From the Desk of Patrick McKernan

Dear USD 429 Parents and Patrons:

As we move into the last 11 weeks of school, I wanted to share my thanks and appreciation for your support of our schools.  Yes, we are in the last 11 weeks of school!  We have seemingly avoided some snow days and real nasty weather.  I probably just jinxed us, but I would not expect too much more snowy or icy winter weather.  We do live in Kansas, however!

Troy Schools, like schools across the state and nation are facing decreasing enrollments.  You can read many news articles of small schools like our own, or districts as big as the Olathe school district, losing enrollment.  We don’t have to look far, just across the river, to see school consolidation, in the St, Joe School District.  The causes of this are many, and I won’t get into them, but most are very common throughout the state and across the nation.  It is a fact; we need student population to keep our schools healthy.  With decreasing enrollment comes decreased funding, decreases in student class sizes, and decreased numbers of students participating in activities.  Your board of education and I will be continuing to look at revenue streams, and cost saving measures, heading into the next school year.  Our enrollment should be steady for the 2026-2027 school year.  This does help for budgeting purposes.  The board of education is committed to small class section sizes in our elementary, as robust a curriculum as we can manage and fund, and continuing as many programs as we can. 

That is the doom and gloom.  Here is what we know for sure.  We believe we do offer kids a quality education, teachers and staff a great place to work, and parents and community a school district in which they can take great pride!  The Board of Education, the administration, teachers, and the entire 429 staff will continue to work hard in all these areas to keep moving our district forward despite the challenges we face.  We expect students to work through their challenges and obstacles, and we will do the same.  Again, thanks for all you do to help us rise above those challenges. 

Patrick E. McKernan

Superintendent of Schools

Troy USD 429