Parsons USD 503 is reaching more people through its social media channels.
The district’s board of education heard Monday from Tech Integration Specialist/ Social Media Manager Matthew Peak about the growth in Facebook followers. The district posts information to X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook. Facebook is the most widely used social media platform by persons following the district and schools.
Teachers and administrators have worked the last few years to share more of what’s going on in Parsons schools and classrooms and the accomplishments of their students. Coaches contribute regarding students’ participation in extracurricular activities.
Peak said there has been growth in Facebook follower numbers for all the schools, and the district office, in the last year. Lincoln increased by 219 followers, Garfield by 182 followers, Guthridge by 133 followers, Parsons Middle School by 500 followers, Parsons High School by 633 followers and the district office by 346 followers.
In the last 28 days, posts for the six buildings have reached 87,363 viewers.
Social media is just one way Parsons USD 503 works to communicate with patrons and taxpayers about the district, its teachers, students and even graduates. General news, feature stories, board meetings, sports and upcoming events are also regularly shared through television, radio, the Parsons Sun newspaper and YouTube.
Professional development The board heard the Sept.
See 503, Page 10.
23 professional development will include horizontal curriculum alignment across each grade level. There are future days allotted for vertical curriculum alignment between grade levels. Oct. 21 a differentiated professional development is planned.
Teachers can attend five different sessions from among all those offered by other professionals trained in specific areas of interest.
Feb. 10 will be a building differential professional development day.
Enrollment
Board members heard enrollment count date for the state is Sept. 20.
Enrollment may be down this year. Superintendent Lori Ray said three large families moving away from the district alone equated to a loss of 12 students.
The remaining decline in student numbers at the start of the year was attributed to a lower number of foster care children in Parsons as the state pushes for reintegration with families and fewer children in the foster care system.
That said, Ray told the board new students have come in offsetting some of those losses.
IN OTHER BUSINESS, the board: — Heard the district may be moving from communicating with parents through ClassDojo and Remind Hub to using a program on Thrillhare through Appetegy.
— Heard school is not in session Sept. 23 for staff professional development.
— Accepted $5,436 in donations for Parsons schools. — Approved exceeding the revenue neutral rate. — Approved the district budget as published following a review of the building needs assessments.
— Adopted the Local Option Budget of 33%. — Approve the Kansas Association of School Boards policy update recommendation regarding workers compensation and changes to the law.
— Approved the update to the travel arrangements policy to include an excluded paragraph about documentation required for reimbursement.
— Accepted the resignation of Anthony Houk as middle school assistant track coach.
— Hired Ruth Haile as part-time custodian at Guthridge; Rylee Harris as Guthridge Title I aide; Emya Horton as Guthridge Title I aide; and Julie Scofield as child nutrition staff.
— Approved the transfers of Logan Bowman from part-time custodian to full-time custodian at Parsons Middle School and Jonathan Wells from technology hardware technician to assistant technology director.
