Strategic Plan Update:
David Stubblefield, associate superintendent for leadership and learning and Dr. Leigh Anne Neal, chief of early childhood/sustainability, provided an overview of progress on the Strategic Plan.

Spring 2022 Strategic plan update

Additional information and data on each of the five strategy areas of the Strategic Plan was provided by Dr. Darren Dennis, chief academic officer, Dr. Dan Gruman, director of assessment and research, Dr. Michael Schumacher, Associate Superintendent of Human Re sources, Dr. John McKinney, director of student/family service, and Dr. Brittany Gonser, director of professional learning.

Spring 2022 strategic plan report

Budget - Non-Operating Funds
Russell Knapp, chief financial officer, presented a budget workshop focused on self-supported funds, flow-through funds, bond debt funds, and capital outlay funds.

Knapp opened the presentation by stating the district’s objective upon which budgetary decisions are based is that every student will have a personalized learning plan that supports them in being college and career ready with the interpersonal skills important to life success.

Knapp provided an overview of the budget development timeline, a history of the mill levy, and a history of the instructional resource fund. The goal is for the instructional resource fund to become self-supporting, it is currently supported partly by operating funds.

Budget - Non-Operating Funds Presentation

Transportation Program Evaluation
Dr. Christy Ziegler, chief of student services and diversity, equity, and inclusion, and Dana Gulick, coordinator of transportation, provided an overview of the work of the transportation department.

The transportation department supports the strategic plan objectives by ensuring students have a safe and reliable transportation system to travel to and from school each day and providing the ability to physically access the resources they need to be successful.

Dr. Ziegler shared the transportation providers, number of bus riders, the overall goals of the program, and provided a detailed overview of the budget.

district transportation presentation

Health Services Program Evaluation
Dr. Christy Ziegler, chief of student services and diversity, equity, and inclusion, and Shelby Rebeck, director of health services, provided an update on the health services department.

Rebeck shared an overview of the health services program. The mission statement of the health services department is to provide professional nursing care to students and staff through assessment, prevention, health education, early intervention, case management, and collaboration. She defined the program goals, provided information on staffing, and gave an overview of the types of health issues the health services team  and nurses assess and manage.

Rebeck discussed how the nurses have worked to meet the health and safety needs of students, staff, and parents during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rebeck introduced Paula Bunde who will be assuming the health services coordinator role starting July 1, 2022. Members of the Board of Education and Dr. Hubbard thanked Rebeck for her leadership and service to the Shawnee Mission School District.

health services program presentation

Food Service Presentation 
Dr. Christy Ziegler, chief of student services and diversity, equity, and inclusion, and Grace Liss, director of food services, presented an update on the food services department to the Board. 

Food Service Program Evaluation 

Food Service Program Evaluation Slides 

Enrollment Analysis Report 
Robert S. Schwarz, founder of RSP and Associates, presented an enrollment analysis conducted for the Shawnee Mission School District to the Board. 

Enrollment Analysis Report
Security Presentation 
Chief Mark Schmidt, chief of police, led a presentation on district security. He was joined by Tony Woollen, district resource officer from Shawnee Mission East, Seth Myers, school resource officer from Shawnee Mission East, James Carmody, district resource officer at Shawnee Mission West, Philip Lofflin, district police officer, and David Ewers, Shawnee Mission North principal, who spoke about the role of district security in schools.

Security Program Evaluation

Security Program Evaluation Slides 

English Language Arts Presentation 
Dr. Darren Dennis, chief academic officer, introduced Krista Carson, elementary coordinator of curriculum and instruction, who led a presentation on a proposed K6 English Language Arts resource adoption.

English Language Arts Presentation

Winter MAP Update
Dr. Dan Gruman, director of assessment and research, presented an update to the Board on student progress on midyear interim assessments. The presentation was designed to provide a “big picture view of status and progress this school year,” Gruman noted. He also noted tha this data includes much to be optimistic about, including signs of recovery.

winter map update

Priority One Annual Review
Dr. Michael Schumacher, associate superintendent of human resources, and Erin Eason, national director of clinical consulting practice from CBIZ presented a Priority One Health Center annual review. They outlined a variety of details about how the health center serves district employees. Priority One Report

ESSER Update
Superintendent Dr. Michelle Hubbard, Russell Knapp, chief financial officer, and David Stubblefield, associate superintendent of leadership an d learning, provided a report on the district’s COVID19 Response plan, with a focus on the use of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds (ESSER). They outlined that ESSER I and II funding have been allocated for specific needs through Se ptember 2023. Information about the allocation of these funds can be found here .

ESSER III will provide funding through September 2024.  Details about the allocation of funds and the ThoughtExchange Feedback from stakeholders that informed the development of the allocation plan can be found in the prsentation slides. ESSER III Presentation

Communications Program Evaluation
David A. Smith, chief communications officer, introduced Kristin Babcock, communications coordin ator, and Michaela Scruggs, communications coordinator, who provided a communications program evaluation. The presentation highlighted the many ways the communications team shares stories about the district and schools to a broad and diverse audience. Community members are always welcome to provide story tips for highlighting school activities, students and staff to the department at adcommun@smsd.org. The presentation also highlighted the numerous ways the team supports staff and students across the district. report. 
communications team presentation

Financial Report
The presentation can be Russell Knapp, chief financial officer, presented the monthly financial report and an update on ESSER II expenditures. He also provided an update on operating funds, based on the September 20, 2021 enrollment count. Based on those numbers, it is estimated the district will see a loss of about $4.2 millio n in general state aid and atrisk weighted funds. The budget office expects that projected vacancies will offset the revenue loss.

Sustainability Summit Presentation
Dr. Leigh Anne Neal, chief of early childhood and sustainability, along with several Sh awnee Mission high school students, presented information and recommendations from the 2021 Shawnee Mission Sustainability Youth Summit. Students outlined five priority areas of focus for the district.
The presentations included:
Priority 1: “Renewable En ergy,” presented by Shawnee Mission West students Soli Guinto, junior, and Arlasia Jones, senior.
Priority 2: “Education, Awareness, and Student Involvement,” presented by Shawnee Mission South students Carolyn Armstrong and Rosemary Derr, junior, with th e support of teacher P.J. Born.
Priority 3: “Compost and Recycling,” presented by Shawnee Mission North senior Molly Laughton.
Priority 4: “Rain gardens, school gardens, and nature preserves,” presented by Shawnee Mission East senior Erin Hansen, with th support of teacher Rusty Debey. e
Priority 5: “Transportation,” presented by Shawnee Mission Northwest senior Logen Grey.
The group also shared an Essential Consideration focused on mental and physical health and wellbeing. 
sustainability presentation

ICT Program Evaluation
Drew Lane, executive director of Information and Communication Technology (ICT ), Bill Shaffer, director of network infrastructure, technical services, and security services, James Morgan, director of data and programming services, and Doug von Mosch, director of customer services shared an ICT program evaluation. Lindsay Stephenson, coordinator of instructional technology, provided information about lessons learned related to the use of educational technology during the pandemic.  
Ict program presentation

Human Resources Program Evaluation
Dr. Michael Schumacher, associate superintendent of human resources, Dr. Jeremy Higgins, director of secondary human resources, Dr. Jarius Jones, director of classified human resources, Pam Lewis, director of elementary human resources, Dr. Brittany Gonser, director of professional learning, and Dr. Tyrone Bates, coordinator of diversity, equity and inclusion, presented a program evaluation and update on Human Resources in the Shawnee Mission School District.

Dr. Schumacher introduced the Human Resources Team and shared the team philosophy that people are Shawnee Mission School District’s greatest resource. He introduced the five main functions of Human Resources, including Recruitment and Retention, Safety/Compliance, Employee Relations, Compensation and Benefits, and Training and Development. 
hr presentation slides

hr program evaluation 

Student and Family Services and Student Activities Program Evaluation
Dr. Christy Ziegler, chief of student services, Dr. John McKinney, director of student and family services, Dr. Tyrone Bates, Jr., coordinator of diversity, equity and inclusion, and Kent Glaser, director of athletics and activities, presented a program evaluation and update.
Student & Family Services Presentation

program evaluation presentation

Strategic Plan Update: Strategy 1
Dr. Leigh Anne Neal, chief of early childhood and sustainability, Dr. Darren Dennis,chief academic officer, Dr. Ryan Flurry, principal of career education campuses and coordinator of career and technical education, and Dr. Dan Gruman, director of assessment and research, presented an update focused on "Strategic Plan Engaging, and Applied Learning.” 
Strategic plan: strategy 1 presentation 

Strategic Plan Update: Superintendent Dr. Michelle Hubbard introduced Dr. Leigh Anne Neal, chief of early childhood/sustainability who presented the semi-annual progress report on the Strategic Plan. The report encompassed work completed by teams during the second semester of the 2022-2023 school year and concludes year four of the strategic plan. 

Dr. Neal opened the presentation by sharing the mission statement that guides all work in the strategic plan. Dr. Neal provided a detailed overview of the work accomplished in the five strategy areas of the strategic plan, broadly categorized as teaching and learning, culture, quality educators, systems, and facilities. 

Dr. Hubbard reported that as the end of the current plan approaches she has received many questions about the next iteration of the plan. The district is working now to prepare for developing the Strategic Plan Cycle II for 2024-2029. The planning process and tentative timeline will be presented to the Board of Education in August 2023. The Cycle II planning process will launch in December 2023 and the Strategic Plan Cycle II 2024-2029 will be presented to the board for approval in June 2024. 

Click here to view the presentation slides.

Student Discipline Update

Kent Glaser, director of athletics and activities, Dr. Dan Gruman, director of assessment and research, and Mark Schmidt, chief of police, provided an update on the topic of student discipline.

Glaser stated the goal of the Shawnee Mission School District is to ensure relationships are developed to foster a positive environment for students to remain in school. He provided an overview of the discipline matrix and defined levels one through four.

In Shawnee Mission, 99.999 percent of students are not involved in a disciplinary hearing. As of May 8, 2023 there have been 20 total hearings for the 2022-2023 school year.

Dr. Gruman shared that the matrix is working as expected and provided a detailed statistical analysis across several categories including offense level and student demographics. Accounting for the variable of the pandemic, current year data is being compared to 2019 data as it is the most directly comparable.

Click here to view the presentation materials.

Health Services Program Evaluation

Paula Bunde, coordinator of health services, provided an update on the health services department.

Bunde stated the mission of the health services department is to provide professional nursing care to students and staff through assessment, prevention, health education, early intervention, case management and collaboration. She defined the program goals, gave comprehensive information on staffing, and shared an overview of the types of health conditions the health services team and nurses assess and manage. Bunde also shared that visits to the nurses offices have increased since 2019.

Click here to access the presentation materials.

Budget - Operating Funds and Federal Funds

Russell Knapp, chief financial officer, presented a budget workshop focused on operating funds and federal funds.

Knapp provided an overview of the budget development process which begins in November with the assessment of building needs.

The operating funds consist of 12 funds that pay for daily expenditures in running the school district, including salaries and benefits, transportation, utilities, and supplies and services.

Knapp shared the anticipated 2023-2024 operating funding breakdown, with an estimated total of $279,569,341. Knapp also detailed the 2023-24 anticipated operating expenditures, with total expenditures estimated at $268,281,102. Knapp shared the budget assumptions that have been built into the budget, including benefits, salaries, and transportation costs.

Dr. Hubbard thanked building leadership teams for contributing to the building needs assessments that were conducted in preparation for this meeting and the August budget hearing.

Click here to view the building needs assessments on the website.

Click here to view the May Workshop Presentation.

Budget Workshop - Non-Operating Funds

Russell Knapp, chief financial officer, provided a budget workshop presentation focused on non-operating funds.

Non-operational funds are dedicated mostly to maintaining, repairing, and rebuilding district facilities. These funds include the district’s capital budget and bond funds.

Knapp also provided further detail about self-supported funds, flow-through-funds, and bond debt funds. He also provided details about the district’s Aaa Moody’s credit rating, the highest rating possible offered by Moody’s.

The strong economy in Johnson County and sound operating fund reserves were among the reasons noted for the issued rating. Both Knapp and Superintendent Dr. Michelle Hubbard noted how the rating positively influenced bond sales in the district.

Click here to view the full presentation.

 

Early Childhood Education Program Update

Dr. Leigh Anne Neal, chief of early childhood learning and sustainability, provided an overview and update on the Early Childhood Education program to the Board.

Dr. Neal shared that the Early Childhood Education team strives to provide a program that is educationally and developmentally appropriate for students by emphasizing active learning and helping children experience the joy of learning through discovery and exploration.

The Shawnee Mission School District (SMSD) offers early childhood learning through Parents as Teachers, Pre-Kindergarten (Pre-K), and Jump Start to Learning. Together, these programs support the needs of families and early learners from birth to kindergarten.

Parents as Teachers promotes early development, learning, and health of children by supporting and engaging parents and caregivers as the child’s first teacher. The program provides opportunities for social activities, playgroups, parenting classes, and personal home visits that provide information, support, and encouragement to parent-educators.

Pre-K in the SMSD has been designed to follow the Kansas Early Learning Standards and Pre-K educators work to stay in alignment with K-12 program planning. The program currently serves 659 students and offers 19 Pre-K classrooms at 18 elementary schools, as well as classes in the Shawnee Mission Early Childhood Education Center. To provide as many opportunities as possible, the district offers no-fee and fee-based Pre-K options.

Jump Start to Learning is a three week summer program that provides incoming kindergarten students with the skills to begin Kindergarten with confidence. Students practice literacy, numeracy, and the skills they need to be a student. Dr. Neal provided a breakdown of enrollment and performance data for the program.

“Jump Start does provide students a substantial head-start toward being prepared for kindergarten,” noted Dr. Neal.

Click here to view the full program report and to view the slides.

Food Service Program Update

Grace Liss, director of food services, provided an update on the food service department.

Liss shared that the food service team is committed to providing affordable, high quality, freshly prepared nutritious food and personalized service to students every day. She provided a detailed overview of the school lunch program, breakfast program, Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), and the summer food service program.

Liss explained that the 2022-2023 food service program has been about transition. During the pandemic, school lunches were free to all families through a federal United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) program. This year the federal universal free-lunch program did not continue and families had to start putting money on their accounts and completing meal benefit applications.

Liss shared a current status on school meal account balances. The Food Service Department encourages caregivers to monitor their child’s account through School Cafe where they can view account balances, apply for meal benefits, and set ala carte restrictions. Click here to access the School Cafe website.

Liss highlighted that the food service department has opportunities for members of the community to join the team; interested community members are encouraged to apply here.

Liss thanked the SMSD custodial staff for assisting the Food Services Team by receiving after-hours deliveries. She also celebrated the hard work and dedication of the Food Services Team who make a difference for students every day.

Click here to view the full report and presentation.

Winter MAP Update 
Dr. Dan Gruman, director of assessment and research, presented an update to the Board on student progress on mid-year interim assessments.

The report provided an in-depth evaluation of mid-year student assessment data, examining the data in multiple ways, using sophisticated statistical techniques.

Dr. Gruman shared that overall the data shows indications of positive signs of learning recovery from the pandemic, it also shows the need to maintain interventions.

One key finding in the data is that students are rebounding in reading and math. However, student achievement remains lower than in a typical year, and full academic recovery from the pandemic is likely to be several years away. Dr. Gruman shared data indicating the level of rebounding is also uneven among school subjects, grade level cohorts, and demographics.

Click here to view the full presentation.

Strategic Plan Update 
Dr. Leigh Anne Neal, chief of early childhood/sustainability, provided a report on the progress of the Strategic Plan.  Dr. Neal opened the presentation by sharing the mission of the Shawnee Mission School District and the three objectives within the Strategic Plan that focus on ensuring that every student will:

• Achieve academic success through a challenging, personalized learning plan
• Develop and utilize personal resilience while mastering essential competencies that lead to college and career readiness
• Develop interpersonal skills to be an engaged, empathetic member of the local and global community.

These objectives are being accomplished through five strategies in the areas of teaching and learning, culture, quality educators, systems, and facilities. Dr. Neal shared detailed progress that has been completed through the first semester of the 2022-2023 school year in each strategy.

Dr. Hubbard noted that the district is in the fourth year of the five-year Strategic Plan. In the spring, members of the executive leadership team will meet with a facilitator to develop a plan for updating the Strategic Plan. A proposal for updating the plan will be presented to the Board of Education in the fall.

Click here to review the report and slides presented at the meeting.

Click here to review the Strategic Plan page on the Shawnee Mission School District website.

PriorityOne Presentation 
Erin Eason, National Director, Clinical Consulting Practice from CBIZ, presented a Priority One Health Clinic Annual Review. Priority One is a health center that serves Shawnee Mission School District employees and is located at the Center for Academic Achievement. The review included a look at participation rates, visit details, survey results, the estimated employee savings since the clinic opened, and the return on investment for the district. Click here to view the presentation.

ESSER III Presentation
Russell Knapp, chief financial officer, led a discussion about the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER) III Allocation. The presentation featured details about stakeholder engagement and the role it played in the application process, provided details about the application that will be submitted in February, and outlined positions that were previously funded by ESSER funds that are anticipated to be moved to the operational budget. Click here to view the presentation.

Title Program Update

Dr. David Stubblefield, associate superintendent of leadership and learning, Dr. Darren Dennis, chief academic officer, Kristie Darby, director of elementary services, and Dr. Brittany Gonser, director of professional learning, provided a report to the Board about Title services.

Dr. Stubblefield described how Title funds are “federal funds distributed by the state that are to be utilized to maximize student learning.” He also spoke about the annual reporting process.

Kristie Darby provided details about Title I and the schools that receive Title I funds in Shawnee Mission. She also provided examples of ways Title I funds have been used to support student learning through professional learning, Jump Start to Learning, and Family Engagement Nights, to name a few examples. Dr. Gonser spoke about Title II funds and how they are focused on training, recruitment, and retention of highly qualified teachers and principals and gave details about how those funds are allocated in Shawnee Mission. Dr. Dennis spoke about Title III funds, used for Language Instruction for Limited English Proficient and Immigrant students. Dr. Gonser also spoke about Title IV, used to support Well-Rounded Education, Safe and Healthy Students, and Supporting the Effective Use of Technology, and detailed how those funds are allocated.

Click here to learn more about Title funds in the Shawnee Mission School District.

Reduction of Paid High School Bus Routes

Starting January 5, 2023, high school student bus riders who fall within 2 miles of their high school will no longer have district-provided transportation available, with the exception of Shawnee Mission North students who live West of I-35. DS Bus Lines, the district’s contracted provider, has worked to hire additional drivers over the last two years to avoid this scenario, but faces a critical driver shortage. Service will continue for nearly 1,600 high school students who reside more than 2 miles away from their school. These changes will be in effect through the end of the 2022-2023 school year.

Superintendent Dr. Michelle Hubbard began the presentation by stating this is not an action anyone would ever want to do mid-year, but that it is being done out of necessity.

Dr. Christy Ziegler, chief of student services, diversity, equity, and inclusion, provided a presentation about the transportation reduction plan. The presentation included details about the current service model, staffing challenges and future challenges, possible solutions, and details about the reduction plan. More information will be shared with families impacted in the coming days. Click here to view the presentation.

Student and Family Services Program Update

Dr. Christy Ziegler, chief of student services, diversity, equity, and inclusion; Dr. John McKinney, director of student and family services; Dr. Tyrone Bates, Jr., coordinator of diversity, equity, and inclusion; Mr. David Aramovich, McKinney-Vento liaison, and students Perla Moreno (SM West), Ace Cofield (SM South), Genessa Hughes (SM North), and Jeanne Ozkan (SM East) presented a program update on Student and Family Services.

Dr. Ziegler opened the presentation by sharing how the work of the Student and Family Services team supports the work of the District’s Strategic Plan, Strategy 2: To relentlessly create a fully unified, equitable, and inclusive culture. The team strives to promote student well-being and school participation, which fosters growth in academic achievement.

Dr. McKinney shared information about Social-Emotional Character Development in the SMSD. He also provided details about Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) in the district, explained that SEL is part of the Kansas Education Systems Accreditation (KESA) process, and provided details about the Panorama survey, a resource used to measure and assess student Social Emotional Learning.

Dr. McKinney reported that the team collaborates with curriculum and instruction on the development and implementation of SEL standards. The team also supports schools with a wide range of services that include summer programs, volunteers, suicide prevention, case management, community resource referrals, and food and transportation assistance as

needed for students and their families. The student services team also facilitates the school-based 504 accommodations process for students, and implementation of federal programs that include McKinney-Vento (houselessness.)

David Aramovich provided information about students and families in the district facing houselessness, prevention work, and efforts to support students who are houseless.

Dr. Bates shared that the focus of the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) training for staff is on developing an internal, sustainable model that includes administrators and building DEIB teams. Dr. Bates also shared information on the Youth Equity Stewardship (YES) program, an opt-in leadership opportunity for students from all Shawnee Mission high schools.

To highlight the positive impact of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging programs, the students each spoke about the value they’ve received as participants of the YES program. Perla Moreno, stated, “YES has led me to be comfortable to speak out, and meet new people who are like me and unlike me. My experience has been amazing.”

The program report can be viewed here.

The program presentation can be viewed here.

Human Resources Program Evaluation: Dr. Michael Schumacher, associate superintendent of human resources; Dr. Jeremy Higgins, director of secondary human resources; Pam Lewis, director of elementary human resources; Dr. Jarius Jones, director of classified human resources; Dr. Brittany Gonser, director of professional learning; and Dr. Tyrone Bates, coordinator of diversity, equity, and inclusion provided a program evaluation on human resources. The program evaluation provided information including but not limited to details about hiring practices and recruitment, retention work, onboarding, mentoring, and training new employees, wellness initiatives, and goals for human resources.
Click here to view the program evaluation information.

Athletic Participation and Student Discipline Hearings Update: Kent Glaser, director of athletics and activities, presented an update on athletic participation and student discipline hearings. Glaser highlighted how participation numbers are showing increases in the fall of 2022, compared to the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 school years. Glaser also provided an update on student discipline hearing rates. In Shawnee Mission, 99.999 percent of students are not involved in a discipline hearing. In 2021-2022 there were 37 total hearings.
Click here to view the presentation information.

Security Update: Dr. Joe Gilhaus, deputy superintendent, Chief Mark Schmidt, chief of police, and Philip Lofflin, district police officer presented a report on the subject of safety and security in schools. Dr. Gilhaus explained this presentation was previously shared with all district staff as part of ongoing professional development centered on safety and security.

The report provided a history of the Shawnee Mission School District (SMSD) police department and gave an overview of safety and security procedures and protocols that are currently in place throughout the district. Officer Lofflin shared details about technology that supports safety and security, including communications tools available at each school, visitor management and bully incident software, and panic alarms. Chief Schimidt and Officer Lofflin provided additional information on updated emergency procedures, types of drills, how the district partners with local law enforcement, and ongoing training for staff focused on school safety. Dr. Gilhaus stated, “The top priority of the Shawnee Mission School District is and always has been the safety and security of our students and our staff.” 
Click here to view the presentation.

Real World Learning/Personalized Learning: Dr. Ryan Flurry, principal of career education campuses and coordinator of career and technical education, Dr. Darren Dennis, chief academic officer, Dr. Dan Gruman, director of assessment and research, and David Stubblefied, associate superintendent of leadership and learning presented an update on Real World Learning and Personalized Learning in the Shawnee Mission School District (SMSD).

Dr. Flurry shared that Real World Learning shares many connections to the SMSD’s Strategic Plan. The Strategic Plan states that every student will have a personalized learning plan, which will prepare them for college and careers, with the interpersonal skills they need for life success. In partnership with the Kauffman Foundation and other districts across the Kansas City metro area, SMSD is giving students the opportunity to obtain a Market Value Asset (MVA).

Dr. Dennis defined Market Value Assets (MVAs) as industry valued and recognized skills acquired in high school that create a more seamless transition from school to postsecondary education and/or the workplace. The four categories of MVAs are entrepreneurial experiences, work experience, nine or more college credit hours, and/or employer recognized certifications and credentials. Dr. Gruman shared data on the number of students in the SMSD who have earned an MVA.

David Stubblefield explained how Real World Learning opportunities will be expanded in 2022-2023, and the effort being made to increase student access to those opportunities. 
Click here to view the presentation

KESA Presentation Kim Barney, assistant director of curriculum and instruction, and Kristin Ridgway, secondary coordinator of English Language Arts and Social Studies, provided a report on year four of the five-year Kansas Education Systems Accreditation (KESA) process. They also provided a summary of a visit by the Outside Visiting Team (OVT), a yearly external review that Is part of the KESA process. Click here to view their presentation. A full summary can be viewed here. 

Substitute Services Discussion Dr. Michael Schumacher, associate superintendent of human resources, introduced Dr. Jeremy Higgins, director of secondary human resources, and representatives from Kelly Educational Staffing. They led a discussion about plans for substitute services for the next school year. The discussion included a review of absences and fill rates in the past year and planning and action steps for improving in the next year. Click here to view the presentation.

Notice of Budget The Board of Education approved the publication of notice of hearing for the 2022-2023 budget and a notice of hearing to exceed the revenue neutral tax rate for the 2022-2023 school year. Russell Knapp, chief financial officer, provided a presentation, outlining budget assumptions, a summary of fund balances, and the information that will be published. Click here to view the notices and presentation.

Health Services Program Report 

Dr. Christy Ziegler, chief of student services, diversity, equity, and inclusion introduced Paula Bunde, health services coordinator, who provided an update on the district health services program. The Shawnee Mission School District health services program serves to provide professional nursing care to students and staff through assessment, prevention, health education, early intervention, case management, and collaboration.  Bunde highlighted the health services mission, program goals, staffing, health conditions monitored, health room utilization, immunizations, wellness efforts, and community partnerships.

Click here to view the report. 
Click here to view the presentation.
 

Transportation Program Report

Dr. Ziegler then introduced Dana Gulick, coordinator of transportation, who provided an update on the Shawnee Mission School District transportation program. Martha Coleman, general manager for DS Bus Lines , and BJ Garcia, division general manager for DS Bus Lines contributed to the presentation. Gulick highlighted the program goals, which are to provide a safe and effective transportation system, provide services with careful attention to reliability and costs, provide employee development for student safety and customer service, and to provide continuous evaluation of sustainable transportation. Gulick and Garcia then shared information about to whom transportation is provided, different transportation providers in the district, considerations of safe and effective transportation, routing, regular and special education transportation, on-time performance, alternative transportation and assisted transportation, staffing, and customer service and communication

Click here to view the report. 
Click here to view the presentation.
 

Strategic Plan Cycle I Final Report

Dr. Leigh Anne Neal, chief of early childhood and sustainability, provided a report on Strategic Plan Cycle I, the plan that has served the district from 2019 through 2024.

Click here to view the presentation. 
Click here to view a video highlighting Strategic Plan Cycle 1.

Student Discipline Update

Dr. Dan Gruman, director of assessment and research, provided an update on the subject of student discipline. Dr. Lisa Gruman, principal of Shawnee Mission Northwest, and Dr. Chris Kase, principal of Hocker Grove Middle school, were also present to answer questions about how student discipline is addressed in Shawnee Mission schools. Dr. Gruman shared the goal of the Shawnee Mission School District is to ensure relationships are developed to foster a positive environment for students to remain in school. He provided an overview of the discipline matrix, which categorizes disciplinary actions into four levels of severity, from I to IV. Dr. Gruman explained that events leading to a disciplinary hearing are extremely rare. As of May 6, 2024 there have been 35 total hearings. In Shawnee Mission, 99.99% of students are not involved in a disciplinary hearing. Dr. Gruman provided a detailed statistical analysis across several categories including offense level and student demographics. The discipline matrix was introduced in the 2019-2020 school year. However, due to interruptions caused by the pandemic, the baseline data is taken from the 2022-2023 school year. Dr. Hubbard added that the leadership team is continually discussing the discipline matrix with both students and building principals to make improvements that will best serve the needs of students, teachers, and administrators. '

Click here to access the presentation slides.

Safety and Security Program Update

Chief Mark Schmidt and officer Philip Lofflin presented an update on the safety and security program. Chief Schmidt provided a brief history of the Shawnee Mission School District (SMSD) police department which was established by the Board of Education in 1972. Under the leadership of Chief Schmidt since 2020, the department focuses on collaboration with local law enforcement and maintaining a fully-staffed team of experienced officers. The department is composed of a director of emergency services/chief of police, eight district resource officers (DROs), a dispatcher, and five campus security officers (CSOs). With over 255 combined years of experience, the team undergoes rigorous training in various areas including crisis intervention, mental health, and de-escalation techniques. Chief Schmidt provided an overview of the roles of the team, and explained that the number one priority of the officers in the schools is to maintain a safe environment and build positive, long-lasting relationships with students. Officer Lofflin explained that, in addition to providing safety and security in schools, the team also ensures safety during extracurricular activities, graduations, and emergency situations. He provided an overview of the tools and technology the team uses to maintain school safety. Concluding his remarks, Chief Schmidt shared that the SMSD Police Department is committed to the safety and well-being of students, teachers, staff, and visitors through continuous professional development, adherence to best practices, and utilization of cutting-edge technology.

Click here to view the full report and presentation.

Budget - Operating Funds

Russell Knapp, chief financial officer, presented a budget workshop focused on operating funds. Knapp provided an overview of the budget development process which begins in November with the assessment of building needs. The operating funds consist of 12 funds that pay for daily expenditures in running the school district, including salaries and benefits, transportation, utilities, and supplies and services. Knapp shared the anticipated 2024-2025 operating funding breakdown, with an estimated total of $304,132,716. Knapp also detailed the 2024-2025 anticipated operating expenditures, with total expenditures estimated at $288,808,312. 84.2% of the anticipated total expenditures is dedicated to salaries and benefits.

Click here to view the report.

Open Enrollment Building Capacity
Superintendent Dr. Michelle Hubbard provided a presentation about non-resident open enrollment. Prior to the presentation, she noted that Shawnee Mission has accepted “amazing” non-resident students for more than 20 years, except for a break for a period of time when the funding formula changed due to a block grant.

The presentation provided an overview of SMSD open enrollment in accordance with Kansas law (KSA 72-3123) and Board policy JBCD (Open Enrollment). The presentation defined capacities and available seats at the elementary level and detailed factors and calculations taken into consideration. Dr. David Stubblefield, associate superintendent of leadership and learning, provided details on capacities and available seats at the middle and high school levels and Signature Programs as well as factors and calculations taken into consideration. Sherry Dumolien, chief of special education, also provided details on Special Education services capacities. The presentation also included details about enrollment projections.

Click here to view the presentation.  

The Board approved an enrollment report including enrollment projections, the capacity for each Shawnee Mission school, the pupil-to-teacher ratio, and the number of open seats available for nonresident students in schools and district programs for the 2024-2025 school year.

Click here to view the Shawnee Mission School District Open Enrollment Capacity Report

Food Service Update
Grace Liss, director of food services, provided an update on the Shawnee Mission School District Food Services program. She highlighted departmental goals and detailed the collective work of food service team members done to achieve those goals. The goals included educating families on and increasing the number of reimbursable meals, increasing education on Smart Snacks, increasing sustainable practices wherever possible, improving procedures used to match students with direct certification, developing menus driven by student preferences, and providing the best employees in every position in the district.

Click here to view the presentation.

Click here to view the program report.

Early childhood Education Program Update
Dr. Leigh Anne Neal, chief of early childhood/sustainability, provided an update on  the district’s Early Childhood programs. Early Childhood in Shawnee Mission includes Parents as Teachers, Pre-Kindergarten, and Jump Start to Learning. The overview provided details on the number of students served by or enrolled in each program, the purpose of the programs, the educators who serve, literacy and numeracy measures, and demographic data. The presentation also highlighted renovations made to the Shawnee Mission Early Childhood Education Center.

Click here to view the presentation.

Budget Workshop
Russell Knapp, chief financial officer, provided a budget workshop focused on non-operating funds. This included a look at self-supported funds, flow-through funds, bond debt funds, and capital outlay funds.

Click here to view the workshop presentation.

Visual and Performing Arts Update

Dr. Bill Thomas, performing arts coordinator and Shawnee Mission West band director and Megan Ellis, visual arts coordinator and Lenexa Hills Elementary art teacher presented an update on the visual and performing arts programs.

The Shawnee Mission School District (SMSD) visual and fine arts departments comprise a dedicated team of 80 full-time and 12 part-time performing arts teachers, as well as 61 full-time and one part-time visual arts teachers, one part-time secretary, and two half-time curriculum coordinators.

They offer comprehensive weekly music and art classes from K-6th grade, as well as extensive middle and high school fine arts courses. Students have the opportunity to participate in a multitude of performing and visual arts events spanning local, regional, and international levels.

Program challenges include rising costs, staffing constraints, and adapting to district and community changes. Despite these challenges, the departments are committed to engaging with their diverse clientele and fostering artistic growth and excellence.

Click here to view the presentation slides.

Math Resource Adoption

Dr. Darren Dennis, chief academic officer, led a presentation about the adoption of new math resources for grades 6-12. Holly McCarty, curriculum and instruction coordinator, Connie Springfield, Shawnee Mission Northwest assistant principal, and math teachers Marcy Murphy, Christina Lange, Monica Fleming, and Amy Read contributed to the presentation.

The team provided detailed information about the background research and input gathered, pilot resources, timeline, and evaluation process of the math resources. With this data, the group recommended the adoption of the iReady curriculum for grades 6-8 and the College Preparatory Math (CPM) for grades 9-12.

Later in the meeting, the Board of Education approved the adoption of these instructional resources.

Click here to view the presentation slides.

Click here for additional information about the iReady instructional resource for math in grades 6-8.

Click here for additional information about the CPM instructional resource for High School.

Strategic Plan Update

Dr. Leigh Anne Neal, chief of early childhood and sustainability, provided an update on the Strategic Planning process. The steering committee retained the beliefs, mission, parameters, and objectives established in the 2019-2024 Strategic Plan for the Cycle II update. Six key strategies have been identified: learning, belonging, people, technology, mental health, and facilities.

Action Teams, each consisting of around 30 members, have been formed for each strategy. Approximately one-third of the action team members were appointed and two-thirds were selected by  a lottery system. Dr. Neal explained the Action Team selection process.

Action Teams will begin their work on March 27, with subsequent meetings scheduled for April 10 and May 1. The Action Teams will present their findings to the steering committee on June 6, with the finalized draft to be presented to the Board of Education on June 24, 2024.

Click here to view the presentation.

Priority One Annual Review
Dr. Michael Schumacher, associate superintendent of human resources, and Dr. Amy Sachau, family practice physician, presented a Priority One Health Center annual review. They outlined a variety of details about how the health center serves district employees.

Click here to view their report.

Science Adoption
Dr. Darren Dennis, chief academic officer, Joanna Roche, elementary coordinator of math and science, Jen Koerner, sixth grade teacher at Oak Park-Carpenter Elementary, and Amy Ruby, sixth grade teacher at Belinder elementary shared a presentation about STEMscopes for a sixth grade core science resource. They provided information about the curriculum evaluation process, including feedback from teachers and students. Later in the meeting, the Board approved the adoption.

Click here to see the presentation slides.

Strategic Plan Cycle II Update
Dr. Leigh Anne Neal, chief of early childhood and sustainability, provided an update on the Strategic Planning process. For two days, the Strategic Plan Cycle II Steering Committee, composed of 31 representatives from across the district, reviewed and worked to develop updates to the district’s strategic plan.

Click here to view drafted updates, information about the process, and next steps.

SPED Grow Your Own
Sherry Dumolien, chief of special education, presented a report to the Board on the Special Education staffing Grow Your Own incentive program. Dumolien shared information about the program philosophy, goals, program scope, cost, and the tentative timeline for how the program will proceed. Carmelhia Fields from Westridge Middle School, Shelly Fletcher from Ray Marsh, Brittani Twidwell from Pawnee Elementary, and Sandy Schluter from Shawnee Mission East High School also reflected on their cohort experiences.

Click here to view the presentation.

Later in the meeting the Board approved a Special Education Grow Your Own Cohort 3 Partnership with Fort Hays State University.

Click here to view more about the partnership.

Legislative Update
Dr. Stuart Little, district lobbyist, presented a legislative update to the Board.

The update can be watched on this video at 33:33.

Winter MAP Update
Dr. Dan Gruman, director of assessment and research, provided the Board of Education an update about student progress on NWEA mid-year MAP assessments (Northwest Evaluation Association Measure of Academic Progress). The overview provided included an NWEA Research Brief, snapshots of winter performance in Shawnee Mission, cohort progressions from winter to winter, and Kansas Assessment projections. Dr. Gruman shared several presentation takeaways as well, including that overall progress is slowly trending in a positive direction, The Shawnee Mission School District (SMSD) performance outlook is more positive than NWEA’s latest national overview, and while gaps remain, students are slowly trending back toward pre-pandemic levels, with some groups already at or exceeding those levels.

Click here to view the presentation slides.

JUUL Workgroup Update
Dr. Christy Ziegler, chief of student services, and Dr. David Stubblefield, associate superintendent of leadership and learning, provided an update from the JUUL workgroup. This workgroup was formed to determine how the Shawnee Mission School District (SMSD) might best utilize funds to benefit students. These funds come as the result of a settlement related to a class action lawsuit filed on behalf of school districts against JUUL and Altria.

The presentation provided history of the settlement, details about the consequences of vaping and the negative impact on schools. Workgroup student representatives John Kelley, Shawnee Mission South senior, and Reese Irwin, Shawnee Mission Northwest junior, shared their experiences from school and from serving as part of the work group. Paula Bunde, coordinator of health services, and Michaelene Kruger, vape and cessation expert from the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment, also provided additional awareness information. The work group presenters detailed an awareness and wellness education plan proposal to serve Shawnee Mission schools.

Click here to view information about the plan.
Click here to view the presentation.

Assessment Update
Dr. Dan Gruman, director of assessment and research, provided an update on enrollment trends, ACT participation and results, and Kansas assessments. Dr. Gruman said a theme he used was to use historical data to help understand current context. He also summarized steps the district is taking that are supporting success such as strategic use of resources for core instruction and intervention; support of training for Professional Learning Communities; system alignment around Response to Intervention; focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging; active monitoring of classroom instruction using walkthroughs; and regular instructional focus with principals at leadership meetings.

Click here to view the presentation
Click here to view the ACT cohort update

CharacterStrong Presentation/Approval
Dr. Darren Dennis, chief academic officer, led a presentation about the CharacterStrong social emotional learning instructional resource. Sharita Galloway, administrative intern at Brookridge Elementary School, Paula Pyle, social worker at Rhein Benninghoven Elementary School, Cathy Lorino, social worker at Rushton and Jenna Hanson, fifth grade teacher at Rising Star, contributed to the presentation. They provided information about the background research and input gathered, pilot schools, resources explored, and details about what CharacterStrong is. Dr. Dennis spoke about next steps following Board consideration and approval. Professional development is set to begin in January and in staff meetings. Later in the meeting the Board of Education approved the adoption and purchase of CharacterStrong.

Click here to view the presentation. 

Board Financial Report Superintendent Dr. Hubbard and Russell Knapp, chief financial officer, presented the monthly financial report and an update on ESSER III expenditures.
Click here to see the financial reports.

ICT Program Evaluation Drew Lane, executive director of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Bill Shaffer, director of network infrastructure and technical services and network security, James Morgan, director of data and programming services, Doug von Mosch, director of customer service, and Jenny Collier, instructional technology coordinator, provided an evaluation of the ICT program.

Lane opened the presentation by sharing how the ICT team plays an important role in supporting the district’s mission and goals. ICT provides vision, purpose, and planning in all aspects of district technology, ensuring the implementation and maintenance of a modern and reliable technology environment. The team serves in a support role, collaborating with other district teams to understand and meet their technology needs.

ICT has aligned with the academic team by collaborating with the district’s instructional technology coordinator on instructional resources. The team assesses and evaluates emerging technologies as tools for conducting business and meeting goals. Project management, cybersecurity, and continuous modernization are also important components of the work of the ICT team.

Lane shared notable successes of the team, including enhancing the efficiency of technical support services, reducing support times, and expanding data analytics capabilities. The team also continues to provide a high-level of customer service to customers and has increased opportunities for professional development within the team.

The ICT team expressed their top concerns include continuing to meet elevated service expectations from internal customers, compliance with legislation, regulations, and policy around data privacy, as well as evolving cybersecurity threats, including the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools by hackers.

Click here to view the program evaluation document and presentation.

Retirement Plan Vendor Transition Dr. Michael Schumacher, associate superintendent of human resources and Jack Keller, vice president/senior consultant of retirement and investment, presented information on transitioning the district's 403(b) and 457 plans to a single vendor and record keeper.

This change is being made in an effort to enhance the participant experience and optimize administrative processes. The benefits committee took a thorough approach to the change by requesting proposals from seven vendors and subsequently interviewing two finalists. Corebridge Financial was selected as the single vendor and record keeper. Key factors in the selection included Corebridge’s participant education services, an established communication strategy, consideration of participant fees and expenses, an open architecture investment platform, and positive references, among other differentiators.

To view the presentation click here.

Later in the meeting the Board of Education approved the agreement and resolution with Corebridge Financial to be the single vendor and record keeper for eligible employees who elect to participate in the district’s 403(b) and 457 plans.

The district will aim to move all employee assets from other district sponsored vendors to Corebridge by March 20, 2024. A communication strategy will be implemented to educate all staff about the program and the change.

Click here to view the associated documents and resolutions.

KESA Update Dr. Matthew Anderson, assistant director of curriculum and instruction, joined by Dr. Darren Dennis, chief academic officer, and Dr. David Stubblefield, associate superintendent of leadership and learning, provided an update on the Kansas Education Systems Accreditation (KESA) process.

Dr. Anderson spoke about how these efforts tie to the district mission, detailed the components of accreditation, logistics, and provided a timeline review.  

Dr. Dennis shared details about work that has been done over the past five to six years, the district’s KESA Foundational Structures, and the district outcome areas. He also provided feedback from the Outside Visiting Team (OVT) and Accreditation Review Council (ARC), which included strengths and considerations for the district. As a result of these steps, the Shawnee Mission School District is fully accredited as a system.

Because this is a continuous improvement cycle, Dr. Anderson shared proposed revisions to the process and next steps. These proposals will be considered by the Kansas State Board of Education.

Click here to view the report.

Click here to view the presentation slides.

Student and Family Services Program Update Dr. Christy Ziegler, chief of student services, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI); Dr. John McKinney, director of student and family services, Kaitlin Shulman, coordinator of diversity, equity, and inclusion, Elisabeth Johnsrud, Trailridge Middle school counselor, Brenna Sandefur, Trailwood Elementary social worker, Martha Ayalla, Rosehill Elementary ELL teacher, and Haley Jeffery, SMAC PTA diversity, inclusion and outreach coordinator, provided a program update to the Board of Education.  

Dr. Ziegler shared that the Student and Family Services team strives to promote student well-being and school participation which fosters growth in academic achievement. The team goal is to increase student academic achievement and Social-Emotional well-being through a focus on continued professional growth around a culture of belonging. Dr. Ziegler explained how the work of the Student and Family Services team is aligned with the Strategic Plan. 

Dr. McKinney shared that in addition to focusing on academics, assessing and building Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) skills is an essential part of education. Social-Emotional character development (SECD) is the process through which students acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve goals, feel and show empathy, and make responsible decisions. Dr. McKinney shared that social workers and counselors are important members of the student and family services team.

Brenna Sandefur explained that as a social worker she supports students' safety, mental health, and sense of belonging every day. Social workers provide support at every tier of intervention and also help students and families connect to resources they need. 

Dr. McKinney explained how SECD is supported and reinforced throughout the district with a shared focus on monthly themes developed by the Cornerstone Cadre, a professional development team. SEL is also part of the Kansas Education Systems Accreditation (KESA) process.

Dr. McKinney provided information about the optional Panorama survey that is given to measure the social and emotional wellbeing of students in grades 3-12.

Elisabeth Johnsrud, shared that counselors are privileged to support students and hope to help kids build a trusted community. Johnsrud spoke about the monthly social-emotional character lessons developed by the Cornerstone Cadre and how they help create a common language between students and teachers.

Dr. McKinney explained that the student services team also facilitates the school-based 504 accommodations process for students, and the implementation of federal programs including McKinney-Vento (serving persons who lack permanent housing).

Shulman provided an update on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) efforts. The focus in this area continues to be on supporting an internal, sustainable model that includes administrators and building DEIB teams working collaboratively with equity practitioners in support of ongoing professional learning for all staff. 

Shulman provided information on the continued focus on recruitment and retention of a diverse team, development of support staff and student affinity groups, as well as a continued focus on elevating student voice and participation. She also shared details about upcoming school-based family engagement opportunities

Martha Ayalla spoke about participating on the DEIB Team at Rosehill Elementary and working to organize a shared cultural night between Rosehill Elementary and Corinth Elementary. The goal of the cultural night has been to give families an opportunity to celebrate their cultures and partner with a school across the district.

Haley Jeffery, a parent at Corinth, spoke about how the cultural night has been an amazing collaboration, saying “It celebrates the tapestries of our rich cultures and ethnicities. Rosehill Elementary and Corinth Elementary also have developed a pen-pal program.”

The program report can be viewed here. 

The program presentation can be viewed here. 

Human Resources Program Update
Dr. Michael Schumacher, associate superintendent of human resources, Dr. Jeremy Higgins, director of secondary human resources, Pam Lewis, director of elementary resources, Dr. Jarius Jones, director of classified human resources, Dr. Brittany Gonser, director of professional learning, and Kaitlin Schulman, Coordinator of diversity, equity, and inclusion, provided an update on Shawnee Mission School District Human Resources.

The presentation focused on demographic information concerning the district administrative and certified teams, retention and turnover rates, recruitment and retention efforts, mentorship and instructional coaching, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging work, and equitable hiring practices. Olivia Boone, Rosehill Elementary first grade teacher, and Javen Betts, a sixth grade teacher at Overland Park Elementary, provided perspective on the district recruiting process. Sarah Dent, SM Northwest teacher, and Margo Schuerman, SM Northwest senior talked about the district’s teacher education program. Roderick Gayta, a sixth grade teacher at Corinth Elementary provided reflections on the experience at New Team Member Academy. Shelby Johnson, a fourth grade teacher at Trailwood Elementary provided details about new team member cohorts.

Click here for the program update slides.
Click here to review the program update and evaluation.

Student Athletic Participation
Kent Glaser, director of athletics and activities, presented an update on athletic participation in the Shawnee Mission School District. He noted the benefits of athletic participation and how it serves the mission of the district. In summary, Glaser noted how participation numbers continue to improve in Shawnee Mission schools.

Click here to view the athletic participation update.
Click here to view athletic participation update slides.

Benefits Renewal Presentation
Dr. Michael Schumacher, assistant superintendent of Human Resources and David Johnson, senior benefits consultant with CBIZ Employee Benefits, reported on the 2024 renewal of employee health benefits. The presentation provided a summary of current benefit programs, including medical, dental, and vision. Dr. Schumacher noted this report is being presented earlier this year to provide awareness of a change to the prescription drug formulary. The new formulary will impact approximately 4.3% of prescriptions and will result in a savings of over $1 million annually.

The Board of Education later approved the renewal of the medical insurance program with Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Kansas City, effective January 1, 2024, with a 2.7% increase in premium cost. This also reflects the negotiated rate increases jointly determined by the Interest Based Bargaining (IBB) Negotiations Team.

Click here to view the presentation.
Click here to view the approved plan.

Real World Learning
Dr. Ryan Flurry, principal of career education campuses and coordinator of career and technical education, Laura Harsch, business to education liaison, and Britt Sherer, Real World Learning (RWL) counselor at SM North presented an update on Real World Learning in the Shawnee Mission School District.

Dr. Flurry opened the presentation by sharing how Real World Learning is directly connected to the Strategic Plan objectives. SMSD has partnered with the Kauffman Foundation and school districts throughout the Kansas City metro area to give students the opportunity to earn Market Value Assets (MVAs). MVAs are defined as industry valued and recognized skills. Acquiring MVAs while in high school helps students achieve a more seamless transition from school to postsecondary education or the workplace.

Click here to review the full presentation.

Substitute Services Discussion
Dr. Michael Schumacher, associate superintendent of human resources, Dr. Jeremy Higgins, director of secondary human resources, Keith Elliott, senior director of client services for Kelly Education, and Sari Kreutzkamp, Shawnee Mission account manager for Kelly Education led a discussion about plans for substitute services in the 2023-2024 school year. Kelly Education handles all aspects of the Shawnee Mission School District’s substitute teacher program. The discussion included updates on absence and fill rates, ongoing recruiting plans and events, details about next action steps, and rates renewal information. In the 2022-2023 school year, Kelly fulfilled a commitment to achieve a 90 percent fill rate for substitutes, with a fill rate of 90.81%. The discussion also provided a comparison of fill rates before and after the Shawnee Mission Board of Education approved a rate increase in December. Later in the meeting, the Board of Education approved proposed substitute pay rates for the 2023-2024 school year. The approved proposal included continuing a $155 per day rate for Special Education substitute jobs. The proposal also included a higher rate for substitute nurses.
Click here to view the presenation.
Click here for more information on the approval of substitute pay rates.

Safety and Security Program Update

Mark Schmidt, director of emergency services and chief of police, and Philip Lofflin, resource officer, presented an update on the district’s safety and security program. They outlined various roles including district resource officers and school resource officers, officer training, work service beyond academic hours, and details about how technology is used to enhance safety.

Click here to see the presentation slides. 
Click here to view the program report.
 

Strategic Plan Annual Update/Portrait of a Graduate 

Superintendent Dr. Michael Schumacher, Pam Lewis, associate superintendent of leadership and learning, and Dr. Leigh Anne Neal, chief of early childhood learning/sustainability provided a year-end update and look ahead on the Strategic Plan. Ms. Lewis and Dr. Neal also provided a report on the updated Portrait of a Graduate. The Strategic Plan update highlighted the number of engaged Action Teams that were at work in the 2024-2025 school year and provided details about work that has progressed in each strategy. Dr. Neal and Ms. Lewis explained that the Portrait of a Graduate provides a vision, a North Star, for what it means to be truly ready for the next step after high school. The presentation provided information about how numerous individuals contributed to the update progress and highlighted the community’s vision for all the skills and attributes each student should have by the time they graduate.

Click here to view the presentation slides. Slide 19 provides a full view of the Portrait of a Graduate image.

Student Discipline Report

Dr. Dan Gruman, director of assessment and research, presented an update on student behavior trends across the Shawnee Mission School District from August through April. The presentation opened with an overview of the discipline matrix, which is designed to support the goal of building strong relationships and fostering a positive environment that encourages students to remain in school. Dr. Gruman explained that the vast majority of students go through the year without receiving a single discipline referral, and the most severe disciplinary incidents remain extremely rare. Almost 80% of students never receive a discipline referral.

Dr. Gruman reviewed the data showing that while Level 1 and 2 referrals have increased, more serious Level 3 and 4 incidents have declined. Trends also show a spike in referrals during middle school, with a decrease after ninth grade. The most frequent referrals are for tardiness, interpersonal disrespect, class disruption, and personal electronic device violations. Dr. Gruman also presented discipline data broken down by student demographics.

Looking forward, Dr. Gruman highlighted several areas of focus for 2025-2026, including reducing chronic absenteeism and continued attention to the Strategic Plan strategies of Belonging and Mental Health. He shared that staff training in restorative practices will begin in the first quarter to build stronger relationships and constructively address conflict. The district will also continue using the Character Strong program to support students’ social-emotional well-being.

Click here to view the presentation slides.

World Languages Instructional Resource Adoption

Kristin Ridgway, coordinator of curriculum and instruction, along with pilot team members Stephanie Wixon and Nick Ruiz, world language teachers at SM North, and Brianna Ovalles, world language teacher at Shawnee Mission South, presented a proposal for the district to adopt a new World Languages resource. This proposed adoption supports Strategic Plan Action 1.3.2, “We will formalize a plan to increase bilingualism.”

The team first shared about the World Language program throughout the district, including the growing impact of the Seal of Biliteracy, student success in Heritage Spanish courses, and student achievements at the University of Central Missouri Modern Languages Film Festival.

Phase 1 of the resource adoption focuses on Spanish instruction in middle and high school, with a recommendation to adopt the Klett World Languages’ series. This resource was selected through a comprehensive pilot and evaluation process. The resource aligns with the American Council for the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) standards and offers digital and print components that support language proficiency and real-world application. In addition, student and teacher feedback of the resource was positive.

Phase 2, planned for 2026-2027, will include the pilot and adoption of resources for upper-level Spanish and French courses. A future adoption cycle for Arabic, Latin, German, Russian, and Mandarin is planned for 2029.

Later in the meeting, the Board of Education moved to approve phase 1 of the World Languages Instructional Resource adoption.

Click here to view the presentation.

Budget Workshop - Operating Funds

Chief Financial Officer Russell Knapp delivered a detailed overview of the SMSD’s operating budget for the 2025-26 school year. The presentation outlined total anticipated operating revenues of approximately $316 million and projected expenditures of nearly $306 million, with 84.6% allocated to salaries and benefits.

Revenue sources include state aid and local option budget funds, among others. Knapp noted a $237 increase in Base Aid for Student Excellence (BASE) state aid and pointed to factors influencing the budget, including a slight enrollment increase, reductions in state grants, and increases in utility and transportation costs.

The budget assumes a personnel increase of 41.2 Full Time Equivalency (FTE) positions. Major expenditure changes include costs for professional growth, added staff, student transportation, and increased health insurance participation.

Knapp also reported on the summary of fund balances, flow-through funds to the state, federal funds, and noted a projected mill levy decrease. The presentation concluded with a review of the timeline of steps for the final budget submission by September 20, 2025.

Click here to review the presentation slides.

Click here to review the budget workshop acronym reference document.

April 14, 2025 Board of Education Workshop Meeting

Board Items

Health Services Report

Dr. Christy Ziegler, chief of student services, diversity, equity, and inclusion introduced Paula Bunde, health services coordinator, Teresa Denk-Smajda, student wellness specialist, and Kristina Knight, social worker at Horizons. The team provided the Board with an update on the district health services program. Bunde shared a detailed look at how the district’s health services program continues to support the well-being of students and staff.

The program is designed to offer professional nursing care that goes beyond treating illness. It includes a broad range of services such as health assessments, early intervention, case management, and prevention strategies. Health education and collaboration with school teams and community partners also play an important role.

During the presentation, Bunde spoke about the mission and goals that guide the work of the health services team. She shared current staffing levels and data on the number of student visits to school health offices. Denk-Smajda discussed the program’s expanding focus on student wellness, specifically efforts around vaping education and nicotine use prevention.

Knight spoke about recent training initiatives available to SMSD staff members interested in learning how to support students facing mental health or substance use challenges or those in crisis.

Rosehill principal Jen Duke spoke about the value of community partners sharing an opportunity 20 Rosehill Elementary students had to participate in the One Sight Vision Clinic, where they received a complete vision exam and glasses.

Click here to view the program report and presentation slides.

Food Service Report

Dr. Christy Ziegler, chief of student services, diversity, equity, and inclusion introduced Grace Liss, director of food services, Jennifer Earthly, assistant director, and Jill Willett, nutritionist. The team shared an update on the Shawnee Mission School District’s Food Services program. Liss shared progress on department goals and highlighted the efforts of the food services team in meeting those objectives.

In addition, Liss reviewed detailed financial information, emphasizing the team’s ongoing commitment to offering affordable, nutritious meals that are tailored to student preferences. Willett explained that input from student focus groups and data analysis continues to guide menu decisions.

This year, new initiatives included the introduction of Food Promotional Days in elementary and middle schools to engage students and support nutrition education. The team also expanded its farm-to-table approach by partnering with the Kansas City Food Hub.

Earthly reported that professional development for staff remains a priority, which aligns with Strategy 3 of the district’s Strategic Plan. Food Services supports classified employees with ongoing training to enhance food safety, customer service, and meal quality. This school year, Food Service has also launched several initiatives to strengthen connections with employees and celebrate their contributions.

Liss concluded the presentation by sharing recent community engagement and outreach efforts including a SMAC PTA presentation, website enhancements, and participation in the Shawnee Mission Mic’d Up podcast.

Click here to view the program report and the presentation slides.

Instructional Walkthroughs

Pam Lewis, associate superintendent of leadership and learning, presented on a refreshed approach to classroom walkthroughs. Instructional walkthroughs are short, informal visits to classrooms by administrators, instructional coaches, and teachers to observe teaching and learning in action.

These visits help school leaders support educators, cultivate a culture of learning, encourage collaboration and ensure high-quality instruction across all schools. Walkthroughs also provide valuable feedback and help identify targeted professional development needs.

Lewis reported a new walkthrough tool is being developed with input from staff. This tool will focus on clear expectations, ease of use and meaningful, non-evaluative feedback. The goal is to strengthen teaching practices and align with state standards. Lewis reviewed the next steps including developing a high quality instruction walkthrough tool, creating an SMSD walkthrough guidance document, building leadership capacity, providing opportunities for teachers to observe and discuss instruction, and holding quarterly building and district data discussions.

Click here to view the presentation slides.

Middle School Cheer 2025-2026

Dr. Kent Glaser, director of athletics and activities, and Ericka Waller, Trailridge Middle School associate principal, shared a proposal to add Middle School Cheerleading for the 2025-2026 school year. Later in the meeting, the Board approved uniforms, equipment, and coaching supplemental contracts.
Click here to view the presentation.
 

Assessment Update

Pam Lewis, associate superintendent of leadership and learning, and Dr. Dan Gruman, director of assessment and research, presented an update on winter 2024 assessments.The update provided winter snapshots, a high-level overview of Acadience Literacy and Northwest Evaluation Association Measure of Academic Progress (NWEA MAP) Reading data and Acadience Numeracy and NWEA MAP Math data. Dr. Gruman also provided details about iReady implementation and explained correlations between NWEA and iReady assessment results. iReady is a math resource being implemented across the district. The iReady Diagnostic Assessment is integrated into this resource. Pam Lewis then highlighted plans for the future, including but not limited to expansion of iReady math resources, expansion of LETRS (a professional development program designed to provide educators with the knowledge and tools needed to effectively teach reading and spelling, grounded in the science of reading), re-starting structured walkthroughs, and the continuation of monitoring student progress.
Click here to view the update.

Strategic Plan Update

Progress continues on the SMSD Strategic Plan and several individuals provided an update to the Board of Education. Dr. Leigh Anne Neal, chief of early childhood education/sustainability, Dr. Matt Andersen, assistant director of curriculum and instruction, along with Action Team members Karen King, community member, and Kate Harrenbruck, fourth-grade teacher, Trailwood Elementary School, shared details about the work of Action Team 1.2.1, related to interpersonal skills.

Michelle Lord, director of elementary human resources, and Maggie Carter, Highlands Elementary School instructional coach, provided an update on Action Team 3.1.3, related to the comprehensive evaluation process for team members.

Judd Remmers, director of classified human resources and Meagan Alexander, Brookwood Elementary School secretary, provided an update on Action Teams 3.2.2, related to the Superintendent’s Classified Advisory Council, and 3.2.5, related to classified data.

Click here to view the presentation.

Russell Knapp, chief financial officer, presented the weighted FTE report to the Board of Education.

Click here to view the financial reports.
 

Operations and Maintenance Program Evaluation 
Dr. David Stubblefield, deputy superintendent, Tyler Clubb, director of facilities, and Michael Wood, assistant director of facilities, presented an update on the Operations and Maintenance program. They began by explaining how their team's work supports the district’s beliefs, mission, and objectives outlined in the Strategic Plan.

Tyler Clubb detailed the team’s responsibilities, which include managing 49 schools and four district centers, overseeing more than 5.4 million square feet of facilities, and maintaining 860 acres of district grounds. He also outlined the department’s structure, highlighting key roles in maintenance, groundskeeping, custodial services, and construction project management.

Michael Wood provided insights into work order performance and shared updates on the student internship program and the summer crew intern partnership.

The presentation showcased the district’s bond planning, capital projects, and sustainability initiatives. In 2021, the community approved a $264 million bond to fund district-wide facilities improvements. Guided by community input, the bond projects focus on enhancing educational infrastructure. Five elementary schools in the district have been rebuilt through the bond.

Britt Pumphrey, principal of John Diemer Elementary School, highlighted how the new building has positively impacted students and the community. A standout feature of the building is the collaboration space, including privacy restrooms, which has made students feel more comfortable. Each classroom also has a garage door entrance, bringing in natural light, enhancing safety, and fostering a sense of community.

“As principal, I get to walk through and see all the amazing things happening in our building every day,” Pumphrey shared. “It feels like home.”

Tyler Clubb shared the district’s commitment to sustainability, noting that the first four rebuilt elementary schools have achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification, and Tomahawk is on track to do the same. He also provided updates on major renovation projects at the middle and high school levels.

Dr. Stubblefield recognized former Corinth Elementary student Olivia Bloomfield for her advocacy for inclusive playgrounds, which helped ensure that all 34 elementary schools in the district now feature inclusive play spaces where all students can play together.

Click here to view the presentation materials.

PriorityOne Health Center Annual Review

Dr. Jeremy Higgins, associate superintendent of human resources, and Erin Eason, national director of clinical consulting practice with CBIZ, presented the annual review of the PriorityOne Health Center to the Board. Since opening in 2017, the Health Center has become a valuable resource for district employees, offering accessible and comprehensive medical care.

Dr. Higgins shared a number of metrics highlighting the utilization of the health center. In 2024, the center recorded 6,860 visits, representing a 16% increase in visits over the prior year. The most common medical appointments focused on acute illness, routine physical exams, and chronic disease management.

Feedback from employees about the PriorityOne Health Center is overwhelmingly positive. According to post-visit survey results, 99.4% of respondents rated services as good or excellent and 99.9% indicated they would recommend the health center to others.

To conclude the report, Eason shared data on cost avoidance and the return on investment of the Health Center.

Click here to view the presentation

Assessments Update

Pam Lewis, Associate Superintendent of Leaders and Learning, and Dr. Dan Gruman, Director of Assessment and Research, provided an update on ACT and Kansas Assessment results for SMSD students.

Lewis began the presentation by emphasizing how assessments align with the district’s Strategic Plan objectives and strategies. Specifically, she highlighted the connection to two objectives: achieving academic success through a challenging, personalized learning plan and developing and utilizing personal resilience while mastering essential competencies that lead to college and career readiness.

Dr. Gruman followed with an overview of the ACT, a college entrance exam used for admissions and course placement decisions. Dr. Gruman highlighted several factors that influence performance on the test, such as course completion in core subjects, the quality of instruction, and timing. He also noted that test participation rates, individual testing frequency, and background factors like English language acquisition and home-life experiences can impact scores. The average ACT Composite score for SMSD students is higher than both the state and national averages.

The focus then shifted to Kansas assessment results, where Dr. Gruman provided an overview of the performance level descriptors and data comparing SMSD students’ performance to statewide results. He highlighted the percentage of SMSD students scoring at levels 1, 3, and 4 and shared that overall progress is trending positively.

Lewis shared that a goal for next year is to increase student achievement and performance through targeted interventions with a grade level focus for all students.

Laura LaHue, principal of Highlands Elementary, shared what supports and systems look like at the building level. These include strategic use of high-quality instructional materials, ensuring time is protected for Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), and actively supporting and monitoring the quality of instruction. These initiatives are designed to create a strong foundation for continued growth and help students achieve their personal best.

Click here to view the presentation slides.

Student and Family Services Report

Dr. Christy Ziegler, chief of student services, Dr. John McKinney, director of family services, and Kaitlin Shulman, coordinator of diversity, equity, and inclusion, presented an update on student and family services. They were joined by Kathryn Harter, SM West social worker, Memo Rodriguez, SM South area attendance specialist, and Mya Williams, SM West senior and student leader.

The team spoke about how their work supports the objectives of the Strategic Plan through essential elements including student programs, family support and advocacy, belonging, and mental health. Rodriguez spoke about efforts to support student attendance and prevent chronic absenteeism. Shulman spoke about a variety of ways the district offers family support and advocacy and works to create inclusive opportunities to help families engage and thrive. This includes family engagement nights, the superintendent advisory group, professional development and resources, systems of support like belonging groups, and opportunities for students to use their voice, such as Youth Equity Stewardship (YES). Williams spoke about her work as a student and intern to support these efforts and opportunities. Dr. McKinney talked about the importance of a focus on mental health in a school district and ways it is being addressed, including Action Team work, the work of counselors and social workers, and the Character Strong educational resource implementation at the elementary level. Harter and Williams spoke about student engagement opportunities related to supporting Mental Health, including Sources of Strength and Zero Reasons Why. Rodriguez shared more information about the Youth Leadership Summit, an event that brings middle and high school students together to support healthy behavior.

Click here to view the presentation.

Annual Comprehensive Financial Report

Russell Knapp, chief financial officer, along with Karen Linn, managing director with BT&Co., P.A., presented the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) to the Board of Education.

The full report can be viewed here.

iReady Curriculum Resource

Joanna Roche, curriculum coordinator for elementary math and science, led a presentation recommending iReady, a new math resource for grades K-5. Erika Sales, 3rd grade teacher at Roesland Elementary, Jennifer Thomson, 5th grade teacher at Roesland Elementary, Jill Ryder, 5th grade teacher Sunflower Elementary, and Joanna Euston, instructional coach at Nieman Elementary also contributed to the presentation.This recommendation follows a rigorous evaluation and pilot process aimed at enhancing math instruction across the district.

The timeline for the adoption process began in August 2023, with research, resource pre-screening, and professional learning for cadre teams and instructional coaches. A pilot program was launched in the first quarter of the 2024-25 school year, during which teachers and students provided feedback and evaluation data. By compiling these findings, district leadership collaborated to finalize the recommendation. The proposed iReady program offers a comprehensive plan that includes print and digital resources for students and teachers, professional learning opportunities, diagnostic testing and data support, and personalized learning tailored to meet the needs of all students. The program aligns with the district’s Math Instructional Framework, emphasizing student ownership of learning, diverse problem-solving approaches, mathematical confidence, and conceptual understanding. The adoption will also provide learning continuity across grade levels as iReady was approved as the district's math curriculum resource for grades 6-8 last year.

Click here to view the presentation. Later in the meeting, the Board of Education approved the adoption of the iReady math resource for grades K-5.

Centegix Crisis Alert 

Dr. Michael Schumacher, superintendent, Mark Schmidt, chief of police, and Philip Lofflin, officer, provided a presentation about a contract with Centegix, a company that provides an electronic crisis alert system.

This alert system includes crisis alert badges that will empower each staff member to initiate an emergency response and call for support at the time of an emergency. The alert system will help first responders know where to respond and the type of response that is needed, whether it is a health emergency, weather emergency, or a threat situation. The system will only track locations of badge users when an alert is deployed from the badge on a district campus. Individuals can see how the system operates by watching this video. Click here to review the presentation.

Later in the meeting, the Board of Education approved a contract with Centegix. Click here to read more about the contract.  Implementation of this system is expected to take place in the spring. The implementation will include training for all staff members.

KESA 2.0 

Dr. Matthew Andersen, assistant director of curriculum and instruction, Jennifer Duke, principal of Rosehill Elementary School, and Dr. Darren Dennis, chief academic officer, presented information about the Kansas Education Systems Accreditation (KESA) 2.0 model. They shared information about how KESA complements and integrates with the Strategic Plan and other school improvement work happening in the district.

The team provided an explanation about what KESA is and how accreditation is determined. An overview on the district’s action plan based on four fundamentals (structured literacy, standards aligned, balanced assessment system, and high quality instruction) was also provided. Dr. Andersen also shared information on outcome areas and compliance.  Ms. Duke provided details about the school’s improvement plan and how it functions. Then, Dr. Andersen shared details about the district accreditation timeline and KESA collaboration process. Click here to view the presentation slides.

Human Resources Program Update

Dr. Jeremy Higgins, associate superintendent of human resources, Dr. Chris Kase, director of secondary human resources, Michelle Lord, director of elementary human resources, Judd Remmers, director of classified human resources, Dr. Brittany Gonser, director of professional learning, and Kaitlin Shulman, coordinator of diversity equity and inclusion, led a presentation update about the Human Resources department. The team shared employee experience highlights, as well as details about recruitment efforts, support for current employees, advisory councils, retention rates, professional learning opportunities, and leadership and wellness initiatives.

Amy Sachse, instructional coach, and Siena Meyrer, second grade teacher, both from Merriam Park Elementary, spoke about the benefits of the Professional Development Program with the University of Kansas. This program intentionally places student teachers in Title I schools. (Title I is a federally-funded program that provides financial assistance to help students receive a fair, equitable, and high-quality education). Erin Best, a Lenexa Hills fourth grade teacher, described her experience with the SMSD mentorship program and the New Team Member Academy. Vicky Kopp, student services secretary, spoke about the importance of professional development for classified staff.

Click here to view the presentation and program report.

Strategic Plan Quarter 1 Update

Dr. Leigh Anne Neal, chief of early childhood education and sustainability, provided an overview of progress on the Strategic Plan Cycle II. The presentation began with a review of the plan’s beliefs, mission, objectives, and strategies. Dr. Neal emphasized that participation from the community is essential to implementing the work of the Strategic Plan.

During the first quarter, eight action teams have met to advance specific work outlined in each of the Strategies. Below are the strategies and the associated quarter 1 action steps.

● Learning: Embedding interpersonal skills, aligning grading practices, and increasing professional learning for differentiated core instruction.

● Belonging: Strengthening belonging support groups for staff and students and ongoing professional development to enhance student voice and foster inclusivity.

● People: Exploring and implementing equitable hiring practices and growing teacher efficacy through research-based professional development, and developing a Superintendent’s classified advisory council.

● Technology: Developing a curriculum and instruction cadre team for instructional technology and creating a developmental guide for age appropriate use of instructional technology, including a focus on personal device use.

● Mental Health: Clarifying and defining the roles and responsibilities of mental health professionals, reviewing staff to student ratios and developing a plan to meet the social, emotional, and academic needs of students.

● Facilities: Conducting independent facility audits, identifying best practices in facility planning/design, and maximizing and maintaining bond and capital budgets to enhance facilities that support student learning.

As part of Technology Strategy 4.1.3, Dr. Neal presented data from a recent ThoughtExchange survey on cell phone and personal device use. The ThoughtExchange had 4,658 participants contributing over 3,600 ideas and nearly 75,000 ratings.

Superintendent Dr. Michael Schumacher thanked the Technology team for their efforts and he expressed appreciation to the community for their participation and patience as the action team prepares a well-researched recommendation on this topic.

Dr. Neal shared upcoming Action Team work and noted that as we move into Quarter 2, community involvement remains important. Individuals interested in joining an Action Team can click this link to apply.

Click here to view the presentation slides.

Click here to view the full presentation starting at 24:52.

Real World Learning Update
Pam Lewis, associate superintendent of leadership and learning, introduced Dr. Ryan Flurry, principal of career education campuses, and Laura Harsch, business to education program officer, to present an update on Real World Learning in the Shawnee Mission School District.

Dr. Flurry shared how Real World Learning connects to the Strategic Plan in the strategy areas of Learning and Belonging. The Strategic Plan states that every student will have a personalized learning plan, which will prepare them for college and careers, with the interpersonal skills they need for life
success.

Since 2019-2020, Real World Learning has been part of a regional effort, in collaboration with the Kauffman Foundation and other districts across the Kansas City metro area. The initiative now spans 75 high schools across more than 31 school districts, reaching over 80,000 students. Dr. Flurry noted this is the last year of grant support for SMSD by the Kauffman Foundation.

A key focus of Real World Learning has been on student attainment of Market Value Assets (MVAs), which include work opportunities and certifications that help students succeed beyond high school. The four categories of MVAs are entrepreneurial experiences, work experience (internships and client connected projects), nine or more college credit hours, and industry recognized credentials. The district aims for 100% of students to graduate with an MVA by 2028. Dr. Flurry shared data showing 72.8% of the current class of 2024 has earned an MVA.

Erica Jablonski, real world learning counselor, and Grayson Furjanic, SM West senior, shared their experiences with client-connected projects in collaboration with The History Co: Lab and the Overland Park Chamber of Commerce. Ashley Ardon Baltazar, SM South junior, spoke about her internship with the Immigrant Connection.

Ms. Lewis shared that looking ahead, SMSD will continue expanding Real World Learning opportunities by enhancing career exploration from Pre-K to 12th grade, supporting the costs of Real World Learning experiences, integrating Real World Learning with core content, developing comprehensive communications strategies and developing systems to ensure its sustainability.

Click here to view the full report.

Student Athletic Participation
Kent Glaser, director of athletics and activities, presented an update on athletic participation in the Shawnee Mission School District. He opened the presentation by sharing an article connecting participation in athletics to the five “C’s” of competence, confidence, connections, character and
caring.

He highlighted that participation numbers across schools continue to rise, with the expansion of middle school programs playing a key role. At the high school level, interest in athletics remains strong, with participation numbers continuing to grow. Glaser emphasized the importance of encouraging student involvement, noting that research consistently links participation in school programs with academic success.

Click here to find links to the athletic participation update and presentation slides.

Calendar Revisions for 2024-25 and 2025-26

Dr. Darren Dennis, chief academic officer, outlined proposed revisions to the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school calendars.

The revisions were made in response to feedback from interested parties who wanted to eliminate the need for students to return on the Tuesday after Memorial Day for the last day of school. In order to accommodate this request, the calendar needed to be changed to move student contact time from after Memorial Day to earlier in the year on a day that was not scheduled as a student attendance day.

Working in collaboration with NEA Shawnee Mission, the district was able to accommodate the change in the 2024-2025 school year by exchanging Tuesday, May 27, 2025 (a student contact day) with Friday, April 18, 2025 (no school; parent communication flex day).

For the 2025-2026 school year, employees and students will begin the year one day earlier, and the district exchanged Monday, May 26, 2026 (student contact) with April 3, 2026 (parent communication flex day).

These changes comply with state regulations, contract language, as well as the preferences of students, staff, families and the community.

The Board of Education approved the calendar update in the consent agenda portion of the meeting.

Click here to view the presentation slides.
 

Communications Program Update

David A. Smith, chief communications officer, introduced Kristin Babcock and Michaela Scruggs, communications coordinators, and Jillian Hodges, media specialist, who presented a communications team program evaluation to the Board of Education. The presentation showcased how the team shares important information and stories about the district and schools to a broad and diverse audience. They also highlighted the many ways the communications team supports staff and students behind the scenes. Additionally, the presentation shared data on the expansion of social media platforms and the success of the Shawnee Mission Mic’d Up podcast. Community members are welcome to provide story tips for highlighting school activities, students and staff to the team at adcommun@smsd.org.

Click here to view the report.

Substitute Services Update 

Dr. Jeremy Higgins, associate superintendent of Human Resources, introduced Dr. Chris Kase, director of secondary human resources, and Sari Kruetzkamp from Kelly Education, who provided an update on substitute services. The presentation highlighted the district’s partnership with Kelly Education, absence and fill rates, and identified areas of improvement, planning, and action steps for the future. Presenters concluded by sharing a fill rate guarantee from Kelly Education.

Click here to view the presentation slides.

Later in the meeting, the Board approved substitute pay rates and a contract with Kelly Education.
Click here for more information.