Welcome to another edition of issues 20109 Steve Macintosh our guest is Mark Evans should pretended to bend over schools get our answer when the show. Morning Steve good to be here how long. Have you been to Britain demand over schools. You know this is my six year in and over time flies fast -- haven't found what do and what did you do before you got this job. I spent twenty years in the which top public school system and the left there as the deputy superintendent prior to that I was in the Catholic diocese out of bishop Carroll high school for four years from if you agree -- started as a teacher how did daddy do that unity administration -- exactly Steve yeah I was a teacher bishop -- high school and there was a teacher Wichita schools and and most through the ranks as an assistant principal and high school principal and then became interim superintendent and deputy superintendent later so those kind of a long journey over those 24 years prior to movement handover so what what how what so what do you teach to being in within. A social studies US history psychology and government seems like about every one of those courses you can imagine economics along the way sociology along the way some kind of a whole litany of social studies tiller at some point you'll be reached at that -- a turning point in your career where. There's so -- spit balls are aligning the bank of your head that you descend just stuff. Yeah hello is quite like that Steve but you know if it was an opportunity and I I enjoyed what I was doing but I also had folks think nationally ought to think about. Doing slow things as well and you might wanna think about administration I wanted to get a master's degree and decided to go that direction and really haven't looked back but they enjoyed teaching and also did some coaching enjoyed coaching -- actually mess a lot of those aspects of those. Close close ties should develop as a coach and teacher. Give us an idea of the size and shape of Andover schools how many employees then to how many of them are teachers should. Today we have approximately 325 teachers and -- part time employment is approximately 650. Our student enrollment is approximately 5000. Up from. Twelve -- up 12100 kids from when I joined them almost six years ago so we've gone from 3800 to 5000 in nearly six years time spans so we've been a fast growth. In fact for most of my vineyard and over we've been the second fastest growing districts in the state to Kansas. You talk about that and in -- how about the last couple years ago recession had an impact on growth huge. Absolutely huge we were growing sometimes as much as 275. -- 85 new students a year which is a pretty rapid pace growth and then last year we saw the first dip and impact of the recession and we were -- 144. Students -- almost. Decline of almost half and this year were anticipating more like. Fifty maybe seventy new students because obviously the housing market is really taken a downturn in a lot of our new students are from new home growth and in our area so word yeah we're seeing a pretty significant impact to you and grew so high growth communities on hand over. Lots of new people coming in all the time and in you can rely on them for the growth and.
Absolutely absolutely lot of new families -- where we're still having new families and as I mentioned it even if we only go to fifty is 77 new students. That's still gonna be much higher than most. Most districts across Kansas especially during this recessionary period that -- certainly not like it was during those. Those boom years of the first three or four years of my tenure tell us a little bit about the physical plant the buildings and such. The fun stuff that down on the fun stuff other operations the American morning -- yes stuff that. Something you have to spend a lot of time on during my tenure we've got past one bond issue of an added three new elementary schools and expanded. Some of the other facilities particularly and over high school where you are now up to a total of six elementary schools two middle schools and too high schools while. So we've we're distributing those 5000 kids over ten schools and we're pretty good right now with space for our elementary kids but to be honest were kind of concerned are too high schools. We're built to cap out at 900 students -- were right now about 76765. At both high schools and over high and and over central high so we have huge concerns but on the other hand the growth has slowed down so we see a little bit of I'm breathing room -- we recognize that when this starts picking up and I'm I'm an optimist Steve I think we're gonna pick up I think the economy's getting better and I'm I'm hopeful that hawker Beechcraft Cessna and spirits gonna expand their employment no we're gonna see growth again and we recognize that when we do we're gonna need to go out there -- start looking for a property and talk about a new new construction but were probably little ways away now. Your buildings have been relatively young never presume to -- murmured what happened in USD 259 all the buildings got old. It's like out walk and it's not even our old buildings are new buildings comparatively speaking we don't have the buildings that. You know really we only have two buildings that are 1950s. Buildings of the ten and all the rest of them we have. All a total of six buildings that are 2000. Or New York because and over central and over central middle and sunflower -- built in the 2000. Completed in the 2000 year and then we built three more so. You've got six that are 2000 or -- of their reeling them in public discussions of education doesn't come up very often but there there is -- expensed -- maintenance of infrastructure you gotta put paid on those buildings and all kinds of stuff like that get a polishing floors and -- yeah sure sure it's just like your own home your -- AC equipment has life -- your water -- has a life spent by the way Steve how how old -- water -- minds about a year old. Okay you're okay then us so when you say fifteen cents a we better go replace because they last about 1215 so actually the guy who did mind still -- you might you might get 67 years out of a really brand new and so after six or seven the only county. While that's got a different topic very different topic but yeah it relates to school may go to the people forget that we're -- just like your -- home are. -- CAC equipment wears out our. Maintenance of paint and everything else think same kinda issues. So we all take care buildings and if you take care from right they're gonna last longer if you misuse them and don't treat them appropriately handle maintain an appropriately then you're gonna pay a higher cost -- of that that hope -- now pay me later issue with your homes and cars. Same thing the talk about the students and the teachers -- how does handover stacked up in terms of test scores. And I'll probably don't have a statewide rankings we're number one you think like bad but how well do a minute you know -- we are one of the highest performing and we do know that we do rank up when you look at all the indicators from state assessments to a CT scores and those kinds of indicators we're always in the top ten -- Kansas and we strive to be in the top ten and we can't compare our scores you. Area districts as well as. The whole state and more typically in the top ten and every ranking Weathers the ACT composite scores. Of which and I bring that was me but I believe our composite averages 31. Or excuse me Tony. Three point seven. I hope that's correct I think thirty personal -- yeah 31 and -- I wished it was 31 that would have been fantastic. And in our state assessments we meet a wife he and a half may YP in every category for all ten of our buildings. All of that becomes more more challenging because every year the state ratchets up. The expectations to meet proficiency and it's for every category of student not just your. Regular red student also include your English English language learners your special needs students and so we recognize it's gonna become more difficult but we are. Currently meeting why can't every area and typically we are. We receive what's called the standard of excellence. For most of our great -- in student so we are one of the highest performing out 290 district we're in the top ten in Kansas.
You have the advantage though in a in a place like hand over which should have the if you're not you don't have I would imagine not too many poverty. Cases to deal with someone about special in special needs.
Special and special needs is going to be the same is as a -- on the poverty level you're right we're at approximately twelve to 13% free and reduced. Verses districts around us might have as much as fifty death 6070%. So we have a lot less and tell them free reduced of having. I'm sorry for introduced means. They qualify for the federal standard of free and reduced lunch lunch Pharmacia and and folks have to fill out. There's all -- application forms and fill out but either standards -- income levels -- number of people in the household that's kind of how you measure the your your your kids are coming from a troops -- it economically deprived homes if -- exactly exactly and our NF of course bring some challenges -- because that means that those youngsters might need -- more support because mom and dad might be working two jobs to make ends meet and there's just extra challenges that comes with poverty I think most. Think most folks can understand you know all about that come from the he Christie 259 like you and I'll certainly don't and every day I certainly did I was the principal west high school for five years saw I worked with a lot of great great young people. The had a lot of channel last checks that are out of the school setting that. That we had to help the more than and work we're glad to be able to help him. Tell me about graduation rates. But your graduation rate to three times and they're extremely high and the other in the high ninety's. So we we don't have too many students that don't graduate. We're pretty proud of that but we work really hard to make it work that way in fact this year were even providing. Another. Maybe a safety net opportunity for some young people that don't learn as well maybe in the regular setting -- just for whatever reason need a different setting we started. And over. The right thing for them and has nothing do with -- intelligence or capacity it's just. Sometimes a different setting it is necessary so we've added that this year and between that and just a great staff doing a great job would mean those needs we. We don't we don't lose too many in the cracks. Or kind of general questions moment today you have really isn't in and I'm sure it's different every setting that and are saying we are really. Really focused in on a well rounded -- we wanna have for example performing arts and we have a focus on. Whether it's instrumental music or drama productions there. Quite popular with the kids and quite popular with the communities and are marching bands perform very very well. And state competitions and our -- dramatic performances. The staff and students involved always received high marks up. We don't look at it is just how did you do on the state assessment how to do on the ACT your -- on the PS AT. We also wanna say. We had success that place we have success of performing car which we have success and music programs whatever the cases we we see that as a valuable an integral part of our program and our parents -- and in our district. Are there are two very involved and you know Steve there really willing to share with me what they value and when they're not happy with -- I have not discovered their parental involvement is not a problem is not an issue people are willing to share their feelings about whether it's. Cheerleader tryouts or marching band in performance issues there. They are more than happy to share and to be honest we we need to listen and we need and we should feel fortunate that our parents do have that level of interest because I've been on the other side where. For whatever reason they weren't able to be is involved in the school in the stop -- child's life and that is not an issue for us.
You're listening to issues -- ten on the Entercom radio stations and -- this week is Marty Evans the superintendent of Andover schools. Tell us about the ongoing tussle for the Kansas legislature overstate fumbling and how has that drama played out in hand over mark.
Well I guess the big picture of it is that we are right now working with 10% last general fund budget. Then we had two years ago. And I guess the tussle is they're trying to make some very very difficult decisions and we are aware that in my school -- aware of that and they work very diligently with all of our local legislators to help them say. Mercy and to save him. We recognize your challenge. But we also recognize that if we do damage. That's long term to education. We may have young people that won't get that first grade experience back that third experienced back it's now going to be impacted by an increase class size. Or it's gonna be impacted by the lack of a support position that would have been there. So we've we've tried to share within the impact of the cuts while recognizing it's a tough tough time. And I don't think I know for a school board it's been this is by then for volunteers that serve on school boards and for individuals around an elected offices I think this has gotta be one of the most. Challenging times ever because no matter what they decide they're gonna have to cut something. School boards -- had to cut things are districts had to cut make a lot of cuts that were very very hard for our school boards that. Loves our kids loves our programs loves our staff and then you've got tough tough calls and legislatively that had to make some of those same calls. I think the biggest -- tussle was that in order to prevent an additional cut we've had five cuts in the last. Gosh it's almost two years Stephen. The biggest issue in this legislative session -- support for anyone since sales tax a temporary three year once in sales tax. Which prevented a sixth or seventh cut. It didn't restore any of those cuts in the 10% loss in funding we've had. That it did prevent a 6% so's a pretty big issue and the legislators I think -- more split this year than I've ever seen them. And some of the challenges and some of the rhetoric of the national level seemed to float down to the local level. And I don't know off incivility is the word but I saw more. Conflict the end. People taking more personal and being more. Confrontational I've ever seen and saw a really was a challenging time and informed me included I've seen letters and heard things and had things said to me that I've not ever seen in my nearly thirty years now of and educational experience it was is pretty hard year I think I'm very hopeful knocking on wood here in station that this lectures going to be a better. Send over part of the of the lawsuit over funding. I know our school board to show you -- that and chose to participate in what we've come more. Active advocacy. And that was the choice of the school board they want her to work hand in hand with the legislators but we we do understand why. The folks dead despite the -- I don't wanna be critical and I don't think the school board to be critical. Of the folks that did participate. That they just simply chose a little different route on legislative. And influence.
Tell us a little bit out of on hand over property taxes to support the school's history future what's going on that the tax level up there. Well poor and the K12 system -- alone more just in general I mean. Where you wanna go on that yes he didn't give I can give you both K12 fun. On the K12 side our current property mills I believe were approximately 64. Point. What's the point eight today something around that level. We pay a little bit more because we build more buildings I mean property taxes are clearly directly tied into. Bond issues which by the way voters have to prove. Our voters four years ago approved the building of three new elementary schools because we had overcrowded schools with portables being used and so and so forth and they have they approved. The bond issue that we're now paying on so we're kind of at the peak of -- in fact this next year kind of bad time on this that our next year's probably going to be our. Our our very peak of property property Milledge and so we're we're concerned about that because we realize of all the times. But we're just now feeling that full impact of the bond issue and then what happens is that it begins to decline kind of like your own home mortgage. As you pay off those bonds. Money that was barred for -- new schools then it begins of the clients who were right now the peak of that. And then -- go down in last week past you know five usually passed a bond issue than it would go up again and go down. That were actually right now the peak of that. Let's talk a little bit about the teachers recruiting teachers union in the universe public schools is it is hard to find teachers. You know it really ferocity really has not been too difficult there's been a few areas that if I go back 3345. Years ago where we had some some difficulties such as. Some math science position upper level math science in a little bit on the counseling side library sideline Versailles outside. But today I'll tell you this -- is the real sign of the times we had to elementary. Positions open elementary school to teach positions and we had a hundred -- two candidates. We have really tells you something I and I attacked what I feel worst about that that -- as we have tons of graduates right now -- get -- school have gone school for five years and they said I'm gonna be a teacher they wanna be a teacher and they can't get a job. And lot of them chose education because they thought well there's stability and education and their head job there and there had been here and today I'll tell you there's going to be more unemployed teachers than we've ever seen. Because we've laid off staff. In hand over any course she read about what's happened in a school districts unknown Wichita they dropped the drivers that program and they've been forced to layoff teachers and as you lay off. Veteran and experienced teachers -- a lot of those take jobs the new teachers may mean continued staff that lost their jobs there's a ripple effect down. Then they're out there applying. For jobs that a new teacher out of college would apply force. In all areas just sometimes folks say when you guys -- impacted by the recession but they are dead wrong we were impacted hugely by the recession.
Let's talk about -- re you re brushed on this earlier but a blunt talk about extracurricular activities in your schools have been told -- they're so important because sometimes it's the one thing that keeps a kid in school. He is he or she is really involved in one of those extracurricular activities. And can you talk a little bit about programs such as sports music and art and can they be preserved and and or improved public schools what do you think.
Well I I think it is a huge issue I do think it makes. A great difference for our young people not just an -- but every school district. Often times especially with a high school student is not it's not the math class that really drives them to get up every morning go to school nothing gets math but. That's not what drives a lot of our students but its participation in whether it's fine arts -- athletics. Student council and is an old high school principal I used to tell parents when a student was struggling some. We have to find something for him to get involved and whether it's drama -- student council whether performing -- athletics and what we see is. That's what becomes the tie -- for some students. Not everybody wakes up every morning and says gosh I can't wait to go to my language arts class and a and you know and in. Read the next novel the -- going to be reading on Shakespeare or whatever it is but -- they we have a ton of kids that wake up and say I can't wait for band. -- I can't wait for basketball practice -- I can't wait for. The drama production that's coming out and they are. Totally involved in suck it creates that that whole rounding piece that you talked about earlier that rounded experience of teamwork team skills which by the way they've done research on leaders and industry leaders and in our nation -- governmental leaders. Or leaders of industry and they always find that the one category the one thing that that they all have in common wasn't that they were the valedictorian. Wasn't that they were all honor roll. But in leadership positions they all were in some kind of extra -- when it was athletics. Or music they -- some kind -- Chrysler which develops teamwork skills leadership skills a whole lot of those what we call the soft skills. That really we know. It's what leads to success in life to so -- we don't lose any of those and I'll tell you one of the things we did to preserve it -- This was a very very tough decision for our Budget Committee and for our school board to accept that. We added a -- to participate -- for all of our. Any of our acacia athletic. Any activities acacia not just -- I guess that it's it's a Kansas it has collected association you know pay. Fifty dollars for the year for any student to participate who. And that's that's a tough.
That is just. Looks like giving attention to -- little bit -- telling you what's good about sports and in our schools. Well historically they've done well kind of across the board there are some areas that they win more state championships and boy they are great golfers both schools typically have great gulf -- spent. Really across the board they've done well we have the youngsters that are -- state championships every year I think last year for example and over central high girls. One the state championship prior to that we had a state championships. And individuals and wrestling this last year.
Nice camera raw mop -- my head in the years they have always had tons of individuals and and track and field wrestling in the we've had a lot of teams that have. Either -- the state championship prevent the state playoffs over the last several years and -- two kids -- about opportunities to go on to college which I think is probably even a bigger. Peace to me is that we've got young people. We're getting full rides to. Not only. Local colleges but they're also going in some cases to the big twelve and I think it's -- because a big twelve Big Ten and eleven and an eleven -- amateur Jakarta today that. We have young people that are there on scholarships because they've participated in some of the best athletic programs in Kansas but he probably don't have as many trophies but what about music and are things you can -- about there. Yeah I absolutely absolutely they do have some some recognition they have marching band for example performing band they do Assam state competitions. And we almost always receive one a one rating which is the highest rating you can receive. And in the drama or performing art piece that there's called they jester award that's given annually and both our schools that receive recognition -- multiple gesture awards and recognized on the top. Drama programs in the state of Kansas.
What makes you proudest about and over schools mark.
I think what makes you most proud is that we are providing -- proudest. Denials to guys increases in action where both west high graduates I don't know if that -- who -- most proud of what punitive. I think I should come off color printing up. What makes you most proud. I think is that the number of students that are having success -- in all areas the fact that you can't saying. Because I have parents -- lasting for example they'll say which school should I go to. And they'll say should I go on the north side of the south side and I can say without any hesitation. It doesn't matter where you go. You're gonna get one of the highest quality education that can be found in the state to Kansas and that really makes you proud that that it doesn't matter which school you go to it doesn't matter which side you live on. If you go to our district you're gonna find great teachers you can find great support staff great administrative staff. Doing a great job for 5000 kids and -- it is of course sometimes you'll have a situation where. There's a school or a group that may we were not getting what we need to do there and I just don't see that here and that's been real real pleasant surprise to me not a surprise that a a pleasant part of my job appears that it doesn't matter which school you go to. You're gonna get an outstanding opportunity and everything from test scores to athletic performance to drop off or whatever it is. All that speaks for itself on the that the quality in all settings -- schools they're optimistic about the issue community. I actually think we're in a better spot today than we were at this time last year. Last year in July and July want governor parkas and cut all school district's general fund. By 68 dollars on the base per pupil is so we had a cut. Going right into the school year that we didn't know we perceive and on November 2030 cut over 200 dollars off the basic per pupil and so we really. Kind of had a hammer and this year I don't see those things being quite as dramatic.
Current thanks for your time our guest mark Gammons superintendent -- over schools that's all for this edition of issued 2010. Will be back next week thank you for listening I'm Steve Macintosh.
