As we move through the second semester, USD 417 Morris County has several exciting updates to share with our community.

Bond Election - March 3rd

On March 3rd, USD 417 voters will have the opportunity to consider a $31.5 million school bond that addresses crucial improvements across our district. This bond focuses on three key areas: improving safety and security at all three buildings, replacing outdated and undersized classrooms, and strengthening our career and technical education programs in areas such as welding, healthcare, and agriculture.

We believe that building a strong history of success in our community requires investing in great facilities for our staff and students. Quality facilities help us attract new families to Morris County while also improving the opportunities for our current students and families, and help us retain the outstanding educators and staff we already have and recruit future employees to our communities. The projects included in this bond are designed to be built to last while honoring Morris County's past through architectural elements that reflect our community's heritage. Additional information is available at www.usd417.org/bond.

KESA Accreditation Renewed

USD 417 has been approved for continued accreditation by the Kansas State Department of Education under the new yearly accreditation model. Our district is focusing on standards alignment as we work on continuous school improvement. Teachers across all three buildings are working together to identify the essential standards students need to master and to align these standards both within grade levels and across grade levels.

What does this mean for parents and students? You will be able to see exactly what standards your students are working on and how well they understand each standard. This focused approach will help us show families how well students are able to apply what they are learning and where additional support may be needed.

School Hours and Weather Days

As we navigate winter weather, I want to remind our community about school attendance requirements. The Kansas State Department of Education requires students to attend school for 1,116 hours each year. USD 417 builds extra time into our schedule to account for weather-related closures. With our current snow days, we remain in good shape with meeting our required school hours. If that changes over the course of the next few months, we will communicate that with everyone.

Thank You to Elementary Parents

We want to thank all parents who attended parent-teacher conferences at Council Grove Elementary School and Prairie Heights Elementary School this month. We appreciate the partnership and the opportunity to review goals that were set at the start of the year and ensure we are all on the same page as we begin the second semester. A reminder to all parents in our district: you are able to see how your student is doing in school by downloading the How's School Going App or accessing How's School Going from your computer. A link to How's School Going is available on our website.

Rudd Scholarship Finalists

We are incredibly proud to announce that two Council Grove Jr/Sr High School seniors have been named finalists for the Rudd Foundation Scholarship. Aleah Weaver and Jaena Baker join a select group of students from across Kansas competing for this prestigious honor. The Rudd Scholarship is a full-ride scholarship that covers tuition, fees, housing, food, books, and supplies, along with personal and professional development opportunities, networking, and mentorship throughout the students' college careers. This recognition speaks to the outstanding character and academic achievement of these young women.

Elementary Essay Contest Success

We are proud to recognize several elementary students who were honored in two prestigious essay contests this month.

Two of our 6th-grade students were recognized as local-level winners in the VFW Patriots' Pen Essay Contest, a nationwide program sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars that promotes patriotism and civic responsibility. Owen Hodges earned 3rd Place, and Ava Kelley earned 1st Place at the local level. Ava also earned 1st Place at the District Level, and her essay will now move on to the Department Level competition.

Additionally, six students were recognized as winners of the Royce Benjamin Veterans Essay Contest: Jameson Johnson, Chloe McNeal, CJ Fournier, Thea Thomsen, Cambree Spaulding, and Makaiyia Deibert. These students received certificates and monetary awards for their outstanding work.

Congratulations to all of these students for their exceptional essays and for representing USD 417 with excellence. We celebrate their hard work and success!

Every Day Difference Makers

Each month we recognize staff members who make a positive impact in our district. Our January Every Day Difference Makers are Julie Hodges, FHSEC Social Worker; Sky Wills, Junior High Math Teacher; and Korina Martin, CGES Administrative Assistant. Thank you for your dedication to our students and our district. We also want to thank Watt's Coffee for sponsoring our Every Day Difference Makers program.

Thank you to our community for your continued support of USD 417 Morris County Schools.

Tyson Eslinger 
Superintendent of Schools 
USD 417 Morris County 
#ForwardTogether417