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USD320 Wamego

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THE RAIDER REPORT

Image features the words 'The Raider Report' in large, bold text with "From the Superintendent" underneath and a small photo of Superintendent Josh Meyer in the bottom right corner. The Wamego Raiders feathered W logo is centered on the left side of the image.

October 1, 2025

As we started this school year in USD 320, we have refocused on our ONE Wamego motto.  To focus those efforts we use the word ONE for our theme for this school year:  ONE Wamego: Ownership. Next. Elevate. Ownership means taking responsibility for our roles and impact. Next reminds us to keep moving forward, learning and adapting as we go.  It’s about “next play” mentality and developing resilience. Elevate challenges us to raise the bar for ourselves, our students, and each other.  One district. One team. One purpose. That’s what ONE Wamego is all about.

September 20th marked the official count day for enrollment for school districts in Kansas.  Our preliminary number this year is 1,496 students. Kindergarten is our smallest class at 81 students, while the freshman class is the largest with 134. Over the last four years, we’ve seen an average enrollment decline of about 28 students per year. While not alarming, it’s something we’re monitoring closely, especially as it relates to staffing, facilities, and long-term budgeting. Like many districts, we’re seeing the effects of declining birth rates across the state.

At its September meeting, the Board of Education approved the 2025-26 budget, which includes a small increase of 0.81 mills—about a 5% rise in overall taxes levied. Every additional dollar, along with state funding, is going directly to cover rising costs, most of which are tied to personnel. Transparency is important to us, so full budget information is available anytime on the USD 320 website.

Looking ahead, the municipal election is set for November 4. The deadline to register is October 14. These elections may not include state or national races, but they matter deeply to our local community. Four USD 320 Board of Education seats are on the ballot this year, and I strongly encourage everyone to take the time to vote.

I’m also excited to share that Jacy McIntosh (4th grade teacher at West Elementary) and Adam Topliff (social studies teacher at WHS) have been named USD 320 Teachers of the Year. Both will be nominated for the Kansas Teacher of the Year program. Their dedication is a true reflection of the quality of our staff and students here in Wamego.

I’m proud to serve the ONE Wamego community and grateful for the teamwork that makes our schools strong.  As always, if you’d like to visit about any of these topics or have other questions or concerns, I can be reached at 785-456-7643 or at meyerj@usd320.com. 

-Josh Meyer – USD 320 Superintendent

A professional photo of Superintendent Josh Meyer wearing a crisp black suite and white shirt with a black and white striped tie. He has short hair, a manicured beard and mustache, and a welcoming smile.