From balancing a $35 million budget to tackling everything from bus routes to vape detectors, the Iola USD 257 Board of Education covered a range of decisions at its Monday night meeting.
The evening began with a public budget hearing, giving community members the opportunity to raise concerns before adoption. No comments were offered. After a short discussion, the board approved the district’s $35.35 million budget for 2025-2026, noting that their decision was based on district and building needs assessments as well as state evaluation data. They also voted to set the tax rate at 65.885 mills, which is higher than the Revenue Neutral Rate (RNR) of 64.526. At that rate, the district will collect $4,439,856 in property taxes, compared to $4,368,270 at the RNR.
The board also reviewed and approved the budget for the Bowlus Fine Arts Center, which is jointly overseen by the district.
TRANSPORTATION Director Aaron Cole presented a comprehensive report on transportation in the district, noting that 352 students — about 31% of enrollment — ride district transportation daily, including 75 who use the in-town shuttle. Regular routes are covered by five buses, one van, and one shuttle, with each route averaging 17 stops. The final drop-off for the day is at around 4:25 p.m.
Cole said transportation services also extend to 42 preschoolers, requiring morning, midday, and afternoon runs. One bus and one van are dedicated to special education students, about 20 in total, including those with modified school schedules.
In addition, the district transports around 20 students to Allen Community College, Neosho County Community College, and local internship sites through its technical education routes.
All told, district vehicles logged 214,301 miles last year: 66,014 miles on regular routes, 16,369 miles on special education, 16,030 miles for technical education, and 115,888 miles for activities such as athletics, field trips, and staff travel.
The district currently employs 10 full-time drivers and two substitutes, with four administrators pitching in when needed. “We’re pretty much in a routine at this point,” Cole said, adding that transportation is running smoothly after early staffing challenges.
TECHNOLOGY Coordinator Ben Prasko updated the board on vape detectors installed in district schools.
The current sensors, purchased in 2022, are subscription-based, and licenses are due to expire soon. Prasko recommended investing in Halo detectors, which have a higher upfront cost but no ongoing fees.
The Halo devices offer broader features, including detection of vaping, THC, and smoke, as well as alerts for tampering and masking attempts. They also integrate with the district’s camera system and feature aggression and gunshot detection, along with environmental sensors for carbon monoxide, CO2, and nitrogen dioxide.
Administrators at Iola Middle School and High School said vape detectors are triggered almost daily. While some are false positives, improved integration with cameras would help staff respond more quickly.
“My hope is that these detectors would maybe be a better product to help with the false positives,” noted Prasko.
After discussion, the board approved purchasing Halo detectors at a cost of approximately $25,000.
