Spring is Here at Spring Hill Schools |
March is well underway, and Spring Break has arrived. When students and staff return, there will be 43 attendance days remaining in the 2025–26 school year. Graduation for the Class of 2026 remains scheduled for Saturday, May 16, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.
Spring activities and athletics are now in full swing, and the weeks ahead will offer many opportunities for families and community members to see our students showcase their talents through competitions, performances, and service activities. I encourage you to attend when you can and help support the great work of our students and staff. |
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Parent-Teacher Conferences |
As shared in the previous edition of Link’d In, second-semester Parent–Teacher Conferences are being held in March rather than February this year. This adjustment was made after recognizing that the early portion of the second semester often includes interruptions such as the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, Presidents' Day, and occasional weather-related cancellations. Holding conferences later in the semester allows for additional instructional time, giving families and teachers a more complete and meaningful picture of student progress.
We will monitor conference participation rates and gather feedback regarding this change. While the 2026–27 District Calendar has already been approved, the Board of Education may consider minor adjustments if warranted, ideally no later than June 2026. |
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Legislative Session Update |
The Kansas Legislature is in full swing, and there is a lot of debate on various bills in both the House and the Senate. A few of the specific legislative bills we continue to follow closely include:
The Senate & House have both overwhelmingly APPROVED S Sub Sub HB 2299. This legislation bans the use of cell phones by students from the start of each school day through the conclusion of the school day, including lunch and passing periods. Still, many unanswered questions remain that will need to be addressed in the formal local policy/protocols we will develop to comply with the new law.
SB 339, also known as the ‘recess bill,’ may actually have a final vote this week. The bill, in amended form, would require 30 minutes of daily recess for students in grades K-8. The 30 minutes of daily recess for grades K-5 is not a worry, as Spring Hill Schools already have that implemented. The 30-minute recess for Grades 6 - 8 may be more of a challenge, as recess is defined as “does not include time in physical education class.” It will be interesting to continue following the outcome.
SCR 1616 & SUB HB 2745 are bills that attempt to provide property tax relief. SCR 1616 would mandate a state-wide vote to amend the Kansas Constitution and cap property tax rate increases at 3% annually, with the exception of ‘new construction/improvements’. However, the dagger is that there are versions of the legislation that would return local Assessed Valuation (AV) to 2022 levels. For USD 230, having our FY ‘27 annual budget based on 2022 AV levels would necessitate many difficult decisions. I will wait to see what develops over the next couple of weeks with both of these pieces of legislation.
SUB HB 2745 is similar to SCR 1616, but revises the Revenue-Neutral-Rate (RNR) process to allow a petition to replace the mandated annual RNR Hearing.
HB 2593 did have a formal hearing on Thursday, March 5th. This bill would require any political subdivision to discuss a contingency fee contract for legal services in an open session and would also require the Kansas State Attorney General to approve the contract. |
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Kindergarten Round-Up Approaching |
A reminder that Kindergarten Round-Up for the 2026-27 school year will be held on Friday, April 10, 2026. Children must be five (5) years old on or before August 31, 2026 to be eligible to start kindergarten next fall. Help us spread the word throughout the district for any parents with a rising Kindergartner!
Detailed information and directions are provided on our website at this link. Please note: There will be no kindergarten classes for current 2025-26 kindergarten students on Friday, April 10, 2026 due to Kindergarten Round-Up activities taking place in our elementary schools. |
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Below are our latest enrollment numbers as of March 10, 2026.
(The total enrollment number reflects the approximately thirty students who completed their Senior Year at the conclusion of the first semester). |
(2024-2025 total enrollment was 3,968 students.) |
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2nd Annual SHEF Gala a Tremendous Success! |
The 2nd Annual Spring Hill Education Foundation Gala was a tremendous evening celebrating our schools and community. With more than 200 attendees, the event was filled with great conversation, excitement around the auction, and a shared commitment to supporting students and staff in Spring Hill Schools.
We are incredibly appreciative of the many individuals who worked so hard to plan and host the event, the generous donors who contributed the fantastic auction items, and the continued generosity of our community. Thank you to everyone who helped make the evening such a success in support of Spring Hill students and classrooms. |
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Spotlight on Student Theatre |
Theatre productions are underway across all four of our secondary schools, and these performances continue to highlight the incredible talent, creativity, and dedication of our students. From the cast on stage to the students working behind the scenes with lighting, sound, sets, and stage management, each production is the result of many hours of hard work and collaboration.
We also want to applaud our theatre sponsors and directors for the time and commitment they invest in these programs. Their dedication provides meaningful opportunities for students to develop confidence, creativity, and teamwork while sharing their talents with our community. |
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At the March 9 Board of Education meeting, the district proudly recognized Teresa Satchell, Special Education Instructional Coach, and Elizabeth Moore, Reading Interventionist at Prairie Creek Elementary, as recipients of a Core Value Award in the areas of World Class Staff, Student Success, and a Supportive Environment. Through their dedication, expertise, and commitment to students and colleagues, Teresa and Elizabeth help create the strong, supportive learning environments that make our district special.
We also recognized Melanie Webber, a senior at Spring Hill High School, for designing this year’s Spring Hill on the Move T-shirt. Melanie’s creativity has been on display throughout the year as students, staff, and community members proudly wear her design. Also a special thanks to members of the Spring Hill Elementary Student Lighthouse Team for leading us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Thank you to Teresa, Elizabeth, and Melanie for the positive impact you make in Spring Hill Schools! |
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SHEF Scholarship Application Open |
The 2026 Spring Hill Education Foundation (SHEF) Scholarship Application is currently open! Qualifying SHHS students can apply at this link.
Applicant Criteria: The applicant will be a Spring Hill High graduate during the 2025-26 school year and plans to continue on to a college/training program. Scholarship Award is $2,000 to be used for tuition, room and board, books, or career/training-related equipment. Scholarships will be paid directly to the post-secondary institution or supplier of equipment/tools.
The answers to the application questions should be thorough with multiple paragraphs providing examples and descriptions. Due to the number of applications received in the past, interviews will be brief and the committee relies on your written application to provide much of the information for determining awards. The deadline for 2026 scholarship applications is Monday, March 16th at 11:59 p.m. |
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A reminder that 199th Street is closed to traffic just east of the roundabout at Ridgeview Road. The closure is expected to last approximately 40 days, with the road scheduled to reopen on April 18, 2026.
During this time, access to the District Office and Educational Support building will remain available by traveling west on 199th Street from Renner Road. The roundabout will remain open for traffic traveling north and south on Ridgeview Road and west on 199th Street. |
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Event calendars for each school are available online at the links below.
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Access the 2025-26 Academic Calendar at this link!
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I hope each of you enjoys meaningful time with family and friends during Spring Break. Classes will resume on Monday, March 23, 2026, and we look forward to a strong finish to the school year. As always, thank you for partnering with us in delivering Excellence Every Day. |
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PS: Be sure and follow some of our USD 230 Social Media Sites on Facebook: SHEarlyLearningAcademy, DCESCavaliers, PCESMustangs, SHESColts, TSESRangers, WCESWranglers, FSMSChargers, SHMSMavericks, WSMSStallions, and SHHSBroncos
Most importantly, follow me on ‘X’ at USD230Supt. |
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