Prairie View Unified School District 362’s board of education finished the approval of school year 2023-24 student handbooks at their May 8 monthly meeting.
After approving the middle school’s at their April meeting, the board approved those for both La Cygne and Parker Elementary attendance centers unanimously and for Prairie View High on a 6-1 vote, with Russell Pope dissenting.
Before the votes, Brian Uphoff, board member, asked about supply list costs, saying he had always kept his below $30. Andrea Richardson, middle school principal, said she would do a discount-store check, and Tiffany Ellett, La Cygne Elementary principal, said their school keeps supplies on hand, noting contributions made by parents, local churches, and the La Cygne public library.
Rex Bollinger, Ed.D., district superintendent, said that employee/staff handbook approval would occur during the board’s regular 7 p.m. monthly meeting June 12.
The board also approved 2023-24 early December graduation for Bradley Barnhart, Jessica Dumcum, Zoe Parker and Tristan Young. Joseph Hornback, Ed.D., high school principal and district curriculum director, said the three steps for their potential early graduation were to meet with school counselor Stephanie Nichols to form a graduation plan, then next meeting with parents before coming before the school board.
For this year’s high school commencement at 2 p.m. Sunday in the high school gymnasium, Bollinger ascertained the attendance of board members Richard Gravelle, Brian Lueker, Pope and Uphoff.
On another action, following a seven-minute executive session for student confidentiality, the board approved the in-district transfer of two elementary-level students from Parker to La Cygne.
During curriculum and instruction reports, Wade Teagarden, board president, asked about this month’s FastBridge national normed testing. Beth Sandness, student services director, said a single reading and mathematics test is being given and said preliminary results are “showing good growth in reading.”
She reported a change by the State Board of Education in their dyslexic screening guidelines are that a high school student who scores at or above the benchmark in FastBridge reading is exempt from that test the remainder of their high school years.
“High school teachers are thrilled,” Sandness said.
During Sandness’ report, Uphoff asked about her report’s chronic absentee numbers this year of 42 at the high school, 14 at the middle school, 21 at La Cygne Elementary, and 10 at Parker Elementary.
Sandness said some have received letters “letting them know we’re watching attendance, especially if they’re out of district.”
Others are the result of “major health concerns,” she said. “We know them.”
During curriculum report, Brad Heide, board member, asked Hornback about the district’s current eight-member curriculum council membership. Hornback anticipates the membership for next school year “will stay somewhat stationary.”
During principals’ reports, Pope asked if a document of cost quotes presented by Mark Hough, secondary level activities director and assistant high school principal, was to be acted on at the meeting.
Bollinger said the quotes are for now just for information “to give you an idea of what things are going to cost.”
During consent agenda/financial statements, Pope asked if a surplus list from the district’s bus barn storage “warehouse” is the result of a “natural purge.”
Bollinger said the storage “shed is getting full,” and the surplus approval would allow for some items to be sent to auction, some to be sent to recycling, and some to be discarded as landfill trash.
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
NOTICE:

The Linn County News and Linn County Printing offices will be closed on Friday, July 4, in honor of the holiday.
Pleasanton awarded $617,000 KDOT street grant

The city of Pleasanton was notified June 24 that they were the recipients of a much-needed street grant in the amount of $617,000. City Administrator Becky Hegwald said, “I was surprised when we got it; you normally have to apply several times. I didn’t have a lot... [More]
Commissioners discuss development zoning appeals

Linn County Planning and Zoning Director Ben Souza deferred to Interim Public Works Administrator Jesse Walton during the June 30 meeting of the Linn County Commissioners in regards to a request from Jan Longenecker for an appeal on a building permit. During the meeting, Walton... [More]
More News
- 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
- Parker mayor seeks affidavits to file charges
- USD 346 board learns of overpayments
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