District overview
West Elk USD 282
Funding structure, how it compares to peers, and where major projects stand.
How is a small rural Kansas district paying its bills?
West Elk USD 282 serves Howard, Moline, Severy, Elk Falls and the surrounding parts of Elk County, Kansas, with an elementary school and a junior/senior high school on one campus. Kansas pays districts mostly through a state formula based on student counts (FTE), with extra weight for at-risk and other students, plus local property taxes. West Elk also sponsors E-School Virtual Charter Academy, an online school run under a management contract. Each online student brings $5,600 in state aid, and the 2026-27 budget plans for 600 of them. A seven-member elected board sets policy and the budget, and Superintendent Martin Burke runs the district.
Fewer in-person students
In-person FTE fell from 360.5 in fall 2023 to 329.5 in fall 2025; 330 is estimated for 2026-27.
Online school is big money
The virtual fund is budgeted at $3.36 million for 2026-27, up from about $1.05 million spent in 2025-26.
Taxes going up
The proposed levy of $1,542,517 is above the revenue neutral rate, which required a hearing on September 14, 2026.
Special ed co-op
West Elk works with nearby districts in a special education cooperative, and federal aid per special education staff member is expected to drop by about $1,400.
Higher spending authority is a ceiling, not a promise to spend; the extra mostly reflects the online school's projected growth.
Where the district stands
Major projects
Early Childhood Learning Center
construction finishingA new early childhood building is being finished on campus, with masonry and fencing done and landscaping and a fire marshal meeting next.
- Final concrete pour
- Masonry complete; fencing underway
- Sod and irrigation discussed
Funding
Not stated in the minutes
Campus police department
application approvedThe board voted to apply to create a campus police department and to post a school security officer job.
- Board votes 7-0 to apply
Funding
Not stated
Modular classroom removal
completeFour old modular classrooms were sold for $20,000 and moved off campus in summer 2026.
- Sale to Sherlock Mobile Homes approved
- Modulars moved
Funding
Sale proceeds to the district
Track repair or replacement
unfunded; gathering bidsA parent described the track as in poor condition and proposed a fundraising campaign; the board asked for bids.
- Request heard; bids requested
Funding
Possible community fundraising
Recent news
Built from board minutes (November 2025 to August 2026) and the 2026-27 budget notice, Form 150 and expenditure summary posted on www.westelk.us.
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