News

The Council Grove Life Center is celebrating its 16th year of operation and is currently in the midst of its capital campaign to raise funds for upgrades to the facility’s heating and air conditioning system, repairs to the swimming pool, new cardio equipment, the addition of 24-hour access in the former Building Blocks area, a dedicated weight room area, repairs to the aerobics room and general maintenance to the facility.

GOING UP -- Reid Buttrey goes up for a shot during the junior high Braves game against Lyndon on Monday evening. Buttrey would score three points on the night. The Braves would fall to Lyndon 34-29 in a game that saw the lead change hands three times in the fourth quarter. (Photo by Amber Weeks)

The USD 417 Board of Education discussed the usage of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER III) funds at their regular monthly meeting on Monday evening, with Superintendent Aron Dody informing the board of the rules and restrictions on usage of the funds. ESSER III funds were approved as part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) last March to provide emergency relief funding for public schools during the pandemic and were designed to help schools reopen quickly and safely and to address the learning loss suffered by students during the pandemic. Dody informed the board that the district wished to use the funds for retention bonuses for district staff. The board found this usage of the funds acceptable. Board Member Adam Dirks asked if funds could be used, in part, to help address high food costs for school lunches due to supply chain issues. Dody said that this was not an allowable use of the funds because, while supply chain issues are one of the reasons for rising food costs, they cannot be specifically tied to the pandemic, as well as school lunches being made free due to federal legislation.