Randy Longoria resigns at CCS; new food service hired

    With the resignation of Randy Longoria last week, Chase County Schools now has three positions to fill for the 2022-23 school year.
    School board members approved Longoria’s resignation 9-0 at the May 10 board meeting.
    Hired in August 2019, Longoria is completing his third year at CCS, where he taught Spanish and physical education the first two years, then was a full-time PE instructor this year.
    He’s led a successful high school girls’ basketball program as head coach all three seasons, finishing here with an overall 53-18 record and two district finals appearances.
    He was also an assistant high school football coach the first two years, then headed the junior high football program last fall.
    Longoria will be moving to Colorado and has accepted a teaching position with Colorado Early Colleges in Fort Collins.
    He said his 30 years as a head girls’ basketball coach comes to an end at CCS.
    “I have loved, loved, loved beyond description my time here as the girls’ basketball coach and that’s why I’m hanging up my whistle. I can’t imagine starting in a new place with a new team,” he said.
    “I’m at peace saying this was my last group,” he said of the 2021-22 team.
    Longoria said he’ll remember with fondness all of the teams he’s coached here, and plans to be back to watch some Longhorn basketball and football games.

    The move to Fort Collins will also put him closer to his finance. The couple will be married April 29, 2023.
    CCS is advertising for Longoria’s PE position, as well as a 7-12 English Language Learners and a K-6 Title I position, said Supt. Adam Lambert.
Other business
    In other business, the board hired a new food service provider, approved five days of summer mental health services, reviewed recent state test scores and set fees for the driver’s education program.
    Oppa! Food Management, Inc., based in Chesterfield, Missouri will be providing the food service at Chase County Schools next year after a 9-0 board vote.
    Supt. Lambert said it came down to menu offerings in choosing Oppa! over Lunchtime Solutions Inc., which served the school the past few years.
    “We liked the menu and its diversity of options. There are more protein options,” he said.
    The board approved Oppa!’s proposal of $322,768, which will be offset by the federal meal reimbursements CCS will receive, Lambert said, and comes in lower than LSI’s charges. Oppa!’s proposal guarantees CCS will see an annual profit of $10,000.
    Despite the lower cost, Lambert said the deciding factor in choosing Opaa! came down to the menu options.
    Five days of mental health services at a cost not to exceed $5,000 was approved. Dr. Luke McConnell, whose company provided the service this school year, was hired for the additional days.
    Supt. Lambert said the mental health services will be for K-12 students who are currently meeting with McConnell or for referrals over the summer.
    It’s expected McConnell will be here two days in June, two in July and one day in August.
    “The main objective is that students receiving services don’t have to halt them during the summer,” Lambert said.
    The board also approved the $180 fee for summer driver’s education. Classroom sessions started this week. Kriss Krutsinger returns as program instructor.
Test scores up
    State test scores had some good news for CCS, and Lambert shared them with the board at the meeting.
    Scores for grades 3-8 were released for English/Language Arts and math, and both saw increases over last year.
    The CCS student ELA score was 57% proficient, up from 48% in 2020-21 and 44% in 2018-19. No state tests were taken in 2019-20 due to COVID.
    In math, the latest scores show 68% proficient in grades 3-8, compared to 58% in both 2020-21 and 2018-19. Again, no tests were given in the 2019-20 COVID year.
    “Our staff and students have been working extremely hard and these results validate all of the hard work they have been putting in,” Lambert said.
  “When I took this job as superintendent I challenged the staff that my three-year goal was to have both ELA and math at or above 60%.  We are currently on track to hit that goal,” he said.
    This year’s average ACT scores for the junior class were up about .3 of a point, Lambert added, and three juniors had an ACT score of over 30. Thirty-six is a perfect score.