Despite what Brian Pekarek regards as its just-finished “unfriendly” session of the state legislature, the superintendent of schools could find lots of good news to share at Friday morning’s See, Hear Iola at the Community Building in Riverside Park.
Pekarek was the main speaker at the forum. Others included Jan Kershner of Farm Bureau Insurance, Realtor John Brocker, Angela Henry of SAFE BASE, Carl Slaugh, Iola city administrator, and Shelia Lampe of the Iola Area Chamber of Commerce.
Jeff Johnson of Citizens Bank moderates the monthly event which highlights community events and trends. A “must” of any presentation is that it have a positive spin.
The district’s students, staff and teachers make it easy for Pekarek to brag, he said, and cited many recent accomplishments.
Top of the list was McKinley Elementary School receiving the Governor’s Achievement Award for improvement on its math and reading scores.
“This is a school where 85 percent of its students live in poverty,” Pekarek said. McKinley scores were in the top 5 percent of schools across the state.
Districtwide, students scores have continued to improve in reading, math, science and social studies, Pekarek said.
“Despite the continuing budget cuts, we are still doing a fantastic job of education our children.”
Three programs are considered state models, he said.
* The Age-to-Age Preschool Program at Windsor Place where preschoolers do some activities with residents at the nursing home;
* The SAFE BASE after-school program; and
* The Bowlus Fine Arts Center and its partnership between the school and the community.
A REAL ESTATE update by Brocker showed a slight uptick in residential sales.
Currently 35 homes are listed by Realtors, with a median price of $66,000 and an average sale time of 133 days.
So far this year 18 home sales have closed, compared to 14 of a year ago. Their median price was $84,500.
