A change in voting districts could encourage more people to run for school board seats or simplify the election process, USD 257 Board of Education members said at their meeting Monday.
The board is considering options that could eliminate or redraw the boundaries of districts within USD 257. If they do away with voting districts entirely, board members would be elected on an at-large basis. That could encourage more candidates to run for a seat because they wouldnt be limited by geography, board members said.
Board members are also considering redrawing the boundaries within the school district to better reflect the population shift after the Flood of 2007 when many in the south end of town lost their homes. Most current voting districts have between 700 to 1,000 voters each.
The disadvantage of a making all positions at-large could be decreased representation for some areas.
Area school districts have switched to at-large representation, Superintendent Stacey Fager told board members. The Marmaton Valley and Humboldt districts recently made the change; Moran voters did so by way of a ballot question and Humboldt by the boards decision. Fager said the board could do it either way, but they want to meet with County Clerk Sherrie Riebel to discuss options before they make a decision. Riebel was unable to attend Mondays meeting but is expected to meet with the board as early as their next meeting at 6 p.m. June 25.
Board members did not indicate their preferences but Mary Apt said its often difficult to find people willing to run for election. Restricting board members to a geographical area limits the pool of potential board members, while well-qualified candidates from the same district compete against each other. The current system doesnt really fit the times, she said, and prevents board members from considering the needs of the district as a whole.
Its really about the big picture now, she said.
Board member Jennifer Coltrane said she wanted to know if other districts saw an increase in candidate when they switch to at-large representation.
Doug Dunlap cautioned that communities outside Iola might not be as receptive to the change.
If a community felt slighted in the past and we try to mix things up or change things, theres always the potential that could happen, he said.
Hats off (and on) to
dress code change
Students will be able to wear hats inside the high school building, but not necessarily in the classroom, thanks to a student-led policy change.
Iola High School Principal Scott Crenshaw said a group of students asked to change the policy against hats inside the building. Crenshaw said though he still believes everyone should take off a hat when they enter a building, he realized it wasnt worth the fight.
We hassle these kids all the time, Crenshaw said. Its just a constant battle. You can ruin a relationship over something as silly as a hat.
Sager agreed. We have students in ISS (in-school suspension) for wearing a hat. Im willing to see how it goes and if it becomes a hassle, it can be changed.
Whats most important is what were trying to do If you can give (students) something, it sort of gives you a little street cred.
The change was one of several made to the high schools handbook. The changes included a slight adjustment of the lunch bell schedule, a change that would require salutatorians to follow the same qualifications as valedictorians in meeting academic standards, allowing juniors and seniors who are exempt from finals to adjust their schedules accordingly, a change that would limit freshmen in the alternative program, additional restrictions on specific vaping devices, parking clarifications and other changes.
