News Release May 14, 2026

Board of Education Receives Districtwide Building Needs Assessment Summary

EMPORIA, KS - Emporia Public Schools Board of Education members received a districtwide summary of the 2025-26 Building Needs Assessment on Wednesday evening from Dr. Ryan Karjala, Director of Assessments and Accountability. The assessment reviewed academic, staffing, facility, and support needs identified by schools across the district as part of the district’s continuous improvement and accreditation process.

The Building Needs Assessment highlighted several common themes identified throughout Emporia Public Schools. Schools reported a continued need for strengthened Tier 2 and Tier 3 academic interventions, expanded support for English Language Learners (ELL), additional staffing support, and increased family engagement opportunities. Schools also emphasized the importance of addressing student social-emotional and behavioral needs while continuing to provide extended learning opportunities such as tutoring and summer school programs.

In addition to instructional and student support needs, schools identified facility priorities, including HVAC improvements, roof repairs, playground updates, sidewalk safety, and general maintenance needs.

Dr. Karjala shared that schools continue to experience increasing needs related to student attendance, chronic absenteeism, mental health supports, staffing shortages, and services for students with disabilities. Districtwide themes also included concerns related to literacy and math skill gaps, kindergarten readiness, and the growing need for bilingual and specialized instructional support.

As part of the process, each school identified barriers impacting state assessment proficiency and outlined strategies to help address those challenges. Proposed solutions included increasing staffing capacity, strengthening curriculum alignment across grade levels, expanding professional development opportunities, improving communication and family partnerships, and providing targeted academic and behavioral supports for students.

The district summary also highlighted the need for long-term planning and reliable resources to continue supporting school improvement efforts across the district. Based on the needs identified, most schools estimated it could take four to five years or longer to reach their targeted student achievement goals.

District administrators shared that the Building Needs Assessment process provides a clearer picture of the district’s strengths, challenges, and areas for growth. Information gathered through the assessment will help guide future planning, budgeting decisions, and continued efforts to support student success across Emporia Public Schools.