What does a post-COVID world look like for Kansas public school students and their families? How do school districts address lost learning opportunities? And social and emotional needs?

These were a few of the issues Dale Brungardt, superintendent of the Ellsworth-Kanopolis-Geneseo School District, raised Monday night during the board of education’s monthly meeting in the Ellsworth Junior/Senior High School Commons.

He said more information is expected this week on Navigating Next, a Kansas State Board of Education Program aimed at helping students and their families affected by the pandemic that has disrupted education since Gov. Laura Kelly ordered the closing of schools at the end of the 2019-20 school year.

Most students have since returned to in-school classes; however, the effort has been hit and miss as students and teachers were forced to quarantine at home during parts of the 2020-21 school year.

Brungardt said many ideas are being discussed, including summer academies. The additional programs will be supported by money the district qualified for as part of state and federal COVID relief efforts.

Whatever the outcome, the superintendent said the aim should be to create sustainable programs that can eventually be supported by the district’s general fund.

“This is not something we figure out in a week or a month. It will be ongoing,” he said.

In other business, board members took the initial step to refinance a 2015 general obligation bond issue of $4.6 million to be paid over 20 years.

Bond consultant Dustin Avery offered different options, eventually recommending the board take advantage of lower interest rates through refinancing the bond issue and paying it off five years early.

Avery said the district is currently paying an interest rate of 3.12 percent, which could be reduced to an estimated 1.41 percent, thus saving USD 327 about $460,000 in interest. The bonds would be retired in 2030 instead of 2035 under the refinancing.

Board president David Hand said he liked the idea because it provides more options for future boards.

“It might help somebody out down the road,” he said.

The resolution approved Monday night would start the refinancing process and also lock in an interest rate. Final approval is expected at the board’s March 8 meeting.

Also Monday:

Brungardt reviewed the district’s capital outlay needs and proposed legislation introduced this session in the Kansas Legislature. At least two proposed bills could shift dollars from public to private schools.

“Everybody says less government, less government, but it seems like there’s more control coming down,” Brungardt said.

• The board approved Gabrielle Herzog and Sara Klein as substitute teachers; and accepted the resignation of Doug Stefek as bus driver.

• The board approved extension of administrator contracts for Ken Windholz, Ron Davis Jr., Kristy Rodriguez and Tammi Graff through the 2022-2023 school year.