From the Desk of Superintendent Mr. Patrick McKernan

Dear USD 429 Parents , Guardians, and Patrons:

It won’t be long and the leaves will be changing, and the winds will be coming steadier out of the north.  We have a few months before some wintery weather comes our way, but as we know living in Kansas, we will face some.  We will be putting out some weather information and school cancelation information in the coming weeks.

The board of education will be reviewing our five-year strategic plan to discuss all our successes and the challenges.  It is important to always recognize our successes and face our challenges head on.  We will be looking for some input as we have these discussions.  These are always great discussions to have as we learn a lot about ourselves and our schools.  Kansas public school enrollment is on the decline and has been since Covid.  Our district is not immune to this.  Our focus will continue to be, how do we provide and sustain a quality education for your children.  Declining birth rates, lack of housing, and parental choice all factor in to decreased numbers in schools.  We don’t get much help in Topeka with many legislatures who obviously push an anti-public education rhetoric, reinforced by the laws they pass that hurt Kansas public schools.  Regardless, we will continue to fight for public education.

As we wrap up fall activities seasons, I want to thank the student/athletes, coaches, parents, and community for support of these programs.  I am going to paraphrase a conversation that was shared with me and then reiterated to me.  A teacher whom we now employ, that taught in a much larger high school than ours said, “Troy has 20% of the students where I taught but offer 80% of the activities.”  We hope all students find a way to be involved in our schools.  We believe we provide the opportunity to do so. 

Patrick E. McKernan

Superintendent of Schools

Troy USD 429