Administrators and school board members say they’d like to see the original portion of the Washington Education Center razed but they weren’t pleased to learn it will cost more than $1 million. At Monday’s USD 428 Board of Education meeting, Assistant Superintendent John Popp provided the latest information.
“We don’t need the space that is the oldest part of the Washington building,” Popp said. Working with architects McCown Gordon, he got an estimate on the cost to tear it down: $853,000. However, the district still uses the 1980 addition to the building, as well as a smaller addition on the southwest side that houses the Parent-Teacher Resource Center (PRTC). To tear the old building down, shore it up for the remaining structures and add a bathroom to the PRTC could cost $1,047,145.
Washington School was built in 1920. The 1980 addition included a gym that is still used. Popp wasn’t sure when the PTRC portion was added but said it is perfect for its present use. However, it does not have restrooms; people use facilities in the older portion. The rest of the building now houses the RISE program and Therapeutic Learning Classroom (TLC) that uses two classrooms and the former cafeteria.
A new building costs $400 per square foot and renovation runs $150 to $250 per square foot.
The board has asked to tour the building, which will be the next step. Popp concluded, “We’re not in a big hurry to get anything done, but we definitely want your input.”
“I would like to see it gone,” board member Sara Williams said. However, “a million seems like a lot of money to get rid of something.”
Popp also noted the building does not present a safety hazard at this time.
Buses, mower and more
Transportation and Grounds Director Cody Schmidt was on Monday’s agenda multiple times, prompting board members to joke that they only see him when he’s asking for money. His requests were approved.
• A 72-inch Hustler Super-Z mid-mount mower was ordered to replace a 2016 grounds mower. There were two quotes and the board approved Schmidt’s recommendation for a mower from Pro-Green Total Lawn Care in Great Bend for $13,000. This was preferred to a slightly different model by Grasshopper for $12,762.65.
• Two buses were purchased for special education for $299,130 from Kansas Truck & Equipment, Wichita. These replace two aging models. The old buses could be rotated into the fleet as backup vehicles or sold. Unlike previous buses, these will use unleaded gas instead of diesel. USD 428’s portion of the buses is 20%, or roughly $60,000, due to State support for special education buses.
• The curb and gutter at Eisenhower Elementary School will be repaired. Schmidt said the original concrete had a “unique pour” that will make the project more challenging. Therefore, unknown conditions may affect the final price. “This project has been in our eyes for two years,” Schmidt said, showing photos of the deteriorated curbs. The board approved Eakin Enterprises, Larned, to do the work for $34,216. There are 273 feet of curb and gutter on the east side and 76 feet on the west side.
The board also approved $19,350 to install JJ Kinetex Textile carpet squares to cover the tile floors in the GBHS and GBMS band rooms. Superintendent Khris Thexton noted, “The acoustics are not great,” and the tile floors contribute to that.” He asked McCown Gordon how to fix the sound issues and this was one suggestion. The plan is to do the installation over the summer.
Band director appointed
Great Bend USD 428 has filled the vacancy for a band director at Great Bend High School but is still looking for an orchestra director. Personnel changes were approved at Monday’s board meeting.
April is the month when many licensed teachers and staff who plan to leave at the end of their annual contracts submit their resignations. It’s also time for school districts to fill the vacancies ahead of the fall semester. At Monday’s Great Bend USD 428 Board of Education meeting, resignations were approved for:
• Christine McLain, counselor at Great Bend Middle School;
• Dan Heath, teacher of Video Production at Great Bend High School; and
• Leah Yancy, technology specialist at Riley Elementary School.
New appointments were approved for:
• Ellie White, band director at GBHS;
• Grace Hoskins, teacher of Grade 1 at Lincoln Elementary School;
• Jordan Ewing, teacher of Grade 3 at Eisenhower Elementary School; and
• Anna Popp, teacher of Art at GBHS.
Five more licensed appointments were approved for people who were already working in the district and advanced from instructional support to fully licensed teachers. They are:
• Jesus Sanchez, teacher of Math at GBHS;
• Luke Maneth, teacher of Science at GBHS;
• Stephen Keasling, teacher of Special Education at Eisenhower Elementary;
• Liz Bowman, teacher of Special Education at Jefferson Elementary School; and
• Tabatha Holuska, teacher of kindergarten at Park Elementary School.
Memorials to Rose Kelly will feed students
When longtime Great Bend educator Rose Kelly passed away earlier this year, memorial donations were designated to St. John’s Episcopal Church or USD 428 to ensure school lunches for children. At Monday’s school board meeting, Superintendent Khris Thexton said Food Services received multiple donor contributions totaling $2,255 from the Mrs. Rose Kelly Memorials designated for student meals.
Kelly, who lived to be 90 years old, was a dedicated teacher for 57 years. She spent the majority of those years teaching at Roosevelt Junior High School. After a brief retirement, she became a long-term substitute for the school district.
The donations, along with other contributions and grant applications, were approved Monday.
• Sunflower Electric contributed $250 to sponsor the GBHS VTC Electric Car program.
• Lincoln Elementary received two contributions from the Lincoln PTO: $139.59 for end-of-school meals for 6th-grade students and $300 to purchase yearbooks for 6th-grade students.
• Lincoln Elementary receive a $500 contribution from Equity Bank for the Lincoln Elementary Grill and Chill event.
• USD 428 Director of Food Service Kristy Alvord will apply for a USDA Fresh Fruits and Vegetable grant for all five elementary schools for the 2025-2026 school year. This grant provides healthier snack choices in schools and introduces a variety of produce that students may not otherwise have the opportunity to sample.
