Facts About the USD 251 Bond
Learn about the USD 251 Bond, one fact at a time! These facts are posted to our Facebook page first, so follow us there for the most up-to-date facts and information!
Let’s talk about the facilities assessment at Northern Heights.
As we’ve gone through the independent facilities assessment, one thing that really stands out is the difference between the needs identified at North Lyon County Elementary and Northern Heights.
NLC has maintenance needs. Northern Heights has a much longer list of aging systems and larger facility concerns.
Here are just a few of the items identified in the assessment:
The school does not have a FEMA-rated storm shelter, and the current below-grade locker room shelter is not handicap accessible.
There are ADA concerns with the path to the athletic field, the concession/restroom building, and emergency notification systems.
Some of the mechanical equipment serving West Hall dates all the way back to 1955, and other rooftop units are past their expected life.
The track, which dates back to 2000, is in poor condition and has ongoing drainage issues. The press box also has significant deterioration, including holes in the walls and ceiling.
There are roof issues, including seam gaps and failed caulking, along with interior ceilings and soffits showing sagging, chipping and exposed gaps.
The assessment also identifies concerns with plumbing, shower piping, welding exhaust, handwashing stations, and ventilation in the FACS classroom.
These aren’t just cosmetic issues. They represent years of aging infrastructure and systems that are becoming increasingly difficult to maintain.
We think it’s important for our community to see the information for themselves. This isn’t about saying NLC doesn’t have needs. It does. The assessment simply shows that the scope and age of the needs at Northern Heights are very different.
Our goal as USD 251 Together is to share the information, answer the questions we can, and help our community understand what is being proposed before November 3.
Look at the facts. Ask questions. Come to a tour. Be informed
Alumni Spotlight: Jacquelyne Leffler
For Jacquelyne Leffler, USD 251 is more than the place she went to school. It is part of the story of who she became—and now, it is the community she has chosen to raise her family in.
Jacquelyne attended Americus and Northern Heights High School, graduating in 2008. Today, she and her husband, Landon Stallbaumer, are raising their children, Jaeger (2) and Landry (2 months), in the same community that helped shape her.
One of the things Jacquelyne valued most about growing up in USD 251 was that community truly meant community. She remembers looking into the stands at sporting events and seeing two or even three generations of families supporting their students. People knew one another, cared about one another, and were invested in seeing each other succeed.
“We were surrounded by people who knew us, cared about us, and were invested in seeing us succeed. That is one of the greatest gifts this community gave me, and it is something I want my own children to experience.”
After college, Jacquelyne came home to start job hunting. What was supposed to be a short-term stay became almost 15 years.
“I came home because it was familiar, but I stayed because I realized this is where I belong.”
Now she wants her children to experience that same sense of belonging.
“I want them to go where our hearts are. And our hearts are here in 251.”
For Jacquelyne, supporting USD 251 is about more than a bond. It is about deciding what kind of school and community we want our children to inherit.
“This community invested in me. Now it’s our turn to invest in the next generation.”
She wants Jaeger and Landry to grow up knowing their classmates’ families, surrounded by teachers and community members who know them and believe in them, and building the same relationships that have carried her throughout her life.
That is the kind of community Jacquelyne wants to pass on to her children—and the kind of community she believes is worth investing in.
Join the District for a Public Meeting, Tomorrow!
Join the district tomorrow for its first public meeting! Come ask your questions, hear answers to questions others are asking, and get the information you need to make the most informed decision possible on November 3rd.
Let’s Talk Evergy: What Does It Mean for USD 251?
There has been some discussion about Evergy’s value and what it could mean for USD 251. Here’s what the most current information shows.
In 2026, Evergy’s assessed value in USD 251 went up about 10%, or about 5 million dollars. This information comes from the Kansas Department of Revenue, Division of Property Valuation.
So what does that 5 million dollars mean? It means the value of Evergy property counted in our district’s tax base went up by about 5 million dollars. It does not mean Evergy gave the school district 5 million dollars. It means there is more property value being used when local property taxes are figured.
There is also another important piece of information. In the summer of 2026, USD 251 received a letter from Evergy saying that they expect to continue operating the Emporia Energy Center for many years to come.
Read the letter from Evergy here: https://files-backend.assets.thrillshare.com/…/Evergy…
We’re sharing this information because we want voters to have the facts and the sources behind them as they consider the November 3 bond election.
Facts matter. Questions matter. And every voter deserves access to both.
What happens to a rural community when one of its largest employers leaves?
For North Lyon County, this isn’t just a hypothetical question. USD 251 is one of the largest employers in our community.
When you look at a map of the school districts within Lyon County, USD 251 may look like one small piece of a much larger county. But that small piece represents jobs, families, homes, businesses, volunteers, and people who have chosen to build their lives here.
When a major employer leaves a rural community, the impact reaches far beyond the people who lose their jobs.
Families can move away. Local businesses can lose customers. Homes can become harder to sell. Community organizations can lose volunteers and members. And with every family that leaves, there is one less family helping keep a small community going.
That is how a community can slowly begin to change.
Research on rural communities has found that school closures can contribute to population loss and changes in local economic activity.
So when we talk about the future of USD 251, we need to think beyond the walls of a school building.
What would North Lyon County look like if one of its largest employers was no longer here?
That is a question worth asking.
Because the future of USD 251 isn’t just about our schools.
It is about the future of North Lyon County.
Map source: Lyon County, Kansas — “School Districts Within Lyon County”
A “NO VOTE” DOESN’T END THE CONVERSATION
If the bond fails, USD 251 will still exist. Northern Heights will still exist. And our students will still need a high school.
Northern Heights dates back to the 1950s. The district has already studied what it would take to continue investing in that building, including a renovation option estimated at more than $20 million.
If this bond does not pass, those needs don’t disappear. The building will continue to age, systems will still need attention, and significant investment will eventually be needed through a bond or another funding source.
People may have different thoughts on the best path forward. That’s okay.
But one thing doesn’t change: the future of our high school still has to be addressed.
Our kids deserve spaces that are designed for what their needs are today. They deserve schools that support how they learn, how they grow, and what they will need to be successful in the future.
And most importantly, our kids deserve a community that is willing to invest in them and believe in the future they are going to build here.
A failed vote doesn’t make the needs go away. It just means we will have to have this conversation again.
The Teachers Behind Our Schools
Ask a North Lyon County parent what makes our schools special, and you probably won’t hear about the size of the classrooms or the age of the buildings.
You’ll hear a teacher’s name.
The teacher who noticed when your child was struggling. The teacher who made reading or math fun. The teacher who pushed them to reach higher, stayed a little longer, celebrated their accomplishments, or simply made them feel seen.
These are the stories we hear from NLC families again and again.
From our youngest students to our high school seniors, our teachers are doing more than teaching a subject. They are building confidence, creating opportunities, and helping our kids discover what they are capable of.
Some of these teachers are still here. Some have retired. Some have moved on. But the mark they left on our children remains.
And that’s why this bond feels so personal.
For years, our teachers have poured their time, energy, and hearts into North Lyon County kids. They’ve given our children memories they’ll carry for the rest of their lives.
Now we have an opportunity to give something back.
The bond would provide a new high school alongside our existing NLC Elementary and a new athletic complex near our schools—creating a campus where future generations of Wildcats can learn, grow, compete, and make the same kinds of memories that so many of us hold dear.
We aren’t just deciding what our schools will look like.
We’re deciding what kind of place we’re going to leave for the teachers who will teach our children, the students who will walk those halls, and the families who will call North Lyon County home for years to come.
We know people in our community may see this differently, and we respect that. But for those of us who believe this is the right investment in our kids, our teachers, and our community, we respectfully ask you to vote YES on the USD 251 bond.
September 27th Community Meeting
Thank you to everyone who came out to our meeting tonight! We appreciate you taking the time to learn more, ask questions, share your thoughts, and be part of the conversation.
If you’re still interested in helping, please reach out to a committee member or send us a message through our page! We truly have something for everyone- whether you have a little time, a lot of time, or simply want to help spread the word.
We’re grateful for everyone who is willing to be part of this effort and invest in the future of North Lyon County!