[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",5973904,"mediaKeyId","5829995-766dcf68571fa67514d139d09d9a5451","parentId",5829995,"title","Board directs planning for grade reconfiguration and KH expansion, sets earliest target of 2028","audioSeconds",1277,"startMs",1025960,"endMs",2303030,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5829995-766dcf68571fa67514d139d09d9a5451&start=1025&end=2303","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5829995-766dcf68571fa67514d139d09d9a5451/thumbnail_1025960.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/5973904/Garden-City/School-Boards/Kansas/Board-directs-planning-for-grade-reconfiguration-and-KH-expansion-sets-earliest-target-of-2028","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5973904-8415c67a8938a29a7d4a64e98ce4dd6a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771166180&Signature=W4F~jCCVjQnot0wK-ZUIQDCCXBRYV~TbcQmPHdFVXpa6WF0b-tIIAuyGmHaTxBYKSbp4E5GOAK5SEZKYoM1I6ww-CQLyykuShKcGqpXnmLbTD-T~YUtBoZNJVgdl7YtvNRjVxlJ~jJ9-B37CopMblEf47lE5dg8xB1O4w5hnlFeTsGHO1Y~c15xvEJb-k2BVtyLvF4feA11QsS9jNbHKHEOJjY34vFekn7bCoGccO8BopxOlxlYAmM1wZ3b~tx6sAvm6TMD48Z-dIaSwcnPxK2YbamTs7mRBjCwDva01C1FlCOOLH5rQl7J4ZcPINz5XMw2fGlfcpY0BAb5dmBy5jg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","GARDEN CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS - USD 457","date","2025-09-25T22:58:45.99Z","article","The Board of Education voted to move forward with planning for a district grade reconfiguration to a K–5 and 6–8 model and asked staff to develop a design and cost estimate for expanding KH so it could accommodate more students.

Interim Superintendent Josh Guy opened the discussion by asking the board whether it wanted staff to develop a plan and said staff would “need action giving us direction to come to you with kind of a plan.” He described curriculum and personnel challenges posed by the current mix of K–4 and K–6 buildings and told the board that making grade structures uniform would simplify staffing and curriculum alignment.

Board members and staff discussed program differences between elementary sites and intermediate centers, noting that band, orchestra and some electives are offered only at the intermediate centers. The board also discussed building capacity and condition. Staff reported KH current capacity figures in the meeting — roughly 470–475 students at KH when near capacity, and about 780–800 students at Horsegood — and said the KH dome/gym, which receives heavy use, was an important facility while any larger construction would likely be a later phase.

On timing, staff said the earliest realistic target for implementing the reconfiguration would be 2028 if the board chooses to move forward: “My best guess would be 2028 would be the earliest that I see this happening,” an official told the board. Board members stressed the need for broad staff, principal and community engagement and said the implementation path should be methodical to avoid repeatedly moving students because of boundary changes.

A board member moved and another seconded a motion directing staff to proceed with planning and to return with design and cost estimates for KH; the motion passed by voice/hand vote.

The board and staff identified next steps: form a committee or planning group that includes principals, staff and community members; define facility and capacity needs for KH; estimate costs for an expansion or renovation; and evaluate required changes at intermediate centers if they are converted to elementary schools. Staff warned that conversion work at intermediate centers would carry modest costs (playground equipment, fencing and other child-appropriate modifications) and that a significant KH expansion could require larger funding steps such as a bond depending on the final scope.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Education Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The board authorized staff to develop a plan and design for moving to a K–5/6–8 grade configuration and to study expanding KH to serve larger middle-school enrollment, with staff estimating 2028 as the earliest feasible date.","taxTitle","Garden City, School Boards, Kansas","taxId",38784,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5973908,"Board invokes warranty with Ray and Associates for superintendent search",549,441430,990470,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5829995-766dcf68571fa67514d139d09d9a5451&start=441&end=990","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5829995-766dcf68571fa67514d139d09d9a5451/thumbnail_441430.jpg","/articles/5973908/Garden-City/School-Boards/Kansas/Board-invokes-warranty-with-Ray-and-Associates-for-superintendent-search","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5973908-13a353a070c44f0f19defa4b6e608842/orig.mp4?Expires=1771166180&Signature=cdvJ3fuu4kkrJ8bV1PAOj7zaLAi1~j6p3ed-HEiClhA02mCO5Dcp~F-T2ObCfMklCsTNDktqvg~MjftiFAtdSqzvFZTbpj~XN89bN6X2tJZS-~7b0LhVirvHPX2uWA8sgCwQzr26k2onna3E38BwkGpuD9ps2WBnZDE045oFmq5zswYvRv-h-q5P9H8yqSPTG-3PNqeveIGiM1KSmGo5WcTSfMrfJnyiLaYWZ8nhLPf2P306rHL9ovvd8iSRR-AQZ5yqC2qDSjfHXnHgVtCeGSC4hPt41tVLswxB~PUAa7bgObnEHnh9x0v3p0Y81UPNECP1WlpyDpW-vNogTpVTnw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Board of Education voted to proceed with Ray and Associates, invoking a warranty the firm offered during the previous search, to conduct the district’s superintendent search.

Interim Deputy Superintendent Drew Tong presented three options: run a new request for proposals (RFP), invoke the warranty with Ray and Associates from the prior search, or delay the process. Tong said the RFP option would cost the district more and take longer, with typical search-firm fees ranging from “about 5 to $7,000 on the low end” up to “$30,000 to $35,000” depending on scope. Invoking Ray and Associates’ warranty would avoid those procurement costs, he said, leaving only normal candidate travel expenses for the district.

Tong said Ray and Associates told district staff the firm would be flexible about which associates work on the search and that one associate who had been more involved previously, Molly, “would be more involved in this process if we wanted her to be.” Tong said the firm expressed a desire to “make it right” after the prior search.

Board member John Jones said he supported using Ray and Associates, calling the choice “fiscally responsible” and adding that he expected the firm to “do a great job this time around.”

A board member moved and another seconded a motion to use Ray and Associates under the warranty; the board approved the motion by voice/hand vote. Tong said Ray and Associates asked to convene with the board early the following week by Zoom to confirm expectations, staffing and an updated timeline. Staff will schedule that meeting and return to the board with updates.

Tong and board members also noted an option to do nothing, which they said would delay the search and could put the district behind others that are already recruiting candidates. The board did not adopt the RFP route at this time and instead directed staff to work with Ray and Associates under the warranty.","After review of options, the board voted to use the warranty offered by Ray and Associates to conduct the next superintendent search and asked staff to meet with the firm promptly to set a timeline.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5973914,"School board approves switch of supplemental insurance offerings to Benefits Direct",136,304960,441000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5829995-766dcf68571fa67514d139d09d9a5451&start=304&end=441","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5829995-766dcf68571fa67514d139d09d9a5451/thumbnail_304960.jpg","/articles/5973914/Garden-City/School-Boards/Kansas/School-board-approves-switch-of-supplemental-insurance-offerings-to-Benefits-Direct","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5973914-f87de4325519045195984e9d6d7bb8f8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771166180&Signature=EXLpS2TAQS75HlxDjYGXJWnq1aLHYXh2VFWESF3jza30UXDr8-L6VEUABVkakuHD1nRq442nqiTqQI5KbOKfpb~I1LpeuTSWN1n2nR~WR7iQOv2fCcUYGBlqPfQCz7msWIBtSI65ZgGj4buq5UDg1rP09InpG3a9VgeYDHhoJW-DRTaJABBTGef0M1NwILEmzn2BGo-UbgLFNe8FLhFJuioieSYLgu76f~rBKexfa4-mAG3RIt6YvDzooZumg6es6CB0arZ9Iglxfd8PThS6ujt9-fLw96zUkiTBkQV17rsQskP5JWFKByzodNcYNapt52heOrZmhZEc25ojk3oFpg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Board of Education voted to transfer the district’s supplemental insurance offerings from American Fidelity to Benefits Direct, with coverage slated for Jan. 1, 2026, the board decided at its June meeting.

The decision follows a recommendation from the insurance committee and presentations from both vendors. CFO Jessica Nava told the board the committee “overwhelmingly supported the Benefits Direct change” and that the new provider “has everything American Fidelity offers and more.”

Nava said employees should see cost savings under the Benefits Direct plan and cited examples from the presentations showing savings “upwards of, like, even 40% on some of the life policies.” She also told board members that employees who wish to keep existing American Fidelity life policies would be able to do so by paying the premiums directly, but that staff intended to notify employees about enrollment details before any change.

Board members moved and seconded the recommendation and, after brief discussion, approved it by voice/hand vote. The board did not record individual yes/no tallies during the meeting minutes other than noting the motion carried.

The board’s action directs staff to implement the committee’s recommendation and to manage employee communications and enrollment for the switch before open enrollment. CFO Nava said she would send an informational communication to employees about options and next steps.

The change affects supplemental insurance products the district offers to employees; it does not alter core health insurance unless otherwise noted in future board action. Staff will return to the board with implementation steps and any administrative details that require board approval.","The Board of Education voted to move supplemental employee insurance from American Fidelity to Benefits Direct, with coverage slated to begin Jan. 1, 2026; the change follows an insurance-committee recommendation and staff presentations.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board directs planning for grade reconfiguration and KH expansion, sets earliest target of 2028

Board invokes warranty with Ray and Associates for superintendent search

School board approves switch of supplemental insurance offerings to Benefits Direct