Board of Education

The Board of Education is responsible for; (1) establishing the vision for the district and setting priorities and goals in collaboration with the superintendent; (2) approving the district annual budget; (3) creating/approving policies; (4) hiring the superintendent of schools; (5) evaluating the superintendent's performance; and (6) helping build support for public education by serving as ambassadors and advocates for district interests.

The Strategic Plan guides the work of the Shawnee Mission School District and its Board.  The plan is community-driven and a living document.  The plan, timeline and accountability measures can be viewed here. 

Board of Education and Public Meeting Calendar 2023-2024

Board of Education meetings serve the purpose of conducting business of the Board and regularly updating the Board and the community on progress being made on the Strategic Plan.

Regular Board of Education meetings focus on the business of the Board, including approving policy, paying bills, and other functions that require Board approval.

Workshops are specifically designed to provide the Board time to interact with reports related to the Strategic Plan and to other in-depth conversations that are within the responsibility and authority of the Board. Routine consent agenda items only are also approved as part of the workshop format. The exception to this is approval of the Budget at the first Board meeting in August or at other times as deemed essential by the Board of Education.

Meeting Agendas and Minutes
Copies of the board meeting agendas, as well as minutes from previous meetings, are available through the district website on BoardDocs.  In addition, all meetings are streamed and archived here.

July 2023
24 Mon. SPECIAL PUBLIC COMMENT MEETING 5:30 p.m. Board Room
24 Mon. REGULAR BOE MEETING 6:00 p.m. Board Room
(Approve 2023-24 budget for publication)

August
14 Mon. SPECIAL PUBLIC COMMENT MEETING 5:30 p.m. Board Room
14 Mon. REGULAR BOE MEETING 6:00 p.m. Board Room
28 Mon. SPECIAL PUBLIC COMMENT MEETING 5:30 p.m. Board Room
28 Mon. BUDGET HEARING/REGULAR BOE MEETING 6:00 p.m. Board Room

September
11 Mon. SPECIAL PUBLIC COMMENT MEETING 5:30 p.m. Board Room
11 Mon. REGULAR BOE MEETING 6:00 p.m. Board Room

October
9 Mon. SPECIAL PUBLIC COMMENT MEETING 5:30 p.m. Board Room
9 Mon. WORKSHOP 6:00 p.m. Board Room
23 Mon. Exec. Session (non-elected personnel) 5:00 p.m. Board Conf. Rm.
23 Mon. SPECIAL PUBLIC COMMENT MEETING 5:30 p.m. Board Room
23 Mon. REGULAR BOE MEETING 6:00 p.m. Board Room

November
13 Mon. SPECIAL PUBLIC COMMENT MEETING 5:30 p.m. Board Room
13 Mon. REGULAR BOE MEETING 6:00 p.m. Board Room

December
4 Mon. SPECIAL PUBLIC COMMENT MEETING 5:30 p.m. Board Room
4 Mon. REGULAR BOE MEETING 6:00 p.m. Board Room

January 2024
8 Mon. SPECIAL PUBLIC COMMENT MEETING 5:30 p.m. Board Room
8 Mon. WORKSHOP/SEATING OF NEW MEMBERS 6:00 p.m. Board Room
22 Mon. SPECIAL PUBLIC COMMENT MEETING 5:30 p.m. Board Room
22 Mon. REGULAR BOE MEETING 6:00 p.m. Board Room

February
12 Mon. Exec. Session (non-elected personnel) 4:30 p.m. Board Conf. Rm.
12 Mon. SPECIAL PUBLIC COMMENT MEETING 5:30 p.m. Board Room
12 Mon. WORKSHOP 6:00 p.m. Board Room
26 Mon. SPECIAL PUBLIC COMMENT MEETING 5:30 p.m. Board Room
26 Mon. REGULAR BOE MEETING 6:00 p.m. Board Room

March
25 Mon. SPECIAL PUBLIC COMMENT MEETING 5:30 p.m. Board Room
25 Mon. REGULAR BOE MEETING 6:00 p.m. Board Room

April
15 Mon. SPECIAL PUBLIC COMMENT MEETING 5:30 p.m. Board Room
15 Mon. REGULAR BOE MEETING 6:00 p.m. Board Room

May
13 Mon. SPECIAL PUBLIC COMMENT MEETING 5:30 p.m. Board Room
13 Mon. REGULAR BOE MEETING 6:00 p.m. Board Room

June
10 Mon. SPECIAL PUBLIC COMMENT MEETING 5:30 p.m. Board Room
10 Mon. WORKSHOP 6:00 p.m. Board Room
24 Mon. SPECIAL PUBLIC COMMENT MEETING 5:30 p.m. Board Room
24 Mon. 2024-25 ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING/REGULAR 6:00 p.m. Board Room
BOE MEETING

Board meetings are not public meetings, but are meetings held in public for the purpose of conducting the business of the school district.  All business is conducted in public with the exception of items discussed in confidential executive sessions as allowed by state statute.
Board of education meetings are typically held at 6 p.m. on the second and fourth Monday of the month at the Center for Academic Achievement, 8200 W. 71st Street, in the boardroom.
Copies of the board meeting agendas, as well as minutes from previous meetings, are available on BoardDocs.  In addition, all meetings are streamed and archived here. 

The mission of the Shawnee Mission School District, the bridge to unlimited possibilities yet to be discovered, is to ensure students construct their own foundation for success in life’s endeavors through relevant, personalized learning experiences orchestrated by talented, compassionate educators and distinguished by: 

• an inclusive culture
• an engaged community
• and robust opportunities that challenge learners to achieve their full potential

committee application now open

The Finance and Facilities Committee
The SMSD Board of Education approved the establishment of the standing district Finance and Facilities Committee of the Board on November 11, 2019 and the first slate of committee members was approved January 27, 2020.  

Community Members
East                Melissa Rooker
North             Kevin Broome
Northwest     OPEN
South             Gary Strout
West               Angelique Rodriguez-Gunion
At-Large        Susan Lindahl
At-Large        Brian Watson

Board Members
Brad Stratton, Chair
Mary Sinclair, Vice Chair

Purpose and Parameters
The primary purpose of the Finance and Facilities Committee is to review and advise the district and the Board of Education on these two functions, in alignment with the implementation of the SMSD Strategic Plan. Committee members are to review the operating, designated revenue, and capital budgets of the district, including the finances of the bond projects. The Committee is to also review design concepts, key assumptions and budgets for new buildings and major renovations, and to identify strengths and weaknesses to the Board of Education on construction and facility related issues.

The superintendent and/or designee will set the committee agenda in consultation with the board members on the committee. Acknowledgment of potential impact on district finances and resources, statutory or regulatory requirements should be included with any recommendations, if put forward by the committee.  Any recommendations of the committee will be presented to the superintendent for consideration, with potential for review by relevant district working groups, in preparation for consideration by the Board of Education.

Final approval rests with the Board of Education.

Facilitation
The members of the Finance and Facilities Committee will select a committee chairperson and vice chairperson at their first meeting of each school year.  Committee ground rules will be established by the members during the first meeting and reviewed at least annually. A district staff member will provide logistical support to the work of the committee.  

Communication
The Finance and Facilities Committee is to provide input and items for consideration to the Superintendent at least 5 calendar days prior to any Board meeting so that issues for consideration have adequate time to be reviewed and prioritized for an upcoming Board meeting agenda. All Committee meetings will be noticed and open to the public. While the work of the committee will be conducted in public, only committee members will participate in the meetings. Observers are welcome to attend. Observers with questions or comments will be directed to the committee’s designated district staff support members, who will facilitate communication on behalf of the volunteer participants.  

Membership
Each member of the Board of Education appointments one SMSD patron to the committee, from a pool of applicants. The superintendent will appointment up to four members from the district administration. The Board President will select two members from the board to serve on the committee. 

Committee Objectives
Review the current Financial Reports of the SMSD:

• Review and advise on the annual budget development and budget workshop presentation to strengthen the process and explanation to board members and patrons.

Review the current Capital Improvement and Construction projects of the SMSD:

• Assist in the development and prioritization of the SMSD long-range Facilities Plan
• Review and advise on the budget and finances of the projects funded through bond issuance
• Review and advise on post construction and occupancy summaries

Preferred Experiences or Expertise of Committee Members:

• Interest and capacity to work with budget documents
• Familiarity with school finance basics (e.g., operating budget vs capital and bond, sources of revenue and restrictions, awareness of school finance lawsuits)
• Familiarity with construction, architecture, bonds
• Familiarity with K-12 public education

The mission of the Shawnee Mission School District, the bridge to unlimited possibilities yet to be discovered, is to ensure students construct their own foundation for success in life’s endeavors through relevant, personalized learning experiences orchestrated by talented, compassionate educators and distinguished by: 

• an inclusive culture
• an engaged community
• and robust opportunities that challenge learners to achieve their full potential

The Policy Review Committee 
The SMSD Board of Education approved the establishment of the standing Policy Review Committee of the Board in the fall of 2018. The committee consists of 3 board members, the superintendent or designee, and 1 other district administrator appointed by the superintendent, as necessary. Board members are appointed annually by the board president. 

Purpose and Parameters
The primary purpose of the committee is to review potential board policy updates, to consider implication of policy adoptions due to annual changes in state or federal law, and to facilitate an annual review of the board’s procedure manual. The superintendent and/or designee sets the committee agenda in consultation with the board members on the committee. Recommendations of the committee are presented to the superintendent for consideration, in preparation for consideration by the Board of Education. Final approval rests with the Board of Education.

Board Members:
Sara Goodburn, Chair
Heather Ousley
Jamie Borgman

Meetings are held at the CAA - Room 2043 at 3:00 p.m.
June 15, 2023 - (7:30 a.m. meeting time)
August 14, 2023
November 13, 2023
January 8, 2024
April 15, 2024
June 10, 2024

August 14 Agenda:

• Updated Policy AG (Closing School Buildings): KASB is recommending revisions to this policy to promote compliance with changes to the KS statute regarding closure of school buildings, which will be effective Jan. 1, 2024. 
• Updated Policy BBAA (Board Member Authority and Responsibilities): I am recommending that we add language to this policy confirming that Board members will not receive pay.  Due to a recent change to KS law (see page 11, revision to KSA 72-1137), it is now legally permissible for school districts to pay Board members.
• Updated Policy GAAF (Emergency Safety Interventions): These policy revisions are recommended by KASB to reflect changes made to state regulations (K.A.R. 91-42-1 and K.A.R. 91-42-2) regarding the definitions and use of emergency safety interventions (ESI).
• Updated Policy GARID (Military Leave): KASB is recommending some minor revisions to align the policy with the applicable federal law (The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act).

June 15 Meeting and Policies Reviewed:

• New Policy IFCC (Overnight Accommodations): We are required by a new Kansas statute to adopt this policy (see S Sub for HB 2138, section 1).   
• Revised Policy JH (Student Activities): KASB is recommending an added provision to reflect changes in state law regarding participation in student activities/athletics by homeschool and part-time students (see H Sub for SB 113, sections 5 and 6). 
• Revised Policy KK (Sale of District Property): KASB is recommending an added provision to reflect the new procedure required prior to the sale of a District building, which gives the state the right of first refusal to purchase the building (see H Sub for SB 113, section 4).

A time for public comment occurs prior to regularly scheduled Board of Education meetings to provide an opportunity for individuals to address the board regarding school district issues.

Patrons must submit a request to make public comment no later than noon (12:00 p.m.) on the day of a regularly scheduled Board Meeting.

If you would like to address the board during Public Comment, the clerk of the board, Shelly Trenholm, will guide you through this process. She may be contacted at 913-993-6401 or at shellytrenholm@smsd.org. While comments must be received no later than noon on the Monday of the meeting, patrons are encouraged to electronically submit their requests to speak at Public Comment by 3:30 p.m. the Friday before a regularly scheduled Board Meeting.
You may make your electronic submission using this form. This early submission may allow the district to research and/or address patron concerns before the meeting. The president may impose a time limit of 3 minutes or less for each speaker, in order to provide as many patrons as possible the opportunity to speak.

Requests for auxiliary aids or services for persons needing assistance to address the board should be made with appropriate advance notice.

Reminders for a constructive and positive experience when presenting comments to the board: 
—Please proceed to the podium when your name is called and share your name, city of residency, what schools your children attend if applicable, and the name of any group or organization you are representing.
—Please limit your remarks to three minutes or less as indicated by the President.
—In consideration of everyone’s time, please select a group spokesperson to represent your interests or you may choose to pass when your name is called if a previous speaker has already expressed your concerns.
—If you have written comments and/or materials for board distribution, please ensure there are at least eight (8) copies for distribution.
—Please make your comments while remaining behind the podium.
—Complaints regarding students or staff should first be addressed to administration in accordance with board policy KN – Complaints. If that procedure has been completed, the board will consider whether to hear such complaints in executive session in order to protect the privacy interests of the student(s) and/ or staff involved.
—If comments pertain to an item on that meeting’s agenda, the board president may ask the superintendent, or his or her designee, to address those comments at that time or when the item is up for board discussion.
—Generally, responses from board members during Public Comment will be limited to clarifying questions.

Communication with the School District

The Shawnee Mission School District welcomes your questions, suggestions and concerns. Through informative discussion and communication our goal is to have most issues resolved at the school level. School administrators welcome your feedback and comments.  

There are a variety of ways patrons and citizens can communicate with the district. For general questions, please send your inquiries to the district's general email: askthedistrict@smsd.org, or through the postal service to: 
Shawnee Mission School District
Center of Academic Achievement
8200 W. 71st Street
Overland Park, KS 66204
(913) 993-6200

Our board, as elected school board members, is interested in your concerns and opinions.  Your participation is a vital part of our school system's success.

All regular meetings of the board and public comment are open to the public.  Learn more about how you can participate in the public comment comment by visiting the Public Comment tab above. Please note that Board Members are not able to respond directly to patron concerns that are raised during public comment.

Meet your Board Members and find their contact information on the Meet The Board tab above.  Since all Board Members serve the district in its entirety, we encourage you to communicate with all Board Members.  You can expect a response from the Board President on behalf of the Board.

For more information, please contact Shelly Trenholm, Clerk of the Board at (913) 993-6401 or shellytrenholm@smsd.org 

Concerns and Feedback 
The school district encourages all concerns to be resolved at the administrative level closest to the issue. Please refer to the Chain of Communication to assist identifying and informing the appropriate staff member. Confirmation the concern was received will be provided by email, telephone or mail if the contact information is provided. 

For specific concerns, related to specific issues or individuals (a teacher, a student, bullying), please fill out a complaint form. Complaint forms are used in accordance with state and federal privacy laws, and to facilitate due process, if warranted. The forms are located through the district website, on Board Docs.  Please follow these steps: 

• Visit the BoardDocs site.
• Click on Policies in the upper right-hand section of the page.
• On the left-hand side where it says “Book” change the menu to say​“Board Policy/Appendix/Forms” and expand that section by clicking the +.
• Select the needed form.

Chain of Communication

Our seven board members are elected by the Shawnee Mission voters.  The board of education serves as the district's governing body in accordance with state and federal law.  One member is elected from each of the district's five areas:  East, North, Northwest, South, and West (Board Member Areas and Voting Precincts).  Two members are elected as At-Large representatives for the district.  All members serve the entire district and serve without pay.