Jamie Yingst

The committee meeting commenced with an overview and presentation from TESSERE. Key discussions included options for the planning path forward, consideration of adding a new committee comprised of various community groups within NLC, and scheduling additional community meetings for input required to maintain informed decision-making. The TESSERE representative solicited feedback regarding content to be included in architectural renderings, and the committee inquired about the process and integration timeline for these renderings.

The Strategic Planning Committee convened to formulate recommendations for the USD 251 School Board, focusing on future planning using survey data. Discussions centered on exploring options for recommendation considerations and potential locations for these options. The committee decided to recommend that the School Board hire an architect to aid in making informed decisions for the district. The committee would like to have three options considered: adding a new high school at the current grade school area in Americus, constructing a new high school with athletic facilities on the edge of Americus, and building a new K-12 facility with athletic facilities on the edge of Americus.

The committee received a presentation on the survey results from DCS Services. Discussions were held around the survey results, with a focus on questions and demographics. The committee analyzed different breakdowns in the demographics by area using pivot tables. The report was used to view and discuss opportunities for future decision-making. Members considered additional questions for further data extrapolation and planning.

The Strategic Planning Committee meeting included discussions on KESA Accreditation focusing on standards alignment, mathematics, professional collaboration, and resource allocation. The committee reviewed state assessment scores, noting year-over-year improvements across most categories, particularly in science. USD 251 was recognized for receiving multiple Kansans Can Star Awards and the Civic Engagement Network Award. The meeting concluded with no new announcements.

The meeting included a review of the 2025-2026 school budget, which is currently based on the previous year's student count but may increase due to current enrollment growth. Adjustments to the budget will be made following the student count on September 22nd, 2025. The committee also discussed the deployment and communication plan for a public survey, which will be available to NLC patrons 18 and older from approximately September 26th through October 10th. Various options for posting signage and reminders to encourage participation were considered.