Board of Education

USD 373 Board of Education goals:

Big Idea/Main Concept/Objective: 

• To include hard and soft skills
• Reading and mathematics are foundational skills necessary for all students to succeed.
• Focus on important soft skills that are age appropriate throughout the district.

Strategy #1: All core instructional areas will be aligned to state standards.

Strategy #2: All core instructional areas will have common assessments created at the grade level and/or content area that validate the rigor of the curriculum at the system level.

Strategy #3: Grade levels and content areas that have the interim assessments available to them will administer those assessments during the three open windows

Strategy #4: Focus on instructional strategies that matter

KESA  (accreditation) Goals:

• USD 373 will reduce the percentage of students performing in level 1 on the state assessment in ELA by 5% per year over the current KESA cycle (spring of 2023 through spring of 2026 as there is no fifth cycle available prior to an accreditation visit). The 2022 ELA level 1 in ELA was 41.06%.
• USD 373 will reduce the percentage of students performing in level 1 on the state assessment in mathematics by 5% per year over the current KESA cycle (spring of 2023 through spring of 2026 as there is no fifth cycle available prior to an accreditation visit). The 2022 mathematics level 1% was 43.08%

Goal Area 2: Improve and/or sustain Culture

Big Ideas/Main Concepts/Objectives:

• Invite the community to support kids on the field, at performances.
• How do we give people permission to be proud? Has to be organic, not toxic positivity. 
• Consistencies with processes in behavior, leadership, 
• What things are we doing to encourage the negative rather than put spin on the positive? Proactive vs. reactive.
• Recognize students/staff at BOE, or at the schools
• Bring everything back to your goals. 

Goal Area 3: Form Partnerships/Connections with stakeholders

Big Idea/Main Concept/Objective: 

• Sharing our good intern/partner experiences to bring more people to table. Expand if/when possible
• Bring our community INTO the lower grades, establishing connections early.
• Get people into our buildings. Showcase volunteering early on. Introducing our kids.

Strategy #1: Develop a specific and intentional plan for communication for all stakeholders

Strategy #2: Engage the school parent and community patron population in a more regular and meaningful manner

Click for Board policies on board docs

Monday, August 25, 2025
 Monday, September 8, 2025
Monday, September 22, 2025
Monday, September 29, 2025 (Work session) 
Monday, October 13, 2025
Monday, October 27, 2025
Monday, November 10, 2025
Monday, December 8, 2025

Monday, January 12, 2026
Monday, January 26, 2026
Monday, February 9, 2026
Monday, February 23, 2026
Monday, March 9, 2026

Monday, March 23, 2026
Monday, April 13, 2026
Monday, April 27, 2026
Monday, May 11, 2026
Tuesday, May 26, 2026 (Work session)
Monday, June 8, 2026
Monday, June 22, 2026
Monday, July 13, 2026 (Organizational Meeting)

The BOE meets monthly on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month at McKinley Administrative Center, 308 E. 1st Street, Newton, KS 67114 unless otherwise stated.