Latest news with #CommunitySchoolDistrict
Business Wire
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Seymour Community School District Unveils First Propane School Buses
SEYMOUR, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Seymour Community School District students will board new buses this upcoming 2025/2026 school year. At a ribbon-cutting ceremony today, the district unveiled a fleet of 20 Blue Bird Vision Propane school buses, contracted through Kobussen Buses, that will run entirely on clean-operating propane autogas. 'We are thrilled to introduce these new propane-powered buses to our district for the first time,' said Kellie Bohn, district administrator of Seymour Community School District. 'This type of alternatively fueled bus reflects our commitment to providing safe, reliable and environmentally friendly transportation for our students while also being mindful of our community's future.' Each of the new 2025 Blue Bird Vision Propane 77-passenger school buses comes equipped with a 7.3L V8 Ford engine and ROUSH CleanTech propane fuel system. Ford's 335-horsepower 7.3L engine is compact, powerful and easy to maintain. This bus retains equivalent horsepower, torque, and warranty coverage as its gas and diesel counterparts. 'Blue Bird is proud to see Seymour Community School District, through its partnership with Kobussen Buses, transition to ultra-low emission propane buses,' said Steve Whaley, alternative fuels manager for Blue Bird Corporation. 'These vehicles deliver exceptional performance while significantly reducing emissions, creating a healthier environment for students and the community.' Purchased from Blue Bird's authorized dealer, Wisconsin Bus Sales, the buses will be fueled at a recently installed propane station located at Kobussen's Seymour facility. Country Visions Cooperative will serve as the fuel provider for the first five years. For the 2025-26 school year, Kobussen has a locked-in rate of $1.20 per gallon of propane. 'Today's event marked our commitment to Seymour Community School District as well as other Wisconsin school districts to provide reliable and safe school bus transportation that also reduces harmful emissions from our air,' said Dan Kobussen, owner of Kobussen Bus. Near-zero emission propane vehicles reduce smog-producing emissions, eliminate particulate matter and lower nitrogen oxides by 95% compared with diesel. 'Propane autogas is a proven solution for school districts looking to lower their carbon footprint without compromising on performance or reliability,' said Todd Mouw, executive vice president of ROUSH CleanTech. 'We're excited to see Seymour Community School District, spearheaded by Kobussen Bus, lead the way in adopting this cleaner, cost-effective technology in Wisconsin.' Blue Bird is the only U.S.-owned and operated school bus manufacturer in the United States. The company remains the proven clean transportation leader with more than 22,000 propane school buses operating in over 1,100 districts across North America. About Blue Bird Corporation Blue Bird (NASDAQ: BLBD) is recognized as a technology leader and innovator of school buses since its founding in 1927. Our dedicated team members design, engineer and manufacture school buses with a singular focus on safety, reliability, and durability. School buses carry the most precious cargo in the world – 25 million children twice a day – making them the most trusted mode of student transportation. The company is the proven leader in low- and zero-emission school buses with more than 25,000 propane, natural gas, and electric powered buses sold. Blue Bird is transforming the student transportation industry through cleaner energy solutions. For more information on Blue Bird's complete product and service portfolio, visit About Kobussen Buses Ltd. Kobussen Buses Ltd. is an 87-year-old Wisconsin based school bus contractor and a leader and innovator in the school bus industry. We are dedicated to safe eco-efficient school transportation. Kobussen operates over 800 buses for 33 school districts. More than 200 of our buses are propane powered. Visit for more information. About ROUSH CleanTech ROUSH CleanTech, an industry leader of advanced clean transportation solutions, is a division of the global engineering company Roush Enterprises. ROUSH CleanTech develops propane autogas technology for medium-duty Ford commercial vehicles and school buses. With more than 50,000 vehicles on the road, the Livonia, Michigan-based company delivers economical, emissions-reducing options for fleets across North America. Learn more at or by calling About Seymour Community School District Seymour Community School District in Seymour, Wisconsin, has an enrollment of 1,928 students. The school serves students from Seymour, Black Creek, Oneida and surrounding areas. The new propane buses fit in its motto of Empowering Students… Embracing Partnerships… Ensuring Success. Visit or more information.
Yahoo
24-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Voters to decide on Zachary school district tax proposal in Nov. 15 election
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — Voters in Zachary will decide on a proposed school district tax initiative in November that would go toward raises for teachers and staff, building maintenance, and updating technology. The Zachary Community School District explains online that while this is a new proposed tax, it would not increase tax rates. Voters would see the proposition, which would rededicate funds from existing bond tax millages, on the ballot in the Nov. 15 election. 'The proposal is to continue collecting a property millage that is already in place (from bonds that are being paid off) and use that money for other district needs. In short, you will pay the same property tax rate you pay now – it's just that after the bond is paid each year, any millages not needed will go into teacher pay, school maintenance, and technology instead of rolling off,' the school system explained. School district officials said school board members could roll millages back if more funding becomes available. Voters who want to ask questions or learn more about the tax initiative can attend a community meeting set for 6 p.m. Thursday, July 24, at the school district's main office on Church Street. What would the funding go to? If approved, the money would go to three specific areas. Pay raises: The school district said it aims to be more competitive with salaries and benefits for teachers and staff like nearby districts. Building upgrades: Officials said repairs and upgrades are needed for older school buildings between 10-20 years old. Projects would include roof replacements, HVAC systems, and safety improvements. Technology upgrades: Funding would be used to upgrade technology for staff and students. Louisiana Bond Commission OKs 3 East Baton Rouge tax plan ballot measures What voters need to know for Nov. 15 election Deadline to register to vote in person, by mail, or at OMV office: Oct. 15. Deadline to register to vote online: Oct. 25. Deadline to request absentee ballot: By 4:30 p.m. Nov. 12. Early voting dates: 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 1-8, excluding Nov. 2. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on election day. Latest News Project 70805, Baton Rouge councilman to give out school supplies to kids PHOTOS: Remembering Hulk Hogan, iconic wrestler dead at 71 2025 Cortana Kiwanis Christmas Parade canceled due to rising costs, funding shortfall Chuck Mangione, known for 'Feels So Good,' dies at 84 Cause of death for celebrity chef Anne Burrell released Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Four-day school week 'went fantastic' says Saydel Superintendent
DES MOINES, Iowa — The Saydel Community School District started looking into the possibility of a four-day school week three years ago, and this Wednesday marked the end of the school year with the first time applying that theory. There are 18 school districts in the state that have converted to a four-day school week. For Saydel, the two major goals were mental well-being and retention of quality staff. As a smaller school district surrounded by giants in the metro, something needed to change to appeal to potential teachers. 'We want to make sure that we retain our people and keep them here for longer to make a larger impact. And then obviously, you know, if we can't attract top talent, that becomes a problem as well,' said Todd Martin, Superintendent of Saydel Community School District. 'At the beginning of the summer in 2024, there were 25 full-time positions needing to be filled. Fast forward to this year, there are only 13 positions needing to be filled. For Martin, that indicates the four-day week is working.' DMPS selling student-run radio station KDPS 88.1 FM 'And in the past before that, years ago, it was nothing to have, you know, 30 new staff members. So you can see 13 is a dramatic decrease in new people to our district, which means we can spend more time on further developing people that are currently here,' said Martin. Martin added that there are 15-20 people applying for each position and people are cold calling about those jobs. That has not happened during his tenure as superintendent. The district plans on doing the four-day weeks for the next two years, with Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays off. More data will be collected about attendance, staff retention, and impact on academics. The district did a district-wide survey in the fall and the spring to see what students, staff, and parents/guardians had to say. On the academic side, Martin said that the results show in just one year on the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress tests. There was an increase in scores which means, to the administration, something is working. '…10% increase is fantastic across the board as a district. Our elementary saw the greatest gains, which was really awesome,' said Martin. 'Matter of fact, we look for them to really show great improvements on the report card this year. As for our middle school and high school we did wee quite a few pockets of excellence beginning to grow, which is very promising. The way I explain this to anybody that asks is all the arrows are pointing in the right direction, and now it's just about maintaining that consistently over time to continue to move towards comprehensive improvement as a district.' Martin said schools have reached out inquiring about the four-day weeks, asking what works and what doesn't. He expects there to be even more school districts next year adopting this calendar. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
North Scott Community Schools receive $15K grant for manufacturing education
The North Scott Community School District is bolstering its commitment to manufacturing education. 'We feel like we are doing a wonderful job placing students into the building trade, the different skills trade, the manufacturing within the Quad Cities because there is a huge need, and a huge opportunity for students after they graduate here,' said David Linnenbrink, North Scott's industrial technology teacher. The school district received a $15,000 grant from the Gene Haas Foundation. 'We're just super excited for the opportunities that our students are going to have,' Linnenbrink said. The grant will be used for scholarships ranging between $500 and $2,500 for technology training and machining-based engineering programs. 'A lot of the baby boomers are retiring and getting older so we know we need to fill those occupations and build a pipeline to fill those machinist jobs,' Linnenbrink said. North Scott's machinist program is relatively new, with about 10 students, while the high school's welding program has about 80 students. 'I don't know if they are as educated about the opportunities in the machining area, or welding, or manufacturing engineering,' Linnenbrink said. 'We are really excited to continue to promote this program, and then recruit them into the program, and get them into those classes and obviously get them placed into businesses that support that pipeline in the Quad Cities. It's in dire need of machinists.' Over at Jewell Group, North Scott senior Aidan McLaughlin is working a machinist apprenticeship. He looks forward to the impact the grant has on North Scott. 'I feel like that will be very good for us, as a school, because that will bring in a lot more kids because they will have more machinery to actually get their hands on in the shop at the all about setting up current Lancers for future success,' McLaughlin said. '(The grant will) expand upon the opportunities our students have right now, and this is a good way to build and expand upon the machining program,' Linnenbrink said. The North Scott Community School District has two years to use the money. It still can apply for the grant every year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Iowa Supreme Court: District didn't defame ex-West High tennis coach by posting meeting video
The Iowa Supreme Court upheld the dismissal of a defamation and breach of contract lawsuit from a former West High School tennis coach, concluding a three-year legal battle. Anne Villarini filed a lawsuit in 2022 against the Iowa City Community School District, arguing that the district enabled defamatory comments by two former students. The comments were published in meeting minutes and broadcast in a video of the meeting from April 2022 on the district's board website and YouTube channel. Villarini, who joined the West High tennis program in 2013, requested "on many occasions" that the school district remove the video and redact the meeting minutes, claiming that the comments and video were defamatory. More: Iowa City West High tennis coach sues district, calling comments at school board meeting defamatory Villarini also argued that the district wrongfully terminated her and breached the contract terms. She was hired on a series of one-year contract extensions during each tenure, according to court filings. A Johnson County District Court judge initially granted "summary judgment" to the Iowa City district and dismissed Villarini's lawsuit. In November 2024, the state Court of Appeals denied Villarini's appeal. The Iowa Supreme Court agreed with the lower courts on Friday, May 16, upholding the dismissal and writing that the school is protected by "fair-report privilege." The principle often protects the news media from legal repercussions when it reports on defamation during a public meeting. "Applying the fair-report privilege to public school board meetings adds scaffolding to our open-government structure," Iowa Supreme Court Judge Samuel Langholz wrote in the opinion. "Shielding those that err on the side of transparency by drafting thorough minutes or posting unabridged videos." More: Federal judge grants injunction in Iowa student visa case, halting possible deportation By publishing the meeting video, the court ruled that the Iowa City Community School District was "fairly and accurately relay(ing) statements made during open, official proceedings." The court said the fair-report privilege "furthers the public's interest" by allowing residents to make their own judgments about meetings, school board decisions and board members without having to attend the meeting. During the comment period from the meeting in question in April 2022, a then-Iowa City West High School student described a 15-second experience where Villarini allegedly "touched (her) inappropriately" on her back and thighs and said "inappropriate things." She and another student were critical of how the district handled the alleged situation. "The district made clear to me that my feelings do not matter," the student said, referencing a district investigation and report that preceded the comments. That report confirmed that some of the alleged actions, which included "unwanted physical contact," favoritism, retaliation, and insensitivity, did happen. The district determined that the accusations didn't amount to "incident contact" and were "not violative of any ICCSD policy," according to the Johnson County District Court judge's 2023 ruling. More: Iowa Legislature ends 2025 session with no action on property taxes. Here's what happened: The report cautioned Villarini to "refrain from touching players as much as reasonably possible." Villarini remained the coach of the girls' tennis team after the report was released. Villarini was placed on administrative leave in 2022, the day after the two students spoke at the board meeting. Villarini said the decision was a "knee-jerk" reaction. She received full compensation under the terms of her contract, according to the Iowa Supreme Court. More: Despite a sudden closure 6 months ago, the Sanctuary Pub is reopening under new ownership In her claim for breach of contract, Villarini wrote that Iowa has a public policy to protect 'against school employees being forced out of their jobs by angry parents and students making wild, unfounded allegations for the purpose of ousting that employee.' The Iowa Supreme Court agreed with the district court, which said the claim failed because Villarini did not reference a "clearly defined public policy." Ryan Hansen covers local government and crime for the Press-Citizen. He can be reached at rhansen@ or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @ryanhansen01. This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Supreme Court upholds dismissal of West High coach's defamation suit
