Paying off any form of debt is exciting and brings a sense of relief. USD 327 Ellsworth-Kanopolis-Geneseo board of education is doing just that this week with a lease purchase payoff.

In May, 2014 a new HVAC system was installed at Kanopolis Middle School using a lease to purchase financing option through Citizens State Bank. At the Jan. 13 regular board meeting, Superintendent Dale Brungardt announced that board clerk Dina Rankin would be handdelivering a check Tuesday to CSB to pay off that lease purchase agreement in the amount of $64,047.91 — one year and 4 months ahead of schedule. Keeping the Ellsworth Elementary School cafeteria project under budget helped the district to be able to pay the KMS lease purchase early.

In other business:

EJSHS FFA President Zoey Barta and Vice President Rachel Sebesta requested out of state travel approval for seven students and sponsor Mrs. Stover for the chapter to go to Oklahoma City in March . The board approved the request with a unanimous vote.

EES principal Patrick Schroeder requested funding for STEAM equipment for EES. This funding would bring science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics projects to the students at EES at an approximate cost of $23,297.11. The board approved $8,000 from the Title IV funding with the remaining paid from the Wind fund.