YODER, Kan. — Haven USD 312 Superintendent Craig Idacavage provided Hutch Post with a copy of a letter he is sending to USD 312 patrons regarding the future of the district's buildings and more specifically, Yoder Charter School. The letter states that statistics were given to the school board at their February 20 meeting regarding YCS and Haven Grade School.
A public hearing on the topic was held on Monday, March 6, 2023. During this hearing, the public was given an opportunity to speak to the Board regarding their position on how the district uses resources. The Board was also presented with the options below as possibilities moving forward.
Option A-Yoder Charter School stays as a K-8 building
-Continue to try to increase enrollment
-Could see if it will increase over time
-Could create district attendance centers and have students west of Kent Rd. attend YCS.
-This would require the charter to be dropped.
-Would all 76 students be required to immediately enroll at YCS or grandfather in beginning with Kdg/new students?
Option B-Close YCS-Repurpose Building: Non-Academic
-Haven Grade School would be USD 312’s only elementary attendance center
-Would give the district 5 FTE (teachers) to use differently
Possible Options:
Elementary STEM Teacher
Elementary Ag. Teacher
PreK Teacher
Interventionists
Adding Staff to Middle School
-What would the district do with the building?
Sell it
Storage
Multi-purpose Space-activities/sports
Option C-Close YCS-Repurpose Building: Academically
C1-Early Ed Center
-PreK-3 and PreK-4 Classrooms (40 slots each - 20 AM/20 PM) (80 total PreK Slots)
-Extended Day Care for PreK3/PreK4 (40 Slots - 20 AM/ 20 PM)
This would be an option for the other half of the day that the student isn’t in PreK. Will be a charge to families for this option.
-Daycare
Infant Room (0-12 months) (6 Slots)
Toddler Room (1-2 years) (10 slot)
Will be a charge to families for these options
Salaries of Daycare employees-$214,992
Total income from fees (if all slots are filled)-$244,640
-SPED
RCEC is looking for space for an Early Education Special Education Classroom. USD 312 currently buses 7 students in that program to locations in Hutchinson.
-Current PreK Building
Could be used as a classroom for STEM and Ag. specials
Multipurpose Space
Would give the district 5 FTE (teachers) to use differently
C2-Yoder 5th / 6th Grade Center
Buildings Makeup:
-HGS
PreK3, PreK4, & Extended Day PreK
3 Sections of each grade K-4
-Yoder
3 Sections of each grade 5-6
-Current PreK Building
Daycare Options (See C-1)
Would give the district 5 FTE (teachers) to use differently
C3-YCS to PreK-6 Building -All 7th & 8th Graders at HMS
Buildings Makeup:
-YCS
PreK3, PreK4 & Possibly Extended Day
Kdg, 1st/2nd, 3rd/4th, & 5th/6th combined classrooms
-HGS
3 Sections of each grade K-6
-Current PreK Building
-Daycare Options (See Option C-1)
Other Staff Needed
Current staffing would be needed
We will have 1 full time teacher to use around the district/fill openings
Option D-Keep YCS as K-8 and look to build space for other district needs
-Add possible PreK/Childcare space to one of our current buildings
Funding-??
Capital Outlay
Increase Capital Mil Levy (Cap is 8)
Using carry over/contingency
Bond-??
The next regularly scheduled Board meeting is Monday, March 20, 2023.
The Board will discuss these options along with any other possible options and possibly take action as soon as March 20.
"None of the options shared will be 100% approved by all affected and interested parties," Superintendent Craig Idacavage said. "The goal of the Board and of the administration is to be as transparent as possible, and maintain being solutions-focused, guided by stakeholder input."
Idacavage has asked that the public contact him or their area's school board member for more information. Their contact information is available at the district's website.
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