On September 4, 2025, Southeast District 247 was awarded two Pritchett Trust grants totaling $18,516.

Nick Hansen, Southeast Middle School Principal, attended the grant announcements at the BMO Bank in Pittsburg, Kansas to receive the district’s grants from the Pritchett Trust.

One in the amount of $1,516 will be used to purchase professional adult Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) manikins, and the second in the amount of $17,000 will be used to update and improve the Southeast Middle School playground.

The CPR manikins will be used to train students, teachers, staff, coaches, and potentially community members who have a need or desire to become certified. They will also be used for hands-on training in the health classes, sports teams, and career-focused programs like Sports Medicine and clubs like Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA). Training as many individuals as possible to have the knowledge, confidence, and muscle memory to help administer CPR if needed will be a tremendous asset, as most of our communities are approximately 25 minutes away from EMS services.

With the Pritchett Trust funds, Southeast Middle School (SMS) will replace the existing playground surface and add playground equipment; making both compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This includes ADA-compliant swings. By providing ADA-compliant surfacing and equipment, we aim to ensure all children have equitable opportunities for physical activity and social interaction.

We are grateful for the generosity of the Pritchett Trust foundation!