CAPTION: Back row: Chris Shank, Greg Lackey, Tim Lackey, Monte Cross Front row: Dr. Michael Green, Jessica Goering, Laura Meyer Dick CREDIT BUHLER USD 313
By Kate Irelan
The Buhler USD 313 Board of Education at their regular monthly meeting on October 14 approved bids for new band uniforms, other maintenance updates and also grappled with two changes to the plans at the new daycare centers, one involving possible city water lines at Crusader Corner, and the other a refusal to license Buhler Grade School’s new daycare from the State Fire Marshal.
Buhler High School band instructor Nathan Biggs presented some samples of new uniforms to the board. He shared a versatile sleeveless design that can be customized with colorful undershirts and other style choices from year to year. Shane Hecox, director of finance, explained that the uniforms are purchased on a 10-year rotation, and the money to pay for them is part of the capital outlay plan. They considered three quotes, with Biggs recommending the quote from Truhauf stating that he would prefer to work with a local company for quicker service. The board approved the bid, and it should take about seven months for Truhauf to make all the uniforms.
The board approved a bid from American Chemicals along with an electrical upgrade from Zenor for a new dishwasher at the high school, and a bid from IdeaTek for some new intercoms in different schools in the district.
Superintendent Cindy Couchman gave an update concerning the well at Crusader Corner.
“We have put a pause on drilling the public well,” said Couchman. “I met with City Manager Enrico Villegas and he said the city is willing to extend a water service line to the area. They are looking at bids. They also have requests from Shepard Acres north of Crusader Corner to extend water service.”
Couchman said she also talked with the Reno County Public Works and they would allow the work to the right-of-way, but it has to be for a public water source. Couchman will meet with Villegas on Wednesday to discuss options.
Crusader Corner has a temporary water system that can remain in place as long as the school district has a plan and is making progress on that plan.
Couchman shared an unexpected refusal from the State Fire Marshal for Buhler Grade School’s new daycare.
“After three State Fire Marshals gave licenses for the space, a fourth would not approve the final build of the basement because of a half wall creating two rooms which both would need exit doors instead of how it is now with one door. Even KDHE approved the design,” Couchman said. “The latest fire marshal said it should never have been approved.”
The stated problem is that if a fire breaks out in that area, it causes evacuation time to be more than four minutes and a longer response time from the fire department to access the area.
Couchman did find an option where they can install a module that will allow the original fire panel to be monitored by the fire department as opposed to replacing the entire fire system or installing another exit and exterior work. Couchman got an amendment to the licensing to get the system monitored.
Couchman shared an update on the strategic plan. She said the plan has four themes: student success, culture, operations/resources and community engagement. Smaller groups of board members, faculty and community members then established sub-themes and they are working on creating an action plan, hopefully ready to present in November.
For more information about the Buhler School District meetings and minutes, visit their website at https://www.usd313.org/page/board-of-education or call 620-543-2258. The school board meets regularly at 6:00 pm on the second Monday of the month at the Burkholder Administrative Center, 406 7th Avenue in Buhler.
