Board Workshop Presentations

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.

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