001Good. >> We'll call this uh 437 board of education meeting to order. Um we'll start with open forum. Any school highlights? >> Uh not this evening. No. >> Okay. We'll move on to 2.02. Public comment. We do have public comment tonight. So before we start, um I am going to read a brief statement. Um any district employee, patron residing in the district or student attending Auburn Washurn School may speak in open forum. You will have three minutes to speak and the board will have two additional minutes to ask clarifying questions. We ask that those speaking to model the behavior and rules we expect of our students and your children when speaking. Please be respectful and courteous during your comments. The board will show you the same level of respect. If your comments are about personnel
002problems concerning students, parents, or school employees, please note that board policy KN requires that you visit with the teacher, principal, or superintendent before bringing the issue to the board of education. All matters pertaining to negotiations between any group and the board are only discussed by the board in executive session. So with that, Clint, if you want to come up to the microphone, if you could just start by stating your name for the board. >> Hi there. My name is Clint Dvau. Um I am a father of a sixth grader who is currently assigned to Washurn Real North and a uh son who is entering kindergarten. Um at the same time we live just over 2 miles from Washurn Real North. Um we've been uh engaged with the board um and your leadership team since the
003uh school plans were announced. Um we've been told everything was fine until about 3 days ago. When I say about three days ago, I mean I literally called Friday and found out um that everything was uh definitely not fine and instead we are scrambling this week to figure out um what to do to get our daughter home safely. Um meanwhile, the administration is suggesting that one of the options is that they would happily bus her uh 7 and a half miles to the other middle school, but not two miles to the middle school uh that was just built. Um, our house is, uh, some context for this and the zoning issue that I think is at play here. Our house is within three miles of multiple elementary schools in, uh, Washurn rolls district. Um, we,
004however, are zoned for Auburn Elementary, which is 7 and a half miles away. This board has generously approved our daughter for transfers to Indian Hills for the last six years. um the a a process that I thought we would get away from when we got to middle school, but that abruptly changed when I realized where you were building the new middle school and the plans to zone around that middle school. I reached out in 2023 when the zoning was announced to ask if we were really considering busing students from immediately across the street of the new middle school, 7 and a half, eight miles to the other middle school. Um I was Dr. Dr. McWills responded at the time and said he agreed with my assessment that it didn't make sense to bust kids from
005across the street to the new middle school 8 miles to the other middle school. At the same time, he assured me that I would not need to continue to go through the transfer process and instead families in my area would get a choice on which middle school they were to attend. Uh this was good news to us. In the same thread, I shared a lot of my concerns where every year my daughter uh we've had to wonder if this would be the year you didn't approve the transfer request and she got ripped from her friends. You know, we give up transportation service when we have to go through the transfer process. They assured me that was not the case here. There was no transfer needed. She would follow based on enrollment. Thankfully, that happened. Uh
006we went through enrollment. She was simply assigned to Washurn Rural North. Uh we assumed all was well. when transportation policy changes were occurring, I engaged regularly with Michael White um on what I thought the impact was at the time based on how I thought we stood uh with her assignment to Washurn Royal North. Uh when the final policy came out, we ended up just outside the 2-m range. Um so it landed pretty well for us, I thought. Um my wife actually called um at the beginning of May when an email came out from the district suggesting you call them to get the distance calculated. gave them our address, confirmed that bus service was available. Um, and we didn't need to fill out any forms because we were right outside the two mile zone. Um, on
007Friday, uh, our family's going through a lot of change. Daughter going to middle school for the first time, son going to kindergarten for the first time. We're trying to arrange schedules. So, I called to check on bus schedules and was told at that time that actually we were not covered by bus service and that my daughter was marked as a transfer. Um, I'm familiar with the transfer process because I've been through it for six years. We did not do that this year. Um, and I am familiar with the process to sign those uh transportation rights away as you go through the transfer process. None of that happened. No one ever communicated that we were outside of the attendance boundary and therefore giving up the service. That the understanding I had is that those families were
008given choice and they weren't boundary constrained. Um, I excuse me. Um, it's it's honestly uh frustrating to me to watch it fumbled that badly. The communication process to be fumbled like that when I've been diligently communicating with the leadership and the board um since 2022 with concerns around this. Um, it's even more frustrating that the same administration that said they couldn't staff bus routes are gladly willing to bust my daughter eight miles to another middle school, but not one uh within two miles. And it's even worse for those right across the street. So, it's really frustrating to hear all these uh transportation policy changes that need considered because you can't bus staff bus routes. Meanwhile, there's inefficiencies like this built into the process that go unressed. And Clint, you're getting right to your three minutes,
009so not that I want to cut you off, but um if you don't mind just kind of wrapping up, >> I can do that. Thank you. Um I just want to say I don't believe there's resource problems here. This board's done an incredible job of equipping the administration with all the resources they need. Um they've gone through uh you've issued capital projects to remodel every one of these elementary schools to build the largest middle school in the state of Kansas. Um you've you've done all these things. When they said they couldn't staff bus routes, you came out with policy changes. The board continues to step up. Um the administration though has done a poor job communicating these things and not addressing some of the obvious inefficiencies that uh exist that I imagine cause you these
010bossing issues. So with that, I'll close. I appreciate the work all of you do. Specifically, Michael White, who told me he couldn't be here tonight, has been very engaged with me for the last two years, and I appreciate that. Um, I I just ask that we hold the folks accountable for stuff like this because I have a daughter who's devastated um all weekend um about something that should not be shocking to us a week before school starts. Thank you. >> All right. And Clint, if you don't mind staying up for a minute, we do have two minutes if any board members want to ask any clarifying questions. >> Any questions from the board? And we received your email earlier today, so thank you for that as background as well. >> Thank you. >> All right.
011Thank you, Clint. >> Oh, sorry. >> I have a question. >> Sorry. Go ahead, Chanel. >> Um, so I think you know this may be kind of a question for the group too. Is when we say that there were people who were given the choice between Western North and Western Middle School, well, like how many students or how many groups was that? That was that a percentage or >> Yeah. So, um, to the comment that Clint made earlier, so Auburn does have a big footprint for an attendance center. >> That's done strategically. It's our smallest building and so we don't really want to minimize that footprint. We want to keep as many kids in Auburn as we possibly can. And the reality is some of our other elementary schools had been hitting kind of at
012the maximum seams. That's why some of the work that you alluded to has been helpful because we're being able to generate a little more capacity in some of our larger elementary schools, which has been a positive moving into this upcoming school year. Um, in the northwest section of the Auburn Attendance Center, what Clint stated is accurate. We chose to give families um the choice if they want to attend at their home school, which is Washurn Rule Middle School, they can. If they would rather go to Washurn Rule North, to your point, that's closer. It's almost like literally across the street. That's fine as well. Um my apologies to Clint. He stated that we have not communicated that clearly to those families. And so that's where we haven't been on the same page in regards to
013that communication piece. And so that's the situation that we're in. the number of families in the northwest section that are Auburn Elementary families that had the choice. It was just under 20 families. >> And so they didn't have to have been a transfer student like Clint's daughter. It was just where you live, >> right? Yeah. They can make that decision at this time. Yeah. >> Or because in this case, she went to Indian Hills that she had been part of North >> Well, uh she was on a transfer and that's why it was uh Yeah. She she was rolled to Washurn North attendance. Yeah. And what he said was accurate. Yeah, that's it. >> So then those 20 20-ish families then are they just by a rule transfer students or because they chose >> Okay.
014So the the ones that are choosing to go to Washurn Real Middle School, uh it is true that they will have transportation because it's beyond the two um two miles >> and the majority are going to Washurn Real Middle. A small number are going to Washurn Real North, but we do not have bus transportation that's going from that part of town north. the bus transportation is going south >> in that part of town. So, >> okay, >> I know my period for comments closed. I just want He says a small number um have chosen to I just want to point out from the numbers he sent me today, it's over a third of them um in that area choosing to go to Washurn Real North. So, I I just don't want it to sound like
015a small minority. There are a number of families that are choosing to transfer. >> Six. >> Yeah. I mean, honestly, six. >> Yeah. >> 12. >> Yep. >> 20. >> All right. Any other questions? All right. Thank you, Clint. >> Thank you. >> All right. We will move on to section three. Um 3.01 is roll call. Um everyone except for Brian and Michael are present. Um we'll move to 3.02. Um approval of the agenda. >> So move. >> Second. >> All right. There's been a motion and a second. All in favor? Motion passes five to zero. Um we'll move on to section four. Disposition of business by consent. >> I move for the disposition of business by consent, including payment of bills in the amount of 6,895,164.20. >> Second. >> There's been a motion and
016a second. All in favor? Motion passes 5 to zero. That brings us down to section five, administrator reports, uh 5.01, back to school updates. >> Yeah. So, I'll take the lead, but several members of the team will also have some comments to share as well. So, just a few things. Uh, so, um, as we think about the upcoming school year and students actually returning, uh, to our schools next week, a few things have already been in the works. So, a kindergarten roundup, uh, it took place just over a week ago, last week of July, in each of our sites. Exciting time to see the littles coming through the doors. That was a lot of fun for the teachers as well as those students. We had our back to school administrator meeting. It was held on
017July 25th to get the administrative team on the same page in regards to things that are going to be taking place this year. A new staff academy. Kudos to the learning services team. Uh so that kicked off last week on Friday and also took place today. Uh all of our staff were going to return to contract uh tomorrow. We're going to start our morning at Washurn Ro High School. Uh all staff convocation for those of you and I think most of you around the table board members are able to attend. That's fantastic. Thanks for doing it. There will be some reserved parking uh right at the front entrance uh of the school and then um we're going to open the doors right around 7 o'clock in the morning. Uh if your calendar allows for you
018to come early, uh you can kind of meet and greet and welcome back staff as they're walking through. There will be some folks that enter kind of through that roundabout drive that's on the north of the building. And then there's also um probably a little bit more that will go from the east entrance uh that'll come in through that larger parking lot. So, if you want to um do some meet and greet as people are coming in, you're welcome to do so. There's a hot breakfast provided from 7 to about 7:45. From 7:45 until 8, we kind of start ushering everybody into the gym. And then I'll make opening comments for 20 minutes at all staff convocation that goes from 8 to 8:20. And then we have other meetings that will be taking place starting
019at 8:30. So, anytime after 8:20, you'd be free to take off and get your day started. So, um I'll be give I'll have the opportunity to recognize you that morning. So, thank you for coming in, those of you that can make it. So, I wanted to share that. Um, there will be a lot of uh visit the school, meet the teacher kinds of activities through the course of this week, as well as Monday of next week and then of course the big day uh Tuesday next week, the 12th. We'll be welcoming uh probably relatively close to 6,000 students back to school for the 2526 school year. And we're looking forward to that opportunity. Um, next topic is a bond construction uh updates. Um, for the most part at this time, uh, things are tracking uh,
020well, although there's still a lot of work to do in each of the sites. So, we have Farley, we have J Shidler, we have our middle school, and we also have Indian Hills. So, if you're out and about and you drive past the parking lot of any of those schools right now, there are a lot of vehicles in the parking lot for the most part doing button-up kinds of activities. Uh the reality is with pond construction, even with all staff coming back tomorrow, uh we can still share space and it's safe and teachers can do what they need to do to get set up and ready to go for next week and the workers are able to do what they need to do to finish up and button up projects. Uh so we're we're going
021to be okay in regards to uh to those projects. Uh Chelsea, in the world of human resources, if you just wanted to give a quick update on how the hiring process moving into the 2526 school year is shaping up. that might be helpful. >> Sure. Yeah, we've hired for every position that we needed. Uh we have 70 new folks coming to us on the certified side. And on the classified side, we're fast and furious in my office right now and onboarding everybody that has been selected over the summer and that is also shaping up really well. We're going to have some gaps, but that's kind of typical and we know how to navigate through that. Um the recent wage increase has helped a lot so we're doing okay. >> Awesome. Uh everything's about teaching and
022learning and instruction and that's Jeff's Bailey Wick. So, Dr. Dota, if you want to provide an update on learning services. Thank you. >> Yeah, we're very excited for two days of meaningful professional learning on August 5th and August 7th as we prepare our PLC's for the upcoming important work with their students. Um, lots of collaboration time and setting the stage for work um on building data systems and assessment and monitoring learning. Um, we will be offering optional launch week activities for teachers on August 8th and 11th on timely topics. um helping them have a strong start to their school year and our resource orders and digital um resources so far remain on track to be um ready for the beginning of the school year. Uh one thing I would point out on August 5th is
023we have ELA resource training um for elementary and secondary teachers on that day. Um our teachers are enthusiastic and excited about their new elementary um ELA resources especially and so we welcome that opportunity. >> All right. And then as we move through the month of August into September, it turns into Brett's show at that point. So he's in the process of building the budget for 2526. And we'll have an opportunity at some upcoming board uh meetings to do a revenue neutral rate hearing as well as a general fund budget hearing. Uh we may also have a subcommittee meeting between now and then. So Brett's all over that. So those are some upcoming items in regards to his office. Um, Rich, in regards to uh facilities, so we've already kind of mentioned bond construction projects. Outside
024of that, anything noteworthy to mention as we get a little closer to kids returning? >> Sure. Our crews have gotten all of the cleaning and everything done except in those areas that are under construction right now. We have a plan uh working with the contractors to get that done just as soon as they're out of the way. We've been working some crews over the weekend this past weekend to get that kind of caught up. But, uh, everywhere that didn't have construction is looking great. The places that had construction will be looking great before students get in. Uh, all of our capital outlay projects that we had planned for this summer are moving along. A lot of infrastructure, sidewalks, some new parking areas, some redesign of some parking lots. That's all done. We actually are u
025today the striping crew is out striping those new parking areas and so uh we're feeling pretty good about projects. Again, we'll we'll be right down to the wire with the contractors finishing up the construction stuff. >> Uh on all of those topics, any questions or points of clarity? Uh, >> no. I'll just share that I've gotten feedback from people that the buildings look great. The middle school especially in the high school is being clean and ready to go. And so, yeah, it's exciting. >> Great to hear. Thanks for sharing that. All right, last couple of updates in regards to bus transportation. We already started that conversation earlier this evening. Uh, we are continuing to communicate with families that have opted in to yes, I would like bus service that's inside of two miles that have
026not yet paid the fee. Uh so we're keeping that communication going with those families. Um if you've been out and about in our school community, uh we are visibly recruiting uh for bus drivers as well as FARS. So Chelsea, her team as well as um the transportation team, they're being as strategic as they can to keep moving things around. Uh have yard signs out and a variety of things to do everything we can to get some new people coming through the doors, which will certainly be helpful to us. In regards to infrastructure, Rich, as it relates to transportation, um we've got a concrete board for bike racks, uh racks themselves hopefully will be coming in at the end of the week to get them installed. We have put in some additional sidewalks, uh some additional
027crosswalks, signage is also going up, uh where crossing guards are going to be uh throughout the community. Pads reported late last week, and I'm starting to see signs come up as I'm out and about going to the schools. And so, no issues or concerns with any of that. So, we're looking good. Still going through the process of hiring crossing guards, but we do have some candidates in the system, and we also have some of our own employees that have said, "Hey, I think I might add that to my day." So, it'll be a combination of probably some new as well as some of our current staff that will be doing those positions. Um, in regards to bus routes themselves, transportation team, the reality is, um, that's a little bit of a fluid process because we
028still have kids that are notifying us families are moving out or families that are moving in. And so, every time a one out or a one-in happens, it just requires which bus and which route and does that still make sense? Uh, they've identified neighborhood stops uh, where it's safe and logical moving into this upcoming school year. And so soon we'll be able to communicate that to families, but we're not quite uh not to the point that we have that buttoned up to make it public quite yet. So, a lot of moving parts. Uh it will all come together. We're looking forward to a very uh successful kickoff on Tuesday of next week, but there's still a lot to do without question. So, >> I know my daughter did the walk of the new middle school
029and the all important will my bag fit in the new locker which I think she just used an excuse to get a new backpack, but um it >> really excited for school to start this next week. So, we are at that point in the summer that it is time. So, >> all right. Thank you for that, Scott. Um we'll move on to section six. Uh 6.01 is board policy updates first read. >> Yeah. So, um, this may be the last large batch and so I I share every meeting. Kansas Association of School Boards, they have a legal team that go through all policies annually in the summertime based on the legislative session that ends because some laws have been tweaked or changed. Sometimes board policies need to be adi revised as well. There's nothing um
030in regards to actual content that I need to explain here. uh these are just tweaks uh based on best practice from a legal standpoint's point of view or because the law has changed and we need to be compliant in regards to that. Um there are a few policies that we actually will need to spend some time discussing and but that's not in this particular list but when the time is right once school is up and running I'll bring those to you kind of as a oneoff moving through the fall. So >> any questions on any of those policies? Um I don't have a question on any of these policies but I do have a question related to policies generally. Um, do we have and I should probably know this, but >> do we have a
031policy specific and that will encompass kind of new technology as it's coming out? Let's say AI and things like that and how students deal with those things. >> Um, could depending on what decisions are made down the road, right? So, in our student handbooks, uh, we have our approach uh to technologies in general as well as specifically to AI. Um and so that has met our need thus far. Uh in regards to AI also um KASB legal council um has recommended a legal review and opinion uh to best meet the needs of students as well as staff moving forward. Um some schools have policy some legal councils have encouraged us to continue to explore a little bit more so we know what exactly we will want to put into the policy. I do think probably
032there will be a policy that eventually will come, but it hasn't been right out of the gate um yet. >> And so if there's any sort of legislature or anything that happens, KSB would let us know >> without question. Okay. >> Yep. Absolutely. >> Does anyone would anyone have a problem with these going on the consent agenda for next time? >> Fine. >> Wonderful. >> Go on consent for next time. >> Yeah. Great call. Thank you. >> All right. We'll move on to section seven, which is 7.01, which is board policy updates. Final read. Not the same policies we said over the ones from last time. So, sorry, I should have probably put those on the consent, too. But, um, >> any questions about any of these policies? If not, I'd entertain a motion. >>
033I move the board of education approve updated policies CC, CD, CG, CGI, and CNA as presented. >> Second. >> It's been a motion and a second. All in favor? Motion passes five to zero. We are down to communications. >> Uh none this >> executive session. >> Um go 60 minutes. >> Okay. Um we are now going to move into executive session. Discuss um personnel matters pursuant to the exception of non-elected personnel under coma. uh to discuss the budget pursuant to the exception for employer employee negotiations under coma to discuss students pursuant to the exception relating to actions adversely affecting um a student under coma at 653 will go into executive session for 60 minutes and resume the open uh board meeting at 7:53 p.m. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> All right, there's
034been a motion and a second. All in favor? Motion passes 5 to zero. We are in executive session. We are back in open session after being in executive session. Motions from executive session. >> Yes. I move the board of education approves the head custodian wage increase as discussed in executive session. >> Second. >> A motion. A second. All in favor? Motion passes. 5 to zero. I move that the board of education approve the special education positions as discussed in executive session. >> Second. >> Motion and second. All in favor? Motion passes 5 to zero. >> I move the board of education approve the out of district students and transfer requests as presented for the 2526 school year. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> Second. >> All right. There's been a motion to turn. All
035in favor? Motion passes five. Just don't know what to do.