Photo courtesy Keystone Learning Services Facebook
Representatives from Keystone Learning Services and USD 340 have stated they are committed to working toward an agreement which benefits both organizations and allows them to share the space inside the Ozawkie building at 500 E. Sunflower Blvd.
by Holly Allen
USD 340 Board of Education members voted unanimously at a special meeting the evening of March 28 to terminate the current lease agreement on the Ozawkie building with Keystone Learning Services, effective June 30.
However, according to Superintendent Jason Crawford, the move is a procedural one mandated by the current contract, further elaborating that the Jefferson West school district intends to work with Keystone toward a contract which mutually benefits the needs of both parties.
“I see both sides working on a much better agreement while helping USD 340 to address immediate needs for preschool and early childhood space,” Superintendent Crawford stated.
The district currently has both Keystone and NEKCap programs within the elementary school building. As the district has grown, the school intends to add a fourth kindergarten classroom, and possibly a fourth first grade classroom in the fall.
“Our current elementary building is beyond capacity for classroom space, so that led to the special meeting — to see if we could use some space in Ozawkie to help address that immediate need without putting a burden on the district tax payers to buy a temporary modular or other option,” said Crawford.
The building, located at 500 E. Sunflower Blvd. in Ozawkie, is owned by USD 340, which previously utilized the space as a middle school. For more than a decade, the building has been leased to Keystone Learning Services and houses John Dewey Learning Academy, which predominantly serves special education and at-risk students from USD 338 Valley Falls, USD 340 Jefferson West, USD 339 Jefferson County North, USD 341 Oskaloosa, USD 342 McLouth, USD 343 Perry-Lecompton, USD 377 Atchison County Community, and USD 449 Easton.
Keystone Executive Director Doug Anderson reports the organization currently utilizes all available rooms inside the Ozawkie building for classrooms, office space, storage, and meeting rooms. He advises Keystone would need to reconfigure their current layout in order to create the available space necessary for USD 340.
There had been discussion in recent years between the Jefferson West school district and Keystone about the possibility of the program purchasing the building from USD 340. However, an agreement over terms was never reached. Keystone board members had also recently discussed the possibility of purchasing the former Perry Center building owned by Highland Community College, which ceased operations of its in-person classes at Perry this semester. That building also houses the community library, and a gymnasium occasionally utilized by its former owners, USD 343.
However, the Keystone board withdrew its consideration of the Highland Community College building this past December.
“The current location is more centrally located for our member districts,” stated Anderson. “We have been in partnership with Jeff West for 12 years and plan to collaborate in good faith to come to an agreement that is in the best interests of all students and staff involved in this important decision.”
The Keystone board will take up the issue for discussion at its next meeting, to be held at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 19.
(The newspaper office was informed after this week’s paper went to press that the Keystone board has called a special meeting for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 5, to discuss the property. There will be an opportunity for public comment. The meeting itself is scheduled to be exclusively an executive session.)