Fort Osage State of the District, 2022: 'Going above and beyond'

This student’s joy in art shows some of the “tremendous celebrations of student success” that Fort Osage Superintendent Jason Snodgrass praised in his annual State of the District address Feb. 28. Photo from Fort Osage School District video.

Thanks to students, staff and the community “going above and beyond,” the Fort Osage School District has overcome many challenges to stay on course for a “wonderful” 2022, Superintendent Jason Snodgrass said in his annual State of the District address.

Real-world learning initiatives, activities and clubs and voter-supported construction and renovations all remain on track, Snodgrass said, spurring “tremendous celebrations of student success.”

Foundation work is under way for the new transportation and maintenance center and district offices. Photo from Fort Osage video.

The work hasn’t been easy through two years of the pandemic, he said, but “regardless of the obstacles, the entire school community rallied together to engage students in their learning.”

Everyone had to take on new responsibilities and new tasks, filling in wherever needed, he said.

Bond issue and levy transfer projects

Work is under way to carry out projects voters approved in a bond and levy election in April 2021, Snodgrass said.

The work includes kitchen renovations and upgrades and driveway and parking lot improvements throughout the district.

The pandemic caused some delays in building materials, but the foundation work is under way in the construction of a new transportation and maintenance center and district offices, he said. The building, under construction east of Prairie Fire Upper Elementary School on U.S. 24 is on track for completion in December, 2022.

In the summer of 2023, the high school will have a new gym and expanded band room.

The district in the past year has completed several energy efficiency projects such as installing LED lighting, and will be installing solar panels at several schools this spring.

Students get a taste of real-world learning.

Real-world learning

The district opened Campus Grounds, a student run coffee shop on U.S. 24 that is providing learning opportunities in business, management, marketing and problem-solving, Snodgrass said. Elsewhere, throughout the district, schools in partnership with businesses and organizations teamed with teachers to provide may other opportunities to embed real-world learning in lessons and career exploration.

“I’m proud of our students striving to achieve their best in the classroom and beyond,” he said.

To watch the State of the District video, go to fortosage.net/StateoftheDistrict.

The student-run Campus Grounds coffee shop opened in 2021.