Parsons High School may be getting a greenhouse in the new year, further enhancing the school’s developing horticulture program.
Kelsey Fabrycky spoke to the USD 503 Board of Education Monday about the horticulture program and how the students grow herbs, lettuce, Swiss chard and other leafy greens in the hydroponics lab. The vertical columns allow for two acres of greens to be grown in a small space, so students can grow and distribute fresh greens weekly to high school students and staff. The woodshop class has constructed a farm stand for the class to set up outside the school to provide a place for the public to pick up fresh greens, too.
“All the leftover stuff, we will put in there for the community to come and grab. We’re just waiting for the base to secure it to be made, and we have to paint it,” she said of the farm stand. “Hopefully we’ll have that up and running at least by spring.”
While the hydroponics lab is conducive to growing lightweight leafy greens, a greenhouse will allow students to grow other fruits and vegetables they cannot grow in the hydroponics lab due to their size or weight.
With that in mind, Fabrycky said that on Nov. 7 she and some students visited the K-State Extension Lab and presented to the Grow Labette Committee about her program’s desire for a greenhouse to expand learning opportunities for students.
“They have a grant for three years. Every year they get $10,000. This year they’ve agreed to use those funds to do our greenhouse for us,” Fabrycky said. “So we secured funding for a 16-foot by 48-foot, gothic style high tunnel, hoop house/greenhouse.
“The grant that they are getting, one of the counties dropped out of it, so they are reallocating the funds right now, so we don’t have access to them until they figured that out. I was told they would be available within the school year.”
Full approval for the project and acceptance of the grant by the district administration and board has not been given, but Fabrycky said the board seemed pretty excited about it.
If approval is granted, setting up the greenhouse might be a job for the construction students this spring or a summer job for the maintenance department.
The sides of a hoop house are raised in summer months.
“The hoop house is double
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poly plastic, so we’ll blow air through there to create a barrier between the outside and inside and help retain the heat in the winter,” Fabrycky said.
IN OTHER BUSINESS, the board: Accepted a total in donations of $7,841.63.
Heard there will be early dismissal at noon Dec. 20.
Heard the winter recess will be Dec. 23 through Jan. 3.
Heard there will be no school Jan. 6 due to professional development. Students will return to school Jan. 7 from winter recess.
Approved a bid from Uplink of $39,680 for technology and ethernet networking cable installation, and a bid from INA Alert for $30, 811 as a backup. All other bids were beyond expected costs ranging from $48,830 to $113,061.
Heard because all Esser III requirements have been met, the district no longer has to have a plan for safe school return in place.
Heard KASB policies presented to the board before had some typos. Policies remain the same but typos were fixed and will be approved in January.
Heard an update from food service regarding increased numbers of students eating meals.
Heard the district is creating job descriptions, which it has not had in place before for many positions. Each month more descriptions will be presented to the board for approval. This month the board approved descriptions for transportation director, bus driver, bus monitor, food service director, kitchen manager and child nutrition staff.
Approved purchasing the new accounting software Skyward for the district.
Accepted the resignation of Kelly Bedore as high school cheerleader coach and high school Spirit Club sponsor.
Hired Hanna Mott as the new PHS girls assistant wrestling coach effective the 20242025 season.
Accepted the resignations for retirement of David Miller evening floater custodian and Jo Dee Rea, Lincoln Title I aide.
Approved contracts for the Superintendent Lori Perkins and Assistant Superintendent Jeff Pegues for the 2026-2027 school year.
Approved principal contracts for the 2025-2026 school year.
Approved the Notice of Federal Interest, regarding the federal award from the U.S. Department of Education to replace the HVAC at Parsons Middle School to improve indoor air quality.
