Wichita Public Schools to undergo boundary changes

The Wichita Public School district is currently undergoing a study to change school boundaries. These changes are prompted by the construction of six new schools made possible by the 2008 bond issue, expanded classroom capacity at others, as well as growth and changes in student residence patterns in our district. Five of the six new schools are scheduled to open in the fall of 2012.
With the addition of new schools, school boundaries will have to be changed and developed, along with creating a new high school feeder patterns. New boundaries will also consider crowding at schools that have exceeded their capacity. The Board of Education has to study the costs of opening the new schools in light of significant reductions in school funding. All of these factors will require the district to make changes to the bond issue plan.
There will be several scenarios that will be proposed before the final plans will be presented to the public. The Superintendent’s Boundary Focus Group will discuss different plans before the public forums in January. What is discussed by the group may not be the final plan, so it is important to stay informed throughout the process.
Stay informed. Up-to-date information is posted on the district Web site, www.boundary.usd259.org, or social media sites www.facebook.com/wichitapublicschools or Twitter: @wichitausd259. Tehre will also be opportunities to comment on key questions and provide input through the district’s Web site.
Provide feedback: There will be four public forums in January to allow the community to provide feedback on proposed boundary change maps. Times and locations to be announced later:

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Thursday, January 19, 2012

The BOE plans to have a decision on boundary changes by February 27, 2012.

Cargill Cares donates $20,000 for health program

Seven thousand first- and fourth-grade students across the district will receive enhancements to their health education programs with a $20,000 gift from Cargil Cares. The grant will support representatives from the Kansas Learning Center for Health to teach about the importance of good nutrition and having healthy bodies.
Cargill Cares gave the gift to the Kansas Learning Center for Health at a special ceremony at McLean Science and Technology Magnet on November 17.
“We want to educate students when they’re young and their bodies are still developing,” said Brenda Sooter, Executive Director of the Kansas Learning Center for Health.
“Without proper health education when they’re young, students are at risk for health problems later in life,” she added.
First-grade students will learn about what is inside their body and how their body works. The students will learn that they need to keep their body healthy so it can work properly. The fourth-grade students will learn how foods fuel their body and why they need to not eat many high-fat foods and sugary drinks. As part of the lessons, students are given materials to take home to encourage their parents to also make healthy decisions and food purchases.
The program will start in January.