In addition to voicing approval for a four-day week survey and preparing for open enrollment policy/daycare grant application decisions next month, two reports located elsewhere in this issue, the Prairie View Unified School District 362 board of education acted on personnel moves at its monthly Oct. 17 meeting.
Following four executive sessions, each five minutes in length, the board approved the retirement of Dennis Bolton, high school science teacher, at the end of the school year, the resignation of Deanna Darling for food service/cook, and the transfer of Orval Godfrey to maintenance.
Hirings include Bolton as assistant high school girls’ basketball coach, Doug Nelson as high school head boys’ basketball coach, Brittany Newman as assistant middle school girls’ basketball coach, Kim Huebert and Rhonda Post as part-time bus drivers, Jeff Russell as co-Performing Arts Center coordinator, Kimberly Leese and James Sweat as food service/cooks, Jacoby Johnson as co-senior class sponsor, and Jennifer Andersen as a temporary part-time custodian at Parker Elementary.
A 6-0 board action will enter the district into an agreement with Shred-it, Lenexa, a document handling/shredding and information security firm. Chris Johnson, Ph.D., district superintendent, said the monthly pickup fee is $80, with a $15 monthly rental for a central administrative office “biggest” container and separate $7.50 monthly rental for containers at both the high and middle schools.
Johnson said the central office has “boxes and boxes” of documents “with information that can’t be seen.” She said the pickup would also occur during summer months--”it’s typically the busiest shredding season.” She said the district is allowed to opt out on pickup in any month not needed.
Also on a 6-0 vote, the board adopted policy updates as submitted through the Kansas Association of School Boards and reviewed by the board’s policy committee of Brian Lueker and Brian Uphoff.
Johnson said all policies were required to be passed “due to state law and regulations” except for an optional one concerning guidance in administering emergency opioid antagonists, such as naloxone or Narcan. USD 362 already has a Narcan policy in place.
In answer to Lueker, who said its adoption is a good choice, Johnson said staff are trained on its use at the beginning of the school year on using in an emergency the “nose spray that can’t hurt anyone.”
During principals’ reports, Lueker asked about a behavioral specialist’s recent visit to Parker Elementary, the specialist’s high compliments to the staff in working with students who struggle with behaviors, and remembering to attend to basic needs for elementary-age students prior to addressing academic areas of weakness.
Mark Staab, Parker Elementary principal, said the school maintains “plenty of extra clothes” and has showers for emergencies. Johnson added that washers and dryers are also available.
In other business before the board:
--After a six-minute executive session for student confidentiality, the board approved early-graduation status for Avery Paulsen and Zebulon Wobker and approved the transfer of two secondary-level students from Pleasanton USD 344 and of a third-grader from Heidelberg, Germany.
--The board approved the appointment of Todd Wollard, human resources/food service coordinator, as the district’s account representative with the Kansas State Department of Education for child nutrition/wellness related to food services.
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
- 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
- LINN VALLEY CITY COUNCIL - Monday, August 14, 2023
NEWS
Commissioners discuss effects of city disbandment of fire department

During the Public Works report at the May 5 meeting Linn County Commissioners heard a brief report on mutual aid agreements for the Linn County Rural Fire Department and what effect the possible disbandment of the Pleasanton Fire Department will have on the county. District... [More]
Blue Mound discusses financing options for water tower project

Members of the Blue Mound City Council heard from Tom Fingers of Midwest Assistance Program and Joey McLiney from McLiney and Company concerning options for financing the water tower on Monday, May 5, for their regular monthly meeting. The city has received a grant... [More]
La Cygne leaders contemplate sales tax adjustment

After bond defeasance, election would be required to alter stated fund focus By all appearances, La Cygne voters may not be far away from seeing a ballot proposal to alter the stated focus for one of its two 1-cent city sales taxes. Information at the two regular... [More]
More News
- Fire department public hearing nets crowd
- County counselor issues statement on Tanglewood roads
- Linn Valley City Council ends discussion with SEKMHC on building
- SPECIAL: Legislative Update
- 16 criminal cases from Tanglewood Lake incident dismissed
- Tanglewood seeks clarification, aid from county
- Commission workshop hears of justification for SEKMHC CEO $600,000 salary
- La Cygne police get automatic plate readers
SPORTS
Prairie View track has a great day as they host home invitational

The Prairie View track team hosted their home invitational on May 1. The Buffalos did very well as the girls won the meet with a score of 142 and the boys placed second with a score of 92. Central Heights won the meet for the boys with a score of 103. Once again, the Buffalos... [More]
Jayhawk track places top three at Prairie View

The Jayhawk Linn track team traveled to Prairie View on May 1 to compete in the Prairie View Invitational. The Hawks did well at the event as the girls placed second overall with 124 points while the boys placed third overall with 89 points. Here are the individual... [More]
More Sports
- Jayhawk hosts home track invitational
- Prairie View track competes at Jayhawk Invitational
- Pleasanton baseball sweeps St. Paul and falls to Uniontown
- Jayhawk track wins the Pleasanton Invitational
- Pleasanton track places in top three at home invitational
- Prairie View track has multiple gold winners at Anderson County, top athletes compete at KU Relays
- Jayhawk baseball earns first victories of the season
- Pleasanton boys’ and girls’ track teams win Oswego Invitational