CITY COUNCIL - Monday, October 2, 2023
- BLUE MOUND CITY COUNCIL - Monday, October 2, 2023
- LINN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS - Monday, August 28, 2023
- LINN VALLEY CITY COUNCIL - Monday, August 28, 2023
- USD 346 SCHOOL BOARD - Monday, August 14, 2023
- LINN VALLEY CITY COUNCIL - Monday, August 14, 2023
NEWS
Pleasanton council votes 2-2 on RNR, budget

The Pleasanton City Council met on Monday, Sept. 15, and began the meeting with a hearing on the revenue neutral rate (RNR) followed by the budget hearing. With no one in the audience coming forward to speak on either, the hearings were opened and closed without incident and... [More]
Mine Creek Battlefield bridge ribbon cutting this weekend

JLHS sophomore Aron Coleman is not new to community projects; this time he’s completed a bridge for his Eagle Scout badge so those using trails at Mine Creek Battlefield can traverse from one side of Mine Creek to the other. The ribbon cutting commemorating the new bridge... [More]
USD 346 to exceed RNR; approves budget

During the revenue neutral hearing and the budget hearing for the district on Sept. 8, the USD 346 Board of Education voted to approve the superintendents’ recommendation to exceed revenue neutral with a proposed mill rate of 54.144. The board then approved the... [More]
More News
- SPECIAL: Mound City resident killed in Allen County crash
- Property taxes and how they work
- Pleasanton Fire Department personnel hiring questioned
- Commission ‘bares’ down to pass public nudity ban
- Paris Township voting location to move to Mound City
- USD 362 passes 2025-26 school budget
- Parker appoints police chief
- SPECIAL: Drainpipe replacement on K-31 in Linn County
SPORTS
Wade and Schneider start impressive girls’ golf season for the Buffalos and Hawks

Both the Prairie View and Jayhawk Linn girls’ golf teams competed at Fort Scott and Pittsburg this past week. The teams traveled to Fort Scott on Sept. 9 to compete in the Fort Scott Invitational and then to Pittsburg on Sept. 11 to compete in the Colgan Invitational. ... [More]
Turnovers and other mistakes see Hawks fall at Anderson County 27-6

The Jayhawk Linn football team hosted Anderson County on Sept. 12 for their first “home” game of the season. Anderson County is class 3A in football compared to Jayhawk’s 1A and is the Pioneer League so the Hawks had their work cut out for them. Jayhawk played... [More]
Prairie View girls’ cross country leads the Buffalos at Fort Scott

The Prairie View girls’ cross-country team traveled to Fort Scott for the Fort Scott Invitational on Sept. 11. The Buffalos performed well at the meet on both the girls’ and boys’ side. The girls in particular performed well as the 7th grade girls got 1st... [More]
More Sports
- Opening drive, opportunities spur 'Jays to 1st win
- Alvarez leads Pleasanton cross country
- Jayhawk football starts season with shutout over Central Heights
- Spradling era kicks off with oohhs and 'Oz'
- Frog gigging a new ‘old sport’
- Fishing Derby kicks off at Linn County Fair
- Linn County Farm Bureau hosts annual pedal pull
- From the Bleachers – 717