USD 417 District Spotlight

Building for the Future While Celebrating Current Success

As we settle into the rhythm of the new school year, USD 417 Morris County has had an eventful and productive September. From community engagement around our facilities to academic excellence in classrooms and on athletic fields, our district continues to move forward with purpose and pride.

Community Voice in Facilities Planning

This month marked a significant step in our ongoing facilities work as we hosted three community steering committee sessions. Approximately 30 community members worked alongside our architects to discuss district needs and share their thoughts about what our schools require to best serve students in the 21st century.

The focus of these discussions has been our 1918 high school building, which, while architecturally beautiful on the outside, presents significant challenges for modern learning. The building's undersized classrooms, security concerns, aging mechanical systems, and frequent pipe issues require our maintenance staff to spend considerable time on repairs rather than proactive improvements. Most concerning is the lack of security - visitors can access the entire building, including the second floor, before reaching the main office. Other areas we are trying to address at CGJSHS is the lack of space, we currently have no capacity to add new programs and we have one staff member who is rotating around from classroom to classroom because they don’t have their own space this year.

Beyond the high school, our facilities review encompasses parking and transportation improvements at both Council Grove Junior/Senior High School and Council Grove Elementary. Staff currently park on Highway 177, and our bus lanes present traffic flow challenges. At Council Grove Elementary, we're exploring ways to improve campus security by connecting buildings and creating safer student movement patterns, while also examining the potential for a new Early Childhood Center that would expand our partnership with Building Blocks Daycare - addressing a critical community need in increasing daycare opportunities.

Prairie Heights Elementary is looking at remodeling spaces that once were locker rooms and coaches offices into more functional academic spaces and offices and our district transportation facilities are also part of this comprehensive review, as we work to ensure all our buildings serve students, staff, and community effectively.

Our architects have also met twice with district staff to gather their professional insights on facility needs. The next step involves presenting findings to our Board of Education, with a final plan expected by mid-November. The board will then decide by December whether to call for a bond election, which would take place in March if approved. Before that decision in December the board of education and SPT architecture will host a community meeting in the middle of October to share information with any interested community members as well as hear from them. More information will be coming about that meeting in the near future. 

If the board moves forward with calling an election, the months of January and February will be dedicated to community outreach. During this time, the architects, Board of Education, community members, and CMAR will hold meetings throughout the district to share detailed information about the proposed work and answer questions from residents before the March election.

Academic Excellence in Action

September brought the launch of our Professional Learning Community (PLC) meetings, where our teachers are diving deep into standards alignment work. This multi-year initiative focuses on building priority standards for each grade level and subject area, ensuring both horizontal alignment within grade levels and vertical alignment across grades.

This foundational work will enable teachers to develop comprehensive units with embedded formative assessments, creating a cohesive learning experience for our students. The dedication our educators show to this collaborative work reflects their commitment to providing the highest quality education for every student in our district.

We also started a new program to recognize USD 417 staff this year. It is called the Every Day Difference Maker Program and we have partnered with Watts Coffee who provides each winner a free drink. This month's winners were Elementary: Krista Wilson Title 1/MTSS Teacher, Secondary: Tracie Schroeder Science Teacher, and Classified/District: Jaxon Buchman Technology Support Specialist. 

Fall Sports Success

Our student-athletes are representing Council Grove Junior/Senior High School in a positive way this fall season. Across all sports, our teams are demonstrating competitiveness and sportsmanship that make our entire community proud. The success on our fields and courts reflects the hard work of our student-athletes, coaches, and the support of families throughout Morris County.

District Site Council Brings Community Together

Our first District Site Council meeting of the year brought together community members and staff to discuss happenings both within the district and throughout Morris County. Key topics included updates on our new communication tools ParentSquare and StudentSquare, our redesigned website, the Every Day Difference Maker staff recognition program, Career and Technical Education updates, Yondr Pouches, budget discussions, bond information, and the trimester schedule.

Each building shared specific learning initiatives and activities, creating a comprehensive picture of the educational excellence happening across our district. These conversations strengthen the vital connection between our schools and the communities we serve.

Looking Ahead

As we continue through the fall semester, USD 417 remains focused on our core mission: providing exceptional educational opportunities for every student while being responsible stewards of community resources. The facilities discussions, academic initiatives, and community engagement happening this month all serve that central purpose.

We're grateful for the continued support of families and community members throughout Morris County. Your investment in our schools - whether through participation in steering committees, attendance at sporting events, or daily encouragement of our students and staff - makes the difference in everything we accomplish.

The future of USD 417 is being shaped by the collaborative work happening today, and we're excited to continue building something special together.

Tyson Eslinger

USD 417 Morris County

Superintendent of Schools 

#ForwardTogether417