USD 480 Board Approves Budget and Design for New Schools

The USD 480 school board met Monday night. The board approved the budget for the school year and a design for the five new schools which will be constructed.

The board approved a budget of almost 75 million dollars which is up from last year. Last year the district came in under budget and spent just over 64 million dollars and spent over 65 million dollars two years ago. The increased budget will not affect the the mill levy in Liberal.

The board also adopted a recommendation from the design team for plans for the new schools. The schools have modern designs. This is another step toward breaking ground on the three new elementary schools and two new middle schools. There are still routine property issues which the district is wading through before construction can begin. The district has purchased most of the property for the schools and is in the process of securing all of the property. They have had to work through imminent domain to purchase some of the property.

The school board will meet again August 18.