Although meal prices are going up, other fees for Great Bend USD 428 will remain unchanged for 2024-25.
The fees were approved by the school board at the June 10 meeting. They are:
• Pre-K/Kindergarten - $40
• Grades 1-6 - $55
• Grades 7-8 - $60
• Grades 9-12 - $95
Additional fees that do not qualify for free/reduced status are:
• GBHS/GBMS Activity Pass, $30
• GBMS Technology Fee $5
• GBHS Technology Fee $10
When approving these fees, the board discussed the possibility of creating an activity pass for elementary schools.
Mileage reimbursement
The board also approved the 2023-2024 mileage reimbursement rate for district parents and guardians, setting the rate at 54 cents. Superintendent Khris Thexton said this money comes from the state funding for transportation. In lieu of running bus routes and paying drivers, the district pays eligible families living 2.5 miles or more from a students’ designated attendance center and outside of the city limits.
This year, 99 families participated, transporting 183 students, a total of 180,696 miles.
Contribution and grants
At the June 10 meeting, the board extended appreciation to Karen Shaner, Jane Isern and several local donors and volunteers for providing 29 bikes to the Perfect Attendance Bike Giveaway program this year. Over the past 12 years, the group has contributed dozens of bicycles as perfect attendance incentives to USD 428 elementary students.
Other recent grants and contributions were also approved:
Great Bend High School
• Stueder Contractors donated $100 to the Advanced Theater Trip fund
• Delgado’s Mexican Restaurant donated $40 to the Advanced Theater Trip fund
• Michael and Melissa Woodmansee donated $100 to the HOSA Club
•Schoolfundr contributions of $3,858.44 have been designated for the GBHS Girls Softball Team
• Kansas Center for Entrepreneurship Inc. awarded $250 to Robyn Heitschmidt’s classroom as prize money for a Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge that was attended by GBHS students.
Other
• Park Booster Club donated $470 for Student Yearbooks
• Riley Elementary was granted a $6,000 Love’s 60th Anniversary Grant. The funds will be used to enhance recess activities and outdoor activity improvements that benefit students. A Riley parent who manages a Love’s store nominated Riley for the grant.
• USD 428 received notice of an approved grant for $388,370 from the Kansas Preschool Pilot Program for Little Panthers Preschool. This amount is $44,960 more than the previous year.
• USD 428 will apply for a KSDE Safe And Secure Schools grant. If awarded, this grant will be used toward security cameras and other security measures in the schools.
