ARKANSAS CITY — The Arkansas City Board of Education received news of a new grant for career education programs Monday night while also delaying action on proposed policy changes involving student cell phone use and staff communication with students.
Superintendent Will Pfannenstiel announced that USD 470 has been selected to receive a $14,000 charitable contribution from GE Aerospace. The funding will support agriculture education, computer science and engineering programs at Arkansas City High School.
District officials said the grant will help expand opportunities for students preparing for careers in technical and skilled fields.
The board also tabled action on several proposed policy updates related to staff communication with students, staff social media use and student cell phone use.
Board members requested revisions to provide clearer guidance regarding electronic communication between staff and students, including texting, direct messaging and social media interactions. Proposed updates also address expectations for student use of personal electronic devices during the school day and include recommendations from the Kansas Association of School Boards.
In other business, the board approved a 3 percent pay increase for classified employees and a 2.75 percent pay increase for administrative and supervisory staff for the 2026-27 school year.
The board also approved a request from the Arkansas City Police Department to use Arkansas City Middle School for training exercises on July 14 and July 30. District officials said ACMS staff will work from alternate locations and the building will be closed to visitors during the training dates.
Additional action included approval of a resolution supporting USD 470’s partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield Pathways, making the district eligible for up to $10,000 in grant funding for substance use prevention and student support programs.
Board members also approved replacing the aging chiller system at Arkansas City High School, reviewed the timeline for development of the FY 2027 budget and discussed proposed updates to the district’s Classified Personnel Handbook.
The board met in executive session under the trade secrets and financial affairs exception. No action was taken following the executive session.
