Message from the Superintendent
Dear Ell-Saline Community,
As we approach the end of the calendar year and the holiday season, I want to express my sincere gratitude to our district constituents, patrons, families, and community partners for your continued support of our schools. I also want to extend a special thank you to our Ell-Saline staff members—teachers, support staff, administrators, maintenance staff, bus drivers and substitutes—whose dedication and commitment to our students make a difference every single day. Your hard work, care, and professionalism are the foundation of our district’s success.
This year has brought several important facility and safety improvements aimed at enhancing student learning and well-being. We are excited to share the completion of a new elementary playground, providing a safe and engaging space for our youngest students. In addition, secure entryways have been completed at both school buildings, strengthening safety measures for students, staff, and visitors.
To further enhance campus safety, the district has implemented the Alertus Early Response System. This system provides rapid, multi-channel alerts and notifications throughout our buildings, supporting timely communication during emergencies and improving overall preparedness.
We have also installed new speaker/bell systems at both buildings. These systems will improve daily communication and emergency response and are scheduled to be fully operational in early January.
We are proud of the hard work demonstrated by our students and staff on recent state assessments. Overall, Ell-Saline students performed at or above state averages in Math and English, reflecting strong instruction and a continued commitment to student learning. While we celebrate these successes, we also use assessment data to identify areas for growth as we work to ensure every student is prepared for future success.
This year marked the completion of first year of the Kansas Education System of Accreditation (KESA) 2.0 process. Through this work, our district has reaffirmed its commitment to continuous improvement and student-centered learning. As we move forward, Ell-Saline will continue focusing on High Impact Instructional Practices that support student engagement, academic growth, and long-term success for all learners.
We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Shane Schneider for his eight years of dedicated service on the Ell-Saline Board of Education. His leadership and commitment to our schools have been greatly appreciated. We also welcome Rebecca Kejr to the Ell-Saline Board of Education and look forward to her service to our district and community.
As the holiday season approaches, we wish our students, families, and staff a joyful and restful break. Please remember that school will be out of session from December 22 through January 5, with classes resuming on January 6.
Thank you once again for your continued support of Ell-Saline USD. We are proud of the progress we are making together and look forward to the opportunities 2026 will bring.
Warm regards,
Brian Rowley
Superintendent, Ell-Saline USD 307