Good morning.    Listed below are some of the rumors and/or requests for clarification that we have received since Edition #1 of the Rumor Control series.    As always, we cannot communicate too much or be too accurate and open about these critical matters.    Please let me know if you have anything else you need clarified and/or given accurate information on.   Thanks.   Greg M.

1.   School Consolidation.    Contrary to what is being said, the state did NOT make any consolidation decisions this week.    The Legislature did receive two consolidation “options” (not recommendations) from the legislative audit team that provides budget options for Legislative consideration.   Much like the USD 284 FY11 Budget Score Card provides the USD 284 Board with budget “menu” items to choose from when making local FY11 Budget decisions, these FY11 Budget consolidation options have now been given to the Legislature as they make state FY11 Budget decisions.    The Legislature could choose to ignore these consolidation options when make state budget decisions, implement scenario-A, implement scenario-B or go somewhere in between.   The only thing certain in this matter is that the Legislature faces a huge budget deficit and will have to do something significant to address that shortfall before July 1, 2010.  As you know, USD 284 was not on either of the consolidation “scenarios” presented to the Legislature but that is absolutely no guarantee that we won’t be in the final analysis.   The Legislature is going to do what it thinks is best to balance the state budget shortfall just like your BOE is doing to address our local budget losses.   Neither governing bodies asked for this financial crisis but they both have no choice but to respond to the reality of the situation.

2.  7-8 Sports Practice.    Mr. Ireland has been asked to explore the “possibility” of having MS sports practices during the extended school day that will be considered for BOE approval on 2/15/10.    That may OR not be possible and will be part of John’s 7-12 class schedule and assignment recommendation to the BOE on 3/8/10.     Shareholder input on this option is always appreciated.  This decision will be predicated on doing what is best for the education of all the students in the 7-12 Building and using the BOE-approved 18.0 FTE teacher allocation to staff that building in 2010-11.   You are not being given accurate information if you are being told otherwise.  

3.  Grade 7-8 Sports Contests in 2010-11.   Contrary to speculation NO decisions of any type have been made at this time regarding where the 7-8 students in the 7-12 Building will play their indoors contests next year.   That factor will obviously be contingent on John’s 7-12 class schedules and assignment recommendation to the BOE on 3/8/10.   Ideas and possibilities are being shared and considered at this time but zero decisions have been made.      Now is probably a good time to share your ideas, concerns and input on this topic with John and his team.  

4.  League Affiliation IF Consolidation is Approve.    Again lots of speculation out there right now about what would happen to our Flint Hills League and activities scheduling if consolidation was to become reality.   The only thing certain at this time is that there would be REALLY big changes to all school districts if that were to happen.   Chase County was the only district in the Flint Hills League to not be in either of the consolidation scenarios so potentially we would have fewer and larger KSHSAA school districts remaining after consolidation.   Potentially we would not get any larger but lots of our neighbors could.    There is no doubt that could and would dramatically impact student activities.   How remains to be determined and is a matter of pure speculation if stated otherwise.   We will react to this if and when we know it is real and not speculation.   KSHSAA would also have some major decisions to make in this scenario.     

5.   Grade 7-8 Location in the 7-12 Building.   Again, absolutely no final decisions have been made in this area.   This will obviously be a big part of John’s 7-12 class schedules and assignment recommendation to the BOE on 3/8/10.   Every possible effort is being made to provide the best possible educational opportunity for these youngsters, in a manner that meets student needs / parent expectations and within the financial limitations that we find ourselves in during this budget mess.     The only absolutely sure thing in this consideration is that the needs of our children will be the primary determinant in making these recommendations and eventual decisions.

read rumor control #1