In addition to setting open enrollment capacities and acting on textbooks and food prices, two reports located elsewhere in this issue, the Prairie View Unified School District 362 board of education approved an amended fiscal year 2022-23 budget at their monthly meeting June 12.
Approved on a 6-0 vote with Russell Pope not present, the amended budget as proposed by Rex Bollinger, Ed.D., district superintendent, includes specific budget authority for $854,475 of federal funds and an increase of $200,000 to nearly $3.12 million for special education spending authority.
Bollinger said the federal fund line item had inadvertently been left blank on the budget’s publication and subsequent approval last summer. He said the Kansas Department of Education had said he “didn’t necessarily need to republish because of federal funding,” but he told the board he was fulfilling his own promise to them.
No district patrons attended the 10-minute amended budget hearing that preceded the regular meeting.
On a recommendation to consider a secondary-level assistant principal position as brought to the board by Bollinger from Chris Johnson, Ph.D., who assumes the district’s superintendency July 1, the board opted to wait.
Saying money was available, Bollinger alluded to Gov. Laura Kelly’s school-funding line-item veto of a plan to alter how student head count for funding is computed at rural districts losing student population. He spoke for Johnson, who was in attendance at last week’s meeting, to say that having one assistant principal to serve both the middle and high schools to handle more of the discipline would allow the head principals “to be more in the classrooms for instructional leadership and a presence to help with discipline.”
Brad Heide, board member, said the “premise is a good idea. There’s a lot that position could help with, but I’m not for it at this minute.” He asked Johnson for detailed preparation, including the position’s responsibilities, but said he would “definitely entertain it” next year--”I don’t want to hire just to hire.”
Wade Teagarden, board president, said he could “go for” that; however, he expressed reservations about any “future funding guarantee.”
In other business before the board:
--After Teagarden had excused himself, the board voted 5-0 to approve a $272,822 annual property insurance renewal premium through EMC to Truly Insurance, La Cygne. Bollinger noted the 12 percent increase--”it’s going up like everything else.”
--During consent agenda financial statements, the board noted donations received by Ginny Scott, district nurse, of $250 and $40 respectively from Jaccard Chiropractic, La Cygne, and Chris Barnett for health office supplies, and a $58 donation for discretionary use to Parker Elementary from the Beagle Methodist Church.
--Following four executive sessions totaling 33 minutes for student confidentiality, the board approved the out-of-district transfer of an elementary-level student from both Osawatomie USD 367 and Pleasanton USD 344 and the in-district transfer of another from Parker to La Cygne.
--During her report, Beth Sandness, student services director, expressed being “super excited” that no Parker Elementary fourth grader had scored at the lowest Level I in math in year-end testing. As well, Brian Lueker, board member, noted the positive results from the Buffalo Attendance Matters incentive program in which chronic absenteeism this year decreased in the district from 19.3 to 17.04 percent--”that’s really amazing.”
--The board approved as presented the district employee handbook for 2023-24, is expected to appoint a committee during reorganization at next month’s 7 p.m. July 10 meeting to review current Kansas Association of School Boards policy recommendations, and took no action after a 10-minute executive session for negotiations.
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 344 SCHOOL BOARD - Monday, August 14, 2023
- USD 346 SCHOOL BOARD - Monday, August 14, 2023
NEWS
special: SCOTUS agrees to hear Women's Sports Case

Case paves the way for states to continue to protect women and girl's athletic opportunities Topeka, Kan. July 3, 2025 - Today, the Supreme Court of the United States granted certiorari in Hecox v. Little and West Va., v. BPJ. Rep.... [More]
SPECIA;: Schmidt Votes to Cancel Massive Tax Hike, Secure Border, and Lower Federal Spending

WASHINGTON, DC: Congressman Derek Schmidt (KS-02) issued the following statement regarding passage of the budget reconciliation bill by the U.S. House of Representatives, also called the “One Big Beautiful Bill”: “Last November,... [More]
NOTICE:

The Linn County News and Linn County Printing offices will be closed on Friday, July 4, in honor of the holiday.
More News
- Pleasanton awarded $617,000 KDOT street grant
- Commissioners discuss development zoning appeals
- Questions on employee emails leads to lengthy discussion
- NOTICE:
- Tanglewood Lakes files suit against Board of County Commissioners
- Case filed alleging exploitation of minors, breach of privacy
- La Cygne executes pool bond defeasance
- CANCELED: Statewide Purple Alert issued for missing Yates Center woman
SPORTS
Gratton at Nationals

Pleasanton’s Ashton Gratton qualifies for the Adidas Nationals in Greensboro, North Carolina after winning the 100 and 200 meter dashes in the KSHSAA 2A State tournament in Wichita on May 31. The Adidas Nationals took place from June 20-22 and Gratton did well in both the... [More]
Summer Ball Tournaments

The Parker 8-11 baseball team 1 places first in their league tournament at La Cygne on June 28. See more photos on page B1 of this week's edition.
More Sports
- Pleasanton/Jayhawk trapshooting team places seventh at State, Wallace earns State championship
- Joey Ewalt impacting youth wrestling here and abroad
- Prairie View trapshooting competes at State
- Pleasanton and Jayhawk baseball on the 2025 All TRL team
- Jayhawk Linn softball has three All TRL unanimous selections
- Trenton Broyles leads Hawks at State track
- Prairie View track earns six medals at State
- Pleasanton’s Gratton wins two golds, sets meet record