Schools working on consolidation
By GAYLE WEBER
LURAY -- Pending state approval, an agreement reached between Russell USD 407 and Sylvan Unified USD 299 could mean school will cease here in May.
The Kansas State Board of Education is expected to make a decision on the agreement in February that would consolidate Lucas-Luray and Sylvan Unified schools next fall.
The agreement would give 303 square miles of land from the Lucas and Luray area, as well as the school buildings in both towns, to USD 299. The agreement was approved by both Sylvan Unified and Russell school boards in December.
"This is an opportunity for our school district," said Sylvan Superintendent Jude Stecklein. "It's going to keep us going in the right direction for many years to come."
Per the agreement, the kindergarten through eighth-grade building in Luray would be closed at the end of the school year, while the high school building in Lucas would be converted to serve kindergarten through sixth grade next year as Lucas-Sylvan Elementary. The K-12 building in Sylvan Grove would serve seventh through 12th grade next year as Sylvan-Lucas Unified High School.
USD 407, which has governed Lucas-Luray schools for many decades, first approached Sylvan Unified in the spring about a possible consolidation for the Lucas-Luray part of the district. Before that, the districts had talked about sharing resources or combining efforts to provide education to students in Lucas and Luray.
"Finances, of course, played a big role in this," Russell Superintendent David Couch said. "But it's really about what's best for the educational future of the students up there."
Enrollment in Lucas-Luray schools was about 110 students this year, which was down about 30 percent from 10 years ago, Couch said. Most of those students are expected to enroll in the consolidated district next year, nearly doubling Sylvan Unified's enrollment, which is about 145 students this year.
Couch said his district spent about $1.6 million yearly to keep schools going in Lucas and Luray, while the district only generated about $1 million in revenue for the schools.
Stecklein said the biggest boost to his district would be the land valuations from the area that encompasses northern Russell County and portions of Osborne and Lincoln counties that will help Sylvan Unified's local option budget. A gentleman's agreement between the districts allows the land to be transferred back to Russell if USD 299 should disband.
Stecklein said community feedback on his side of the agreement was favorable.
"When we're increasing our students and keeping our high school here, it's pretty positive for our community," Stecklein said.
The 19 teachers employed by Lucas-Luray schools could be offered employment by either Sylvan Unified or Russell next year. Stecklein said his district likely would add two elementary positions and one at the high school to accommodate the additional students.
Couch said other tenured teachers could be replacements for the Russell district. If not, they likely will be seeking employment elsewhere. The same goes for support staff currently working in Lucas-Luray schools.