May 2026 Olathe Public Schools Board of Education Meeting

001Good evening to this wonderful audience um here this evening in the room and to those of you at home. Uh welcome to the May 7th, 2026 board meeting. Miss Beam, would you call roll, please? >> Mr. Mr. Babbot >> here. >> Mr. Boyd >> here. >> Mrs. Johan >> here. >> Mr. Cune, Mrs. Reagan >> here. >> Mrs. Steel >> here. >> Dr. Jükovich >> here. >> We have a special group. It's always special to have groups come for the pledge of allegiance, but tonight um we have a generational Fair View group. Uh so would you please come forward to lead us in the pledge of allegiance. Where's that? I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty

002and justice for all. >> Before you go back, um, if you would turn around so the audience can see you. The individuals in this group either currently attend Fair View, will attend Fair View, or clearly have attended Fair View. [applause] Thank you for being here this evening. Board item 2.01 adoption of the agenda. Is there a motion? >> I move to adopt the agenda as presented. >> Second. >> Motion by Mr. Babot. Second by Mr. Boyd. >> Dr. Jükovich. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Steel. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Reagan. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Johan. Yes, >> Mr. Boyd. >> Yes, >> Mr. Babbot. >> Yes. >> Motion passes. 6. >> Miss Grubball. >> Hi. Good evening. Well, this makes my heart happy to see a room full of honores. So, we will dive right in. We

003are pleased to begin tonight's recognitions by welcoming our partners from the city of THA up to the front. This includes Mayor John Bacon, city manager Susan Sherman, director of exceptional services Aaron Bader, assistant to the mayor Liz Rubac, customer service officer Ronnie Decker, exceptional services billing and support specialist Janet Silva, and our own director of community development Heather Skunover. The city of THA has been an outstanding partner to THA public schools through countless programs and initiatives that directly support our students, families, and staff. This year alone, the city partnered with us on kindness week, the mayor's food drive, and support for Northview Elementary through the adopt to school program. City staff volunteer as youth mentors, classroom helpers, and lunch buddies while also supporting programs like the spot and impact tha for families facing economic challenges.

004The THA mayor's children's fund helps provide shoes and supplies and backpacks for students in need. The city also creates opportunities for our students through internships, teen council, skills for success, mock interviews, and service on career pathway advisory boards. For nearly 20 years, the city and district have collaborated through communities that care to promote positive community engagement and substance abuse prevention. The city is also a valued partner in the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. contest, helping celebrate student voice, belonging, and unity across our community. In addition, the city of THA remains a strong supporter of the THA public schools foundation with city leader Aaron Vader currently serving as the board president. We truly could not do what we do without meaningful partnerships just like this one. And we are deeply grateful to the city of

005THA's continued commitment to making an exceptional place to live, work, and learn. Thank you. [applause] >> [applause] >> Thank you. Thank you all. Next, we would like to welcome North High School senior Blake Samuelson and his principal and athletic director Josh Price along with his coach Clint Slider and district athletic director Matt Johnson. Earlier this spring, Blake won the 6A state wrestling title in the 157 pound division. Blake is no stranger to the medal podium. He's a three-time state placer and he finished fourth as a freshman, fourth as a sophomore, and runner up as a junior, steadily climbing the podium each season. And in his senior year, he clinched that first place spot. I believe Blake plans to continue his wrestling career at the collegiate level and recently signed with the Cowi County Community College

006Tigers. We can't wait to see your success continue at the college level. Please join me in giving Blake a round of applause. [applause] Congratulations. I would now like to invite our district fine arts coordinator, Martha Gable, to join us up front. Martha was recently honored with the section 5 outstanding music educator award, which covers Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota. This award is given by the National Federation of State High School Associations. The outstanding m music educator awards have been in place since 1988 and recognize significant and ongoing contributions to the field. Years of both curricular and co-curricular service and contributions to the profession both in and out of the state among other criteria. Martha has served our district since 2006 leading more than 200 music, theater, and visual arts educators. Under

007her leadership, THA has repeatedly been recognized as one of the best communities for music education. Martha has also served in leadership roles with the Kansas Music Educators Association and the National Association for Music Education. She was one of only two Kansas educators honored this year. Tonight's recognition is bittersweet as Martha will be retiring at the end of the year. Her impact on the arts will certainly be missed and her fingerprints are on our arts programs here in THA. We look forward to what's ahead for you, but you will be missed. Congratulations. [applause] >> I just received that we have been named for education for 2026. That's amazing. CONGRATULATIONS. [applause] [applause] OH, what wonderful news. Thank you for sharing that. Okay, from music to math, I'd now like to invite up our math wings champions. Um,

008along with Brierwood Elementary Principal, Dr. Andy Casper Meyer and Coach Becky Foreman, Arbor Creek Elementary Principal, Dr. Melissa Snell and coach Dion Hobson and Meadow Lane Elementary winners. Come on up. [applause] For those who don't know, Math Wings is a district-wide elementary school competitive club. meetings involve intense mental math skills, problem solving competitions, vocabulary review, and various math scrimmages. These students up here represent the fourth and fifth grade winning teams for our final event of the school year. In the fourth grade category, Brierwood's Luke Helen, Nathan Boyd, and Wesley Junganellan earned first place. And in the fifth grade competition, we had a tie, and it was brought to my attention a tie with perfect scores from both teams. So, there was a tie between our Arbor Creek team and our Meadow Lane team. Please join

009me in congratulating these students. [applause] [applause] Families, if you would like to take photos, please feel free to come on up. We have a photographer here, but we also know you might want to get your own photo as well. >> We're going to take all together and then we're going to do one school at a time. Okay. So all together everybody look up here. Ready? Smile right here. One, two, three. >> Okay. And then if I can have you guys step out and step to the middle. right here. Smiles real big. One, two, three. Awesome. >> [applause] >> You ready? One, two, three. Awesome. Okay, great job everybody. [applause] One, two, three. Great. Congratulations. [applause] >> Great. Thank you guys and congratulations again. Our next group of honores excelled in the 2026 Casey Bizfest conference

010in late February. So, please welcome to the front our student and family support liaison, Jean Cano, and our three students who earned automatic college scholarships for their business plan presentations. Please come on up to the front. We are very excited to celebrate these three outstanding students. Jasmine Ramirez, a junior at THA South High School, won first place in the Casey Bisfest competition overall with her business Soundbridge 3D, which 3D prints orchestra instruments as a cost-effective alternative to traditional instruments. We're also pleased to recognize Emily Menddees, Louise Jr. at THA North High School, who placed second overall, and Bruno Selli D Silva, a senior at THA Northwest High School who placed fourth overall. Our district had 14 students, which was the largest from any Kansas City metro district at the 4-day hands-on experience with entrepreneurship, leadership,

011financial literacy, and public speaking. So, we love to see the well represented. Please join me in congratulating these students on their achievements. [applause] Well, it was fitting that we have Martha here tonight because we have more music recognition. So, if you want to come back up, Martha, we'd love to have you. Our next recognition of the evening is a group of talented musicians who have been named to the KMEA Allstate Ensemble multiple times. So, I would like to invite all of our KMEA All State recipients to the front along with any administrators, teachers that might be here with them. [applause] Now, I must say what you see here tonight is just a small sampling of the total number of students that we had win um this achievement. We had more than 20, I want to

012say 26 students who were named to the Kansas three and four-year allstate uh groups. This is the highest level of recognition a high school student can earn in music at the state level, and it occurs after rigorous auditions and performances. This year, Altha had its 21 students across all five high schools who were named either three-year or four-year all-state ensemble participants in orchestra, band, or choir. It's pretty incredible. 21 students. We're so proud of you guys. Thank you for all that you do. Please join me in congratulating these talented musicians. [applause] for me. >> Congratulations. All right. Last and certainly not least, I would like to invite up MAFI Elementary's Skyler Shook along with MAFI principal Jeremy McDonald, Altha Recruiter Liaison Amy Hillman, director of teacher induction and university partnerships an Addison, and KSD's director

013and coordinator for teacher lensure Shane Carter and Joel Gillespie. Over the past several years, Skyler has served as an apprentice here in THA. This bold, innovative pathway is flipping the script on traditional student teaching and replacing it with something far more powerful. A true co-eing model rooted in mentorship, belonging, and real world impact. Over the past 2 years, Kansas apprentices have logged more than 2,000 hours in classrooms. And we are proud to share that Skylar, our first official Altha KSD registered teacher apprentice, has officially crossed the finish line. [applause] And that's not even the best part. The best part is that we are beyond proud to share that Skylar has been hired by THA public schools and will be teaching fourth grade at Mafy Elementary next year. [laughter] >> [applause] >> HER principal Jerry Mc

014Jeremy McDonald shares that Skylar has been such a special part of the Mafy family over the past two years through our teacher apprenticehip program. This experience has been a gamecher not just for Skyler but for us as a school. She's had the opportunity to learn from a variety of incredible teachers, work across grade levels and subjects, and truly see what it takes to make a classroom run. KSD's Joel Gillespie shares that public schools has been a leader in Kansas from the earliest stages of the teacher apprenticeship initiative recognizing not only the immediate benefits of the program but also embracing its larger purpose which is developing and investing in the next generation of educators. He shares that Skylar has been a shining example of the impact this work can have. Skylar is proof that when we

015invest in people, build meaningful pathways, and lead with purpose, incredible things can happen. Please join me in congratulating Skylar and officially welcoming her to the family. [applause] additional congratulations to all of those recognized this evening. Thank you, Miss Guba. board. Our next um item is our presentation are our presentations and our first presentation evening is by the THA Police Department, Chief Bhutad. >> Welcome and thank you for being here. >> Thank you. Uh good evening everybody, school board members, Dr. Joerger, staff, and our community members. I am Mike Bodd, your police chief. Um, I'm really excited to talk to you about our drones as first responder program, but the first thing I really want to talk about is uh the recognition that our school resource officers recently received. And you may know about it already,

016but uh they recently were notified that they received the National Association of School Resource Officers model agency and that is really significant. It's it's greatly in part to do with the school district's uh collaboration as well, which we greatly appreciate. But if you didn't know, there's 13 a little over 13,000 school districts in the US. There's about that many law enforcement agencies as well, but they only designate 11 agencies with this honor. And I think that's really tremendous. So, I wanted to recognize our school resource officers, which we have two uh today, and the school district for that great honor. In uh June, they're going to be traveling to Reno, Nevada to receive the award. So, really looking forward to that. You know, it was a really perfect segue for um us to recognize uh

017the city of THAA for all of our collaboration. And that is no different uh with the police department in the school district. I could stand up here all night long and talk about the Low Rider Bike Club and the spot and Mission Christmas and all the great things that we do and all of the great things that were named earlier and that's what it's all about. I talked to you guys three years ago. Some of you are here, some of you are new. Uh, this was the first slide of my presentation and it still holds true today that we work together uh, building relationships for generations. It it's truly amazing all the things we do. And that's how things occur, right? That's how really good things happen. And I'm here to talk about drones as

018first responders. And I'm going to talk about that. But the first thing I want to mention is that I was at the innovation campus, which is a fantastic building, right? Um, my staff and I were there talking to school district staff about innovative things. Go figure. And this is one of them. It It's really on the forefront of law enforcement. Technology is advancing everywhere, right? And this is no different. Drones as first responder is a program where drones are launched. They're designated based on the calls for service. So significant things that happen in the community, a drone is strategically located in the city and it's launched to go to that location specifically. They don't just fly around randomly surveilling people. They have a specific purpose. They go to a call for service. Maybe they're going

019to an accident at Santa Fe and Ridge View. It's really important for us to know what's going on and the drone gets there and provides information to our officers in the field real time. there's a person that's actually piloting the drone that provides that information. So, they arrive at the accident at Santa Fe and Ridge View and they determine, okay, it's not an injury accident. As a matter of fact, it's another quarter mile down the road. That's great information for our officers to understand that people are out. They're they're trading information. We're still responding to that, but we don't have to respond with our lights and sirens, which is dangerous for everybody. It's very dangerous for the community and for us to drive like that. Um, so that gives us the opportunity to know that

020we don't have to do that. And so that's just one really minor example. We actually have four drones uh that are in the city geographically located uh for strategic areas. And when we were talking at the innovation campus, the intended purpose was for us to put these drones on top of cityowned facilities. But guess what? We don't strategically have cityowned facilities across across the city like the school district does. And when the school district heard about that, they thought, hey, we can certainly partner with the helping uh the police department make the city safer and in doing so making our own schools safer. So I thought that was a great collaborative effort. So, three of the four drones that we have are on uh your schools. Before I show this video, and I guess I

021just have to click on it, but before I show the video, I want to explain it a little bit. There's a lot of misconception out there. Uh, one of the things is privacy issues. So you will see really quickly and we can play it a couple of different times that when this drone goes up, like I said, it has an intended purpose. As you see right here, that is the it's called a nest uh that it's that it stays in where it recharges. There's a QR code on the nest that the drone is focused on. It wants to return back to that location. So it focuses on that as it launches. So, it goes up in altitude to the desired height that it wants to travel to the destination. It's only focusing on that QR

022code. [snorts] Once it gets to the height, it immediately transitions the camera straight forward because now it's wanting to know where am I going. I want to see what's out there. We shorten the video so you don't have to see the whole trip. Um, but we show the launch and then as it's flying the return. So, as it's returning, it does exactly the opposite of that. as it's returning. If there were kids on the playground, you might see some movement of antlike objects on the playground, but you can't discern who they are by any means. And then it immediately flips back down looking for that QR code and lands on that. So, let's see if I can get this to play for you. So it immediately is looking for its course that it's traveling. And

023now it's returning back. Does anybody want to see that again? It's not super exciting. I know that. But it has a really good indication of how it works and I wanted you to see that. Uh I wanted to give you a little bit of metrics. We've had really good success with this so far. So we're kind of in our infancy. Uh it has to be staffed by a human being, right? So that creates staffing issues for us. So when we have the availability, we absolutely want to utilize this technology. So right now we're only averaging about seven flights a day out of all the drones. 54% of the time the drones arrive on scene before an officer. Now, we get there really fast. If it's an emergency call for service, we want to get there

024under five minutes. And consistently, we get there, well, in 25 we got there at 4.29 minutes. So, we get there fast, but we can't travel in a straight line like a drone can. So, they're getting there 54% of the time faster. 83% of the time, they're able to provide really great intelligence for the officer. And that's really the goal of it all. um to make sure that we're safe as we can be. 7% of the time they're actually clearing officers, so it's making us way more efficient as well. And I'll give you an example. We had a call of a mattress on the interstate. Well, that could be really dangerous, right, if you hit that. Uh but the drone was launched and arrived and noticed that the mattress is not on the interstate. It's actually

025in the ditch off of the roadway. So, we were able to not respond to that. and then that car was available for emergency calls throughout the community. Um, just wanted to talk about evidence um and the retention period. So, uh, the the the drone video footage is only kept if there's evidentiary value. If it's not, then it rolls off in seven days. And that's the retention for many of our technology. If you don't know, we have traffic camera video, we have license plate readers, we have a lot of different technology that's throughout uh the community. So, it it'll it'll be gone in seven days. What I will tell you is that video is not shared. So, there's no reason for that video to be shared with any other entity besides us. Uh the only thing

026that I could think of, I should say maybe. So, the only thing I can think of is there was a really critical incident in the city, and we've had a handful over the period of time that I've been here, 33 years. Uh, we've had incidents where we had um a human trafficking uh situation. We've had bank robberies. We've had other things that have occurred that are really bad that we had to interact with the FBI. And it's always the FBI. It's no other entity. Um, and the only time that we would ever share that video is if something of that nature occurred. I don't want it to. Uh, the other uh traditional availability of a aerial view is a helicopter. Um, we have the ability to use Kansas City, Missou's and the Kansas Highway Patrol.

027It's rare um if ever because it's really costly. It's $300 an hour in fuel costs. We've had great success already. Like I said, um we had an unfortunate uh situation where a person was assaulted in one of our local retailers. We arrived on scene. Uh through other technology that we had, we were able to figure out who that person was really quickly and that that person's vehicle was still in the parking lot. So that told us he was still in the area. We used our drone um to locate that person who was hid about 200 yards away in a grassy area. Uh we had a person that um was suicidal that left a uh local treatment facility that was supposed to be there involuntarily committed. Um that person ran to an apartment complex nearby and

028the officers were unable to locate that person, but the drone was able to see that person hiding behind a bush and was able to locate um or tell the officers where that person was located so they could help her uh get the help that she needed. We we've gone to house fires. We' been able to see smoke on the horizon uh and flames coming out of a chimney, which is great information for the fire department. So, we're helping them as well. Uh so, they know how to respond and what they're facing when they get there. It helps us discern when things aren't what they're reported. So, we had a report of somebody breaking into a residence through a window. The drone arrived before the officer and was able to determine that that person was talking

029to another person in the driveway. looked like an amicable conversation. Uh, with no concerns, we were able to run the license plates of the vehicle and know those people live there. And then the officers knew and found out that it was just somebody locked out of their house and not a burglary, which we, you know, react to differently. Um, and then really great things like we we had the report of a toddler that was walking um unaccompanied in a busy roadway. So, we were able to locate that uh toddler really quickly. The officer was be able to respond and um make sure that that child was safe. And then our drone actually saw a a house that had an open door around the corner in the neighborhood. So, we were able to really quickly relocate

030the child with um its parents as well. So, we've had really great success. These are just a few. Uh we've only been doing it for it says 36 days, but we've been doing it for 38 days now. Um, but we've had some great success with limited use. This is really the end goal right here. So, we are trying to create a real-time information center at the police department so we can aggregate all of our all of our tools into one location. So, there's a a board like that that can tell us where our calls for services are, where where our vehicles are located within the map, the fire trucks, uh the license plate readers, the traffic cameras, and drone feeds into that so we can help provide the best information that we can to our

031officers in the field so they can be as safe as they possibly can be. Uh, I actually have a grant that's um that that that we we put in for uh a federal grant for about $1.3 million. Um, and then uh the folks that were here earlier are going to Washington uh next week to talk to them about all of the proposals we have through the city. So, really looking forward to having that occur um because it's really going to help make us safe and the school district safe as well. pretty brief, but I'd be I'd be happy to answer any questions that you would have. >> Board, >> Mr. Babbot. >> Hi, Chief. >> Hey, long time no see. >> Long time. >> Not that long. >> Um, so I I I have a

032few questions and >> I want to be clear with this. This is not I'm I don't have any issue with the program in general. I love and respect the Lake Police Department and the how you guys keep us safe. >> Appreciate that. >> I also want to balance that with privacy in general, which is why I had these questions in the first place just about surveillance versus being used for responding, which you answered a great number of them and this I really appreciate. The ones I have left are around. So when you when you responded to the house with the uh gentleman helping them get it get in there. So you're able to run license plates from the drone. >> Sure. >> And what tells So the drone doesn't run the license plate. the person,

033>> the drone has the camera that we can see the license plate on it and then the human being that's operating the drone can then do the records check to see who the car is registered to. >> Okay. So, as of now, it's used for first responding. What's to prevent it from becoming just a general fly out and check all the license plates along the road and see what people are >> pretty standard policies and procedures that don't allow that. And as long as I'm the police chief, that would never happen. I'm I'm positive that would be the next police chief's philosophy as well. I mean, the last thing that we want to do is is use technology the wrong way, >> right? >> Because then we wouldn't be using it at all, >> right?

034>> I mean, to be completely honest, do you have a cell phone on you right now? >> Yeah, I know. Everybody knows where I am anyway. >> Being surveiled pretty much everywhere you with license plate readers um and traffic cameras and sitting in this room, you're being recorded. I mean, you're you're being recorded pretty much all aspects of your life, right? Really knowing it. And and it's >> I would say for the most part, it's being used responsibly. Sure. >> I don't think that the the >> the school district is allowing people to view their video inside of schools. So, >> I mean, that that is >> that's what's going to occur. >> And I do and and I I'll be honest, it was a great presentation bringing up stuff like the retention policy on

035it. It was like you were looking through my list that I have already. So that's great. >> So who who can anyone outside of the police department request retention policy be changed for for a specific thing? Like if >> Well, I guess they can request anything, but they're not going to happen. I mean, that's that's my decision to make. >> Okay. And it's best practice. >> Sure. >> It's like our traffic camera video. So there's really no there's a capacity issue, right? storage is expensive. So that's a realistic part of it. >> Um but there's no reason to keep it longer than we need. >> Yeah, that makes sense. So is from the from the QR code I can tell what part of the flight is autonomous versus human driven. >> So it has to

036be monitored by the pilot continuously um per the FAA. Uh but it is if if you want to say it's autonomous after launch and getting to the location, it flies on its own. Uh when it reaches the destination, the pilot has the option of taking it over if they were looking for somebody specifically that committed a crime. Uh and then once they return it, it returns uh autonomously. >> So essentially hitting a return return to home button and it goes. >> Okay. >> Correct. >> Who who decides when it is used? Is it just is it if a call comes in just requesting it? Is it a specific person that's in charge of saying, "Oh, yeah, we should use the drone for that." Or is it >> Yeah. So, when we're utilizing it, it's there's

037a dedicated person sitting at a desk with a monitor in front of them operating the drone. So, that person is making that decision based on call types. Um, and there are times when we have officers in the field that need requested information. And so they will say, "Hey, um, this burglary suspect we're looking for, uh, ran when we got here and is hiding somewhere in the area." And we would request a drone at that time, obviously, um, to utilize to help us find that person. If you don't know, we have drones uh, additionally to this program. We have drones that we launch in the field very >> very often to help us locate things. >> Fire does also, right? I think I remember them flying them around. >> Fire department also has drones. They they

038have a drone as first responder. It's a different uh company and program, but they do have one as well. Got it. >> They don't have the capacity we do because they only have one. >> Gotcha. Okay. Um is the how does how's maintenance handled for him? I assume something because it's up on our buildings. I don't know how that's coordinated. >> Yeah, the maintenance for it is um we we have a contract with the vendor that helps with the maintenance. If it's something really minor, we can do it ourselves. Uh but it's it's the vendor maintenance. >> Okay. >> So, is there any danger from obviously drones crash, it happens. Uh is there any liability around that? Is there any danger from it? you know, >> there's not. And this is one of the reasons

039why we chose the Spender because it has um a rescue net. So, other drones like Lexus drones, they don't have the ability to have a parachute on the top because they have an attachment to um a foreign adversary drone, uh which prevents them from uh using a parachute. Ours is a US product that has a parachute um capability. If it were to malfunction, then that would launch the parachute and it would float down to the earth. So, yes, that's a unexpected and fantastic answer. Um, I think >> we tried to think of everything. >> I I think they probably did, too. Um, I think I'm I think I'm good. I almost every other one of my questions was answered by your uh presentation. So, thank you. >> What I would say uh for everybody if

040you have any further questions, I mean things pop up later, right? uh feel free to get a hold of me. Even if you want to come by the the police department, I can show you where this is located and how it's operated. So, you're certainly welcome. >> The the the nest is about four houses from my house. So, I can see it taking off. >> One thing I would tell you is that um I have three adult children that are all the school products that are very successful. They all graduated from the south and I because of that I have six grandkids as well. So, my oldest grandchild is in Altha school and I will tell you if it was geographically appropriate, I would absolutely put that drone on top of my granddaughter's school. >>

041Appreciate it. Thanks, Chief. >> I have just a couple questions. So, you mentioned the pilot. Is there um law enforcement staff member 247? >> No. >> Available for that or >> So, the the pilots are all police officers, certified police officers. are all part 107 licensed through the FAA. They have to be um there's about 15 of them right now. There'll probably be a few more um when we build out, but it is not 247. So, like I said, it's dependent on our staffing. So, when we have the capability of having it, it's very useful, but if we don't have the staffing level that we need, then we have to forego it. We do have um majority of our captains who are always on shift. Uh they're the shift commanders that have that capability. so

042they could slide over into the seat if there was a really significant call >> uh to help us with that technology. >> And then you talked you used the example of an traffic accident at Santa Fe and Ridge View, but it was actually down the road. So the pilot of the drone sees that detail and then how is that communicated to the patrol >> over the police radio? >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> I mean we can communicate through our computers and the cars as well. Mhm. >> Um or cell phone, but it's typically the police radio so everybody can hear the information. >> Okay, Miss Steel. >> Chief, thanks for being here. Appreciate it. I just have three quick questions. Um you mentioned that the district is safer because the drones are on three of

043our schools. I presume I I I don't want to misread. I are you saying that the dis the district isn't safer because the drone is sitting there so much as the community is safer because of using these DFRs. >> The community is safer, but I would say the district is safer too, specifically that school. If something, god forbid, were to happen of a critical incident in that school, the police department would have an understanding of what was going on very quickly. >> Okay, so that might answer my other question. with being the county seat and we have so many county buildings to choose from. The the question being why why choosing schools in in the school district as opposed to many of the county buildings that you had probably to choose from? >> County buildings

044are downtown. >> Um they're not really as spread throughout the city as uh schools are. But really what happened it happened organically through a conversation and you know um thanks to Dr. Joerger and uh Jim McMullen I mean they realized hey this is a kind of a no-brainer. I mean I we we want to help you do this and so that's really how it happened. >> Okay. Thank you for that. Um lastly with sharing the information with other agencies. Is that in policy? You said it really would only be the FBI if the crime >> Yeah, that's just the scenario that I can think of. I mean, we're not going to share the information um with any other agency. There's really no need >> uh to do that. >> Would your hand ever be forced

045with a different agency with regard to the information held? >> No. >> Okay. Thank you. >> You're welcome, [snorts] >> Mr. So, this isn't so much a question as just a comment. During this process, I had asked um Dr. Joerger about just when you put something on a roof and you know what if it causes damage or we have warranties on our roofs and whatnot. And I was assured that placing these on our roofs don't void any warranties. I see Mr. Pangi nodding. Thank you. But I wanted to just make sure the public was aware of that cuz that was a question I had from a constituent and it was answered. So that was not so much for you, Chief. I appreciated our chat earlier this week and um that's all I had. >> Dr.

046>> I just wanted to mention and it kind of goes back to the the other uh comment that actually was made during uh the the recognitions tonight. you know, the long-standing partnership we have with the THA public schools and you know, like the last question I really appreciate and I know that's a practical thing, but the reality is the relationships we have between the city of THA, um, fire and police, you know, what have you, regardless of what was written on paper, if there was something to our damage to our roof and, uh, that kind of thing, we know without a doubt, we'd call the chief and we get taken care of, that kind of thing. So, I just I didn't want the let the moment pass to just articulate that that is the working

047relationship that our two organizations have and and you know that sort of thing, but great questions tonight. >> Mhan. >> Sorry. Um, okay. Just a couple questions for me and thank you for the presentation. Um, are there locations that it cannot go? >> Yes. And is it specified because of the infrastructure >> can't go in our city is around the executive airport. Okay. So there's no fly zones there. >> I was thinking FAA kind of rules and regulations with that. Okay. Um and then you asked about specific specific training or answer that. That was one of my questions. Um and then I guess for me you you mentioned Lanex and other cities that have this drone technology already. And so this technology that you have deployed now is newer on the side of things. Are

048there is this common practice in police fields at this time throughout the country? >> Yeah, it's kind of emerging technology. We really wanted to be on the forefront of it. Um but like I said, Kansas City, Missouri, Kansas City, Kansas, Lanexa, there's many other agencies that are on the verge of it like Shaunie, Prairie Village, Overland Park. Um, you know, Johnson County is pretty forward thinking, so they're usually on the cutting edge, but across the country, they're talking about this technology um and technologies like it that benefit. >> I think I I really like that. I think it's interesting. I I work in healthcare and so there's all the all the other technologies that I've seen on identifying a heart attack and being able to communicate that directly to the hospital um in different different

049ways and forms, especially coming up on the World Cup and the advantages you might have with this technology, too. um and responses with that. Um hopefully you'll be able to have people to watch over the six weeks. [gasps] I I can imagine you're stressed about it. [laughter] Anyway, um I I won't go on that tangent for for now. Um one last thing. Slide number two. Could you go back to slide number two? >> I feel like I zoomed in. Is that Dr. Jagger or No. Did you dress up as a police officer? >> I was like I feel like [laughter] >> okay >> very similar >> impersonating a police officer is illegal. >> That was and that's my final question. That's all >> a retired school resource officer. >> Okay. Okay. Sorry about that [laughter]

050then, but I thought it would like glasses perhaps. Anyway, okay. Thank you. [laughter] All right. Any other comments, questions, board? Thank you for being here and for your time this evening. >> Thank you for this opportunity. I really appreciate all of you. Thank you. >> All right. >> Dr. Little will update us on the legislative session that is over. Thank you for being here again. Thank you. Good evening. Um, last time I was here was the week before the legislature came back for the wrap-up veto session and you all got a written report on that. So, I won't I'll going to cover some of the the highlights and then I'm happy to answer questions. Um the regular session and the special session concluded on the 11th of April and the session lasted 54 days which

051is about the shortest it's been in probably a hundred years plus. So we moved very quickly. Um in general we will not be back until uh January of 27. There's some talk about coming back for special sessions and I don't think anybody wants to do that really. So, um, we have, uh, a couple of things. The legislature ended up passing a budget, passed a couple of property tax reductions bills, and I'll go through some of the some of the education issues, particularly those that were resolved after the last time I was here. I'm going to talk a bit about property tax and what happened in that legislation because we were part of those bills at different times. And so it's it's kind of noteworthy to keep track of this because it will it will it

052will come up again. But there were two different constitutional amendments that the Senate passed and sent to the House that failed that would have put a cap on increases in assessed valuation. And then the last bill that the legislature sent to the governor when the session at the very last day was a bill that [clears throat] had excluded schools earlier in the session and then they took schools out. So it was just cities and counties and other local units of government that would cap the growth of a budget at 3% or Midwest CPI road rate of growth and whichever was lower. So you couldn't go any higher than three. If you wanted to exceed that 3% you could, but that that would be a vote on the budget which would then be subject to a

05310% protest petition. and if 10% of the folks signed up, uh, that would nullify your budget and you'd go back to the the base one. Um, the governor vetoed it. There was no chance for the legislature to come back and override it because they were gone for the rest of the year. That was the official end of the session. So, um, that is it's it's vetoed. Um, I think we were in and out of these bills and I think like at this instance was was uh was one method of attempting to eliminate some of the voices opposed to it and so we'll see how it goes again next year but we'll be dealing with some of these things. Budget that was finally passed just to just to highlight a couple of things and particularly that

054were happened after the session. the um there is the CPI funding I think it's $150 some odd million dollars for the increase in in K12 funding and only $6 million in special education was funding was funding was added and then the other two issues that are had to do with provisos which is the kind of policy put into a budget bill and there were a variety of those that had an impact on u ch reversing cut scores and all that and I think that was before the session was done But um though the governor vetoed those so they were not overridden. The one that the governor vetoed and then the legislature overrode was the one regarding student walkouts. And so that policy remains and the state uh board of education have to set up a

055a procedure a process for if that happens. If students walk out with parental without parental consent the and the state department can evaluate the role that the department had and those kinds of things. and then uh they can uh assess a penalty uh and you'd lose that as a day. So that's that is um um that I believe it's gone into effect already. But it's important to note this is a one-year proviso. Provisos on budgets only last for a budget year. So we'll come back and have this conversation again next legislative session. So it's just a one-year thing to deal with. Couple of issues that were vetoed and then overridden. One was the multioccupancy private space the bathroom bill issue which this was in January February. The other one was uh uh of relevance. It

056it was a small bill but what it did was it it um said that the state would join the federal uh scholarship program for nonpublic schools which was passed last summer in HR1 the big budget bill and uh the governor vetoed that. she was overridden at the end of the session and um she vetoed another one which also increased the state program and they did not override that. The last one that she vetoed that was then overridden of of some significance is 2593 which requires uh any local government entity who engages in a a contingency fee lawsuit have to get approval from the the attorney general. I am not sure exactly what the criteria is. I think it basically in the statute says is it in the best interest of the state for for you

057as a local governmental entity to engage in that activity. It was passed two years ago, vetoed was not overridden. It was overridden this time. So that is in place now. Uh education bills, we've got the cell phone bill. We've got um uh what's the other big one on here? There's like fentanol education crisis drills. These are lots of obligations that were put on the state board of education to come up with policies about um having the lock zone and school buildings, an educational program for fentanyl abuse and some some greater detail about crisis drills and what could be uh uh what could be included there. Um some of the things that were uh that were also uh passed um the blueprint for literacy we've talked about a bit. It's been ongoing for a couple years

058now. The board of regents is working with uh KSD to expand reading capacity skills and those kind of things. There's a new bill that was passed and it includes a number of things including coming up with a a screening instrument of uh creating individual student plans, requiring a reading specialist in every school building. Uh and there was a lot of testimony from folks who said particularly in rural areas, but I think it's everywhere that is a very challenging thing to do. So they modified it a little bit. The challenge of course with this again as it has been several times there's no funding for it. Um couple of other bills on this slide I'll probably note um in general um the treatment of consultants or volunteers who are on school property the same rules regarding

059sexual contact and those kind of things that was had been amended in other law other earlier laws. It only referred to employees and staff and those kind of things. So that uh was changed. stuff that's dead. The bill that would have required 30 minutes of recess every day, which started out 30 minutes for every grade through the 12th grade, uh ended up being passing in in kindergarten through 5. The governor vetoed that and um uh because it would have required every district to fit that into your schedule because you couldn't use physical education to count for that. And so it was vetoed. The other uh item that she vetoed was the civics's education bill that was going to require uh a both an education um change in essentially some of the education topics that were

060addressed but also uh to graduate from high school you'd have to pass what essentially was a version of the naturalizationization test for citizenship. The governor uh vetoed that. Um, and her veto message, she said the best civics lesson is that the state department of education gets to set policy. So, I thought that was kind of clever. Um, the only, let's see, the only other thing I mentioned, a couple others. Inspector General, that was a big kind of intrusive bill that was enacted. It didn't pass. There was a bill to expand some of the obligations regarding uh, ABA services. And then the last three things are something that we spent a tremendous amount of time dealing with having to do with elections. One was to move local government elections to even years and get it on

061the same cycle. The other one was to prohibit any expenditures of funds for ballot questions. So if there was a ballot initiative on, you could provide or use no resources to do anything other than to explain what the ballot question did. And so that um did not pass. It passed the house. It did not pass in the senate. The even years passed the house, did not pass in the senate. And then the last thing that was attempted was to actually uh prohibit mail ballots in local elections. So if you had ballot questions, you'd have to have in-person elections. So those will likely come back. None of them made it this year, but and you know, we started years ago talking about moving to even years and having partisan elections. That's always kind of something that's

062been had to be dealt with. Um, last thing, the last time I was here, I talked about the education funding task force had not met since September. They did meet. They called an a meeting uh very shortly. Uh later met on April 20th and 21st and they uh it's the first time they'd met. They went through the basically spent it reviewing what they'd looked at last year and then they started talking about places where they had common agreement and and where there were differences of opinion and and I it was the first time I mean you can read in the the the notes here but it was the first time where they had some discussions about acknowledging that this wasn't going to be easy which it took you know 10 12 meetings to get to

063that point that every change you make has a multiplier effect on how how financing goes that um even if they passed this in next year uh you couldn't implement it in the first year because you all are on the budget cycle where you're approving budgets before any of that is done. There is still a lot of uh a significant number of people on the task force that are talking about um at risk funding that are talking about getting rid of free lunch as the as the as the generator as the proxy for at risk. And there are uh other um questions kind of cropping up. What I don't know how this is going out going to end up but the chair requested 14 meetings from the legis from the legislative courting council. So theoretically they'll

064they if that's approved and it hasn't been done yet, but they they they were approved for the these two uh last time and then this one, but they will um um if those get approved, they'll likely be meeting every month and talking with the chair of the committee. They're going to I think they they have the intent of writing a formula. So we'll uh see how things unfold in the next few uh months. It's really kind of unclear what's going to happen in any of these meetings. There are some some consultants working on putting together ideas and so there will be uh uh something put together. Part of this this process the last two things I would say um what will really matter is whatever they put together. There's a small number of people in

065that room and there's only seven people that have a vote and it is probably fair to say probably not a broad representation of the legislature. And so what's going to get passed theoretically out of that group is going to be subject to the spreadsheets that are produced when they have school finance issues which then shows for all what are they now 285 school districts the the impact of that formula and the first thing everybody does is if I live in Spring Hill I'm going to look and see what happens to Spring Hill and so there'll and it's going to be very hard to find something that satisfies everyone. on unless you spend a lot of money to hold harmless and those kind of things and I'm not sure it'll come to that. Um the last

066time that the legislature uh significantly rewrote the school finance formula was in 2015 and that was the longest legislative session ever, 113 days and they didn't end until June 12th. So if you can imagine they'd still be going another month after that. Just as a warning, passing school finance formulas is the hardest thing in the world. So next year ought to be interesting. I'm happy to answer any questions. >> Miss Reagan. >> Um, hi Dr. Little. I hope you're well. Um, I was curious when we say a bill is dead, I my understanding is that the legislature operates in bianiums. So, can't all of the things that have died be resurrected in the form of new bills in the next bianium? >> Yes, absolutely. So the the bianium means they carry over from the first

067to the second and this is obviously the end of the second year of the cycle. So yeah, anything can come back. >> So my point would just be nothing ever dies in the legislature ever. And um the way they pass laws is complicated, tricky, and it's even harder to track them and know what's going on when the session moves so fast. That's why I'm so grateful for the the information you provide us and the voice you give us um and help us inform our community. I guess it's Yeah, I'm I've just wanted to emphasize those kinds of things, Dr. Little. And I'm just really glad you're here keeping us informed as best you can in the lightning round that was the 26th session. >> Well, I appreciate you saying that and I I should have

068begun by thanking Dr. Jagger. I I kind of miss you. We haven't had a chance to talk [laughter] talking every single day probably a month. So, uh I'm here if you want [laughter] to chat. >> But I do appreciate all the help because there was a lot of more bills than I've I think there were over 50 60 bills and we wrote testimony on a bunch of them. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Miss Steel. >> Um thanks Dr. Little for being here. I want to circle back to the CPI and the $6 million additional for SPED and and have you clarify even though you're presenting to THA public schools and you're our lobbyist, the $6 million is across the state. That is not for THA public schools. >> Yes, that is statewide. To fully fund at

06992% it's somewhere 148 $150 million if we were to be funded as the the law says >> as the law indicates. Thank you. Um, thanks for clarifying. I appreciate that. Um, is there a date on 2593 about approving with the AG um, legal hiring? >> Um, when it takes effect? >> Yes. >> Um, I believe it's on publication in the register. I'd have to look it up. >> Okay. I I'll do that. Yeah. I just didn't know if you had it ready to roll off your tongue, but yeah, I can look that up. Um, a couple more. Have you seen any runs on I'm I'm going to call it vouchers, not scholarship programs, but but the the joining up with the federal and then increasing what they started last year of that impact to dollars.

070>> Um >> is there anything out there that says this is how that's going to affect? >> So these are tax credits and so they would show up as deductions to state revenue. So, it's not revenue neutral. It reduces it takes away from the money that the state has. And it is um uh that's capped at $10 million. And so the cost to the state for that is $10 million. The federal one obviously is a is a federal policy issue. And I think the the max on that half a million. And um I mean per person. And I think the cap is >> I'm not even sure what the cap is. It's way up there. Um but in terms of how it would impact the school finance formula, it it it would not other than

071the degree to which funds leave that don't come into the >> that don't come in at all. >> Right. Right. Okay. Um last question. Um I know I watched this committee meeting, but I cannot for the life of me remember when we're talking about homeschoolers participating in now in private schools and and we've had that with public schools. Did they discuss how we have um criteria for our public school kids participating in sports and theater and all the things with regard to what your current grades are, what your attendance is, and did they discuss how that can be determined for a child who's homeschooled? >> Well, I know I will I will begin by saying when those bills have come up and they do with great frequency, that is part of the conversation. How do

072we know you're eligible? Well, you know, those kind of questions. So, and I do not believe that that is um um um required as part of this and it's part of the the home school universe is that's not what they're going to report. >> Right. Okay. Thank you. Appreciate you. >> Dr. Jerger, >> did you have >> I was just Mine was about school. >> I'll go. Okay. So, I was just going to mention uh quickly, we had a call today with KSD as we begin to look at budgets for next year. Uh, as Dr. Little mentioned and and you clarified for us um Mrs. Steele, the the increase statewide special education is $6 million. There were some that believed in order for us to be flat just from this year to next year that

073that number would have needed to be around $14 million. And again, that is far south of the statutory requirement of 92% of excess cost. But our at our meeting today, it was shared that at the very best we should plan around flat special education funding um even with the additional 6 million in that. And then I know you all know this, but there's other people listening, so I'll just mention this quickly. The reason is is the the need for special education services are rising in the state of Kansas. School districts are spending more money, if you will, on staff to provide those services. uh transportation, outside placements, items related to that cost and that total appropriation gets divided by all the school districts and all those pieces different than base state aid and a lot

074of what we talk about for the students that are are coming through our door. So, I think it's is important to note that, you know, it does look, you know, like there's an additional $6 million, but the reality, just like this school year, um, with additional funding last year as a school system, our overall reimbursement went down, our percentage went down. Um, which is one of the reasons why we had mid-year uh, budget challenges that we worked through this year. Um, based on what we're seeing and what we're being told now, um, [snorts] that could very well happen to us again next school year, just based on what's been appropriated for special education across the state. >> Thanks, >> Miss Steele. Did you have another question? Okay. >> Dr. Stewart, thank you. Dr. Little, Steuart

075Little, thank you for being here this evening. board. I would like to also share and to the community present and those watching um at our June meeting, Dr. Joerger is going to provide a presentation on the legislation that has taken place this session and the direct impact on the public schools. So things like the cell phone ban and the reading specialists and the funding and all all of those items that Dr. a little um shared tonight. So that will be at our June meeting. All right. Mr. Dimmit um from Fair View is here this evening to share our school spotlight. >> Yes. Good evening. Good evening. Thank you for allowing me this opportunity to be here to share a little bit about our happy little school tonight. Um, for those of you who don't know

076me, my name is Andrew Dimit and I am in my 10th year as principal at Fairview Elementary. That man over there on the left um was foolish enough 10 years ago to to put me there, but it's been one of the biggest blessings in my career and in my life. So, thank you. Fair View. At Fairview, we um we take great pride in and we understand the power of uh the work that we do laying the foundation for our students from the very first time they walk into our school for kindergarten enrollment all the way through their senior walk. Um we understand that that what we do sets the tone for what they do later on. And so we um take that very seriously and are very proud of the work that we do uh

077laying that foundation tonight. Uh as of today, we currently have 249 students enrolled in our happy little school. About 200 of them are uh in the K5 classrooms. We do have two early childhood um classrooms that have two sections each. So um early childhood special ed as well as a jump start se uh section as well. We are the home to a CBR autism classroom. Uh this is our third year with that program in our building and it has been um one of the greatest joys adding them into our our um building and a part make them a part of our family. Um and just a fun little fact, we have over 15 languages. I think it's actually 18, but I didn't want to, you know, get too uh too into the weeds on it,

078but over 15 languages spoke spoken at home by our students. And um I love that diversity um that that that brings to our our population and into our building. Um as many of you know, last year we celebrated our 60th anniversary. Um and I bring this up tonight because um to expand on what Dr. Dr. Jükovich uh said when we had our pledge of allegiance uh families here. So yes, those were those were students whose parents went to Fairview and even some of their grandparents went to Fairview. So we have many families that are are students right now are second and third generation Fairview Falcons. And so I don't know that there are too many schools out there in the district besides maybe Altha North, my alma mater, that could say something quite like that.

079Um it's something that we take great pride in. And it was it was kind of through our through our work last year that we figured that all out. Um but tonight I'm excited to share a little bit about something that we've been focusing on. Um, and that's that's really helping establish and grow the climate and culture of of our building and the relationships that students have with their peers and also with the adults that they interact with in our building, but also outside of our building. And so, um, one of the ways that we've done that is by, um, implementing morning meetings. Um, so we spent a lot of time kind of figuring out how we wanted to do this. Um, we found that when students love uh where they learn, they want to be

080where they learn. And so we really worked on using that time to establish that climate and culture where kids want to be. And lots of schools do this, don't get me wrong, but I feel like ours is a little special because we have a dedicated time in our day. And all adults, every adult um classified certified is assigned a room to go to. And so that helps us build that community, that sense of community, um and builds those relationships with all of our staff, not just their classroom teacher. Every morning meeting consists of um four different components. You can see them there. Um and each plays an important role in the meeting by setting a positive tone for the day, teaching those ever important soft skills that we know are extremely important once they are

081outside of our walls, but also inside of our walls as well. It contributes to the class's sense of community as well as easing the students transition into the school day. So, a little bit of a kind of a soft start for them, but enough from me. You've heard you've heard me talk enough. I promise to keep this short, but um you've heard enough from me. So, I'm going to invite you into Fair View to take a look at the climate and the culture that we have established for our community. [music] >> [music] [music] >> specialist. [music] Welcome to Fairview Elementary. [music] Welcome to >> We are so glad you're here. We are a community empowering our students to achieve their personal best >> every day. This is our Fairview pledge. >> Today I will >>

082stay safe. >> Offer my best, >> always be responsible, respect everyone and everything and everywhere I go >> and everything I do. >> I'm a Fairview falcon and I will soar. >> Miss Pina, what's your favorite thing about Fairview? >> My favorite thing about Fairview is the people, the families, the students. We are all a special community. >> The thing I like about Fairview is coming to school and playing soccer with my friends. >> My favorite thing about Fair View is field trips. >> My favorite thing is going to PE. >> My favorite thing about Fair View is the learning. My favorite thing about Fairview is the teachers >> that we can create stuff playing with bingo and lunch, >> math, recess. Mayberry. What makes Fairview special? >> Fairview is special because of all the

083smart kiddos here that work hard every day and we feel like one big happy family. >> Fairview is special because it's a small school. FairU is um great because we have amazing people and amazing teachers. >> Fair is a kind place. >> Miss Priscilla, what's your favorite memory of Fairview? >> I have a lot of memories. You know, the staff, the kids, they already grown up and then they're doing her own job or going to college. And like the other day, I see I seen a kidoor. I was so excited. He's he's going to be a teacher in Olean. So that's the best memory from Fairview. >> My favorite memory of Fair View is when we pranked Mr. Dimmit and put toilet paper all over his office. >> My favorite memory of Fair View is

084recess. >> Mr. Be fun of the Bles. >> My favorite memory of Fairview is when I got to do this spelling bee in third grade. >> My favorite thing about Fairview is when we got to spray Mr. Dimmit string >> field day. Yay. [laughter] My favorite memory of Fairview is all of my teachers. They were so nice to me. [music] >> I'm a fair view falcon. I'm a fair falcon. >> I'm a fairy falcon. >> I'm a fair falcon. >> I'm a fairy falcon. >> I'm a fair view falcon. I'm a fair blue sky. I'm a fair view falcon. I'm a fair view falcon. >> I'm a fair view falcon. >> I am a fair view and I will soar. [music] [applause] Mr. Don, I I think I see some other Fair View staff still

085here. if you want to introduce them or if you would stand. >> Absolutely. I'd be honored. Um, right here is uh Carrie Dean, our administrative assistant secretary. Um, Miss Pino, our librarian is there in the back. Uh, Mr. Cloud, our awesome counselor, who deserves a special shout out because he made the video. Thank you, Mr. Cloud. Um, and Miss Stone, our wonderful music teacher. there. And just as a sidebar, Miss Stone was a first grader when I taught first grade at Clear Water Creek. And now she's my music teacher. So a little >> It happens to the best of us. >> It does happen to the best of us, doesn't it? Dr. Yish. >> Yeah. [laughter] >> And as you can see, uh some you can take the uh man out of the elementary school,

086but you can't take the elementary school out of the man. Can you Dr. [laughter] >> Absolutely not. >> Thank you again. Thank you, board. Any questions or comments, Miss Reagan? >> I had the wonderful opportunity of subbing in Fairview before I was elected to the school board. I spent several days in the CBR autism classroom and >> Read Across America twice at there [snorts] and very much looking forward to every other year. But same way, I absolutely needed an escort. Every time I went through, I got lost multiple times and uh it was just a great community and really fun people to meet. I was also told to ask you to say that to tell us what the pledge was before we came in, but the video gave it away. >> Video covered the pledge.

087I let Miss Garrison know that that would be in the video and [laughter] you know that I would I wouldn't need to do that. That it was it was done for us here tonight. Yes. >> And and hearing about field day just made me I think my child is moving out of middle school next year. So now I'm going to have to find some adopted elementary schools to do field day for. So >> send maybe you'll be up there. >> You're going to get some emails. [laughter] >> Thank you. >> Dr. Jagger. >> Yeah. I just wanted to mention, you know, it usually feels like at board meetings we spend all our time recognizing the former building principles in the front row and mission trail and all that. I mean, just feels like a theme.

088I don't know if that's true or not. Cedar Creek, you know, all the all the connections there. But I would be remiss if I didn't mention that take the opportunity to say there's actually three Fairview principles in the room tonight. Uh Mr. Demit and then Dr. Stevenson is in the back there. Uh who was principal at Fairview for how long, Dr. Stevenson? >> Five years. So, and I had the good fortune to follow him when I became principal at Fair View, but it really is a a special place. So, >> Yeah. Great. >> Yeah. Thank you. Thank you. >> It's great to see you again. >> Thank you. Likewise. Thank you. [applause] >> Dr. Smith will share a presentation on um some changes and some work that's been done on a bullying policy. Thank you

089for being here. I don't know if I like following the Fair View spotlight, but I do have to say Fairview has wonderful signs. So, if you do ever get lost in the building, there are cute little blue signs up at the top with arrows. So, that that helps me every time I go there. Well, thank you. I appreciate having the opportunity to present to you the updated bullying plan. Um, one of the things that I did want to mention is I want to call your attention to the Kansas State statute 726147. This continues to be the state statute and embedded in this in our previous board policy was a bullying plan. Trust me, I've had I've had lots of I have a southern accent and so some people think I'm bowling. It's not bowling. it

090is bullying. Okay. So, the previous plan was actually created in 2007. So, it was um time for us to update our plan. And so, Dr. Joerger um had Mr. Pitman and I head up the committee to do so. What we did is we sent out a survey to ask staff um if they may be interested in serving our committee. We asked each person to submit why they were interested in serving on this committee and asked for a committee for each to attend two in-person meetings with a possible third meeting. Our committee was made up of 16 staff and parents from across the district. And as you can see um in the committee listing various roles. We had counselors, we had teachers, we had assistant principles, we had assistant directors, we had um several of our

091staff that also served as parents as well too. I cannot say enough thanks to this committee. They did a tremendous amount of work in between our work sessions and provided a tremendous amount of guidance. And before you tonight is the plan that really was crafted as a at the committee level. These are the resources that we were using to create our plan. Um prior to our first meeting on September 24th, committee members were sent a copy of the bullying plan that was created in 2007. The other resources that we used were the KSDE bullying prevention toolkit. This was a timely release just in time for our committee work. And then we also used a surrounding school district website to try to modify and think about how our webs website could be created. And then we

092used our resource effective bullying prevention, a comprehensive schoolwide approach as part of our study materials. So now I just want to review the process with you. We held our first meeting on September 24th. The agenda for the first meeting really included collaborating around the resources that we found that I shared in the previous slide. [snorts] And um we broke them since we are a committee of 16, we broke them into four different groups as work groups. We asked each group to work on four different areas. The first area was the definition of bullying and what bullying is and what it is not. Another group worked on prevention and intervention. The third group worked on reporting and consequences. And the last group worked on communication and recordkeeping. Each of these groups reviewed the resources and then

093they reviewed and submitted notes from each of those teams. Those notes were then reviewed by a smaller group that was made up of our committee. Mr. Pitman, myself, Mrs. Delicia Jackson and Mr. Scott Fluke. We did a lot of work in between our sessions to help craft the document. I shared the notes with each of the groups after we had an opportunity to re view them. And then we also sent the group the KSDE bullying prevention toolkit. So they had immediate access to that toolkit. We then as a small group started crafting the plan you using guidance from the committee and the resources that I shared. The next meeting was December 10th with the group being sent a tenative bullying plan to review prior to our meeting. Then I have to tell you December 10th

094at that meeting we went through page by page to edit the entire document. The edits were then made. Uh Mr. Pitman can attest that I took very good notes um at that meeting and I sent the group on January 13th um the kind of draft document with final edits asked for by January 26th. On February 3rd, I met with the communications department uh to help really format the bullying plan, create a brochure, format the website, so there's a website behind the scenes that's ready for viewing, and created an online reporting document. A final version of the bullying plan and brochure were sent back to the committee for final review. This graphic from the Kansas State Department of Education bullying prevention toolkit really guided our work. This was at the center of everything that we did.

095We think it's critical to really have an accurate definition of what bullying is and what bullying is not. And for bullying, all of these you need to answer yes to these. Is it an intentional act? Is it severe, persistent, and pervasive? Is it creating an intimidating, threatening or abusive educational environment? If those are said yes, then we go down to the next step. Does it result in actual physical or mental harm? Does it result in res reable fear of physical or mental harm? Does it result in actual damage to property? Or does it result in reasonable fear of damage to property? With each of these, there can be an answer yes. But there can also be an answer no. And it was important for our committee to really define what yes meant and what no

096meant. So before you and in the public documents is the actual bowling plan. Just as a reminder, the components of the plan include a vision. It includes the Kansas State statute 72-6147. There's a section about bullying prevention. There's a definition of bullying behaviors. Those four behaviors include physical, cyber bullying, verbal verbal bullying, and relational bullying. It also includes what problem behaviors are not bullying. In the section of the plan, we also clearly define if it's not bullying, what it might be. If it's not bullying, it can be a conflict, it can be rude, and it can be mean, which we still take very seriously. Then we go to the next section with the bullying prevention plan. Foundational elements for bullying prevention. The training component not only for staff training but also at each level for

097elementary, middle and high school students. Reporting for students, staff and parents. The investigation process, intervention plans if needed. and then post vvention for recordkeeping and communication. I next wanted to highlight the similarities and differences in the bullying plan adopted in 2007 with the bullying plan that was created for board approval next month. Items that are the same is a committee was created to craft a bullying plan. We even had one committee member that was on both the 2007 and this committee. A vision was created for the bullying plan. The KS or the Kansas statute was cited and JDDC board policy was created and continues to be in policy. Bullying is defined and both reference the student code of conduct in determining consequences for bullying. Now, I want to site differences from the past plan to

098the current plan. There's much greater detail in this plan around prevention. There's much greater detail on what bullying is and what it is not. There's greater detail on foundational elements for bullying prevention with a particular focus on adult student relationships and intentional student instruction. There's less detail on the specific curriculum and resources used. There's greater detail on reporting and investigating. There's greater detail in intervention plans for the bully, for the target, and for the bystander or bystanders. There's greater detail on postvention recordkeeping communication and continued monitoring of plans put into action. And the newest feature is an anonymous form for bowling that can be completed by a student, staff member, parent or patron. I have to do a se shout out for the communications department. They are amazing at branding. They are amazing at taking

099the work that we do and formatting it and making it look lovely. So part of this was a bullying brochure. So the bullying brochure has a front and back and the the components of the brochure include the vision and ensuring that THA public schools is a welcoming and safe environment. The definition of the four types of bullying are cited. the verbal, physical, cyber bullying, and relational. There's guidance on what to do if your child is bullied. And then there's also included on the brochure is a QR code that will have access to our website with a comprehensive bullying plan and if needed, the anonymous reporting form. The website has already been created in the background. It is ready whenever the board has approved the bullying plan. And like I said before, it includes all of

100the components of the bullying plan that I cited before from the vision to the prevention to the investigation to um to the anonymous form can be available too. Even though some problems are not bullying, the actions of conflict, rude and mean are still taken very seriously and will be supported by staff and the principal. I wanted to share a little bit about the bullying form because this form was really attack really um again we use the graphic to really craft this bullying form. All of our committee was very passionate about the importance to encourage students, staff and parents to communicate bullying to the school administrator. But we also felt it was necessary to have an anonymous option available to report. We know though that part of anonymity may result in us not being able to

101do a thorough investigation of bullying, which is why we have a statement at the top of the um anonymous bullying form that anonymous reports may limit or hinder the ability to fully investigate the report and determine discipline or other appropriate responses. The form also, like I said, models a graphic of what constitutes bullying and what doesn't constitute bullying. Those are the first questions that's asked of a submitter. This anonymous report will then be directly routed to the building administrator once it's submitted. future steps for us after board approval in June is um to update the mandatory training video shared annually with all staff. So, this will be embedded in our mandatory training for staff. We'll launch the website. We'll get the brochures out to schools um for distribution and for access to parents and families.

102And then we'll also update the principles on the anonymous reporting form, how it will come to them, and then reinforce again the investigation process. So with that, any questions, Mr. Babbot? >> My only question is, I mean, what's really changed since 2007 that this would need to be updated for? >> Just a few things. uh especially a new type of bullying maybe cyber bullying that was not existence in 2007. >> That's all I had. Thank you. >> We have done a lot of work in the background especially the last two years. general administration has worked directly with our principles about what do we need to do to investigate and we we have become very I think streamlined and and it's really important to us to make sure that we do investigate at all points when

103we are made aware of bullying. >> Miss Johan, >> thank you. I just I like that this is very intentional in the work and how it creates kind of an atmosphere of psychological safety for those who want to report where they may not know otherwise their resources or going to the counselor um something like that. So I just appreciate the work that the committee did to to make a space that's safe, anonymous and and available for everybody. Thank you. >> Welcome. So the form that people fill out, is that forwarded to the building administrator regardless of if it is anonymous or if it meets the criteria? Just anything associated with that school's provided. >> Yes. And it is. And we um part part of the form too when you do access the form, it will

104go right along with what the graphic says. So it specifically says was the act intentional or not intentional and they or intent it was it an intentional act. They either put yes or no. And then it clearly says if you mark no, this currently does not fit the bullying definition. But it will always be routed to the administrator because like I said, we also want to take conflict, mean, and rude as still an opportunity to teach um and learn how to appropriately interact with students, adults, and others. >> Okay, Dr. A >> I was just going to say two things. Um the first one is just a reminder that that we still have our tip line um on our website and what have you. So there are various mechanisms you know for for anything to

105come forward to our staff. What was really good about this and the way that that um Dr. Smith and Mr. Pitman uh worked to put this together it it is a little bit different in that the minute it is submitted it doesn't have to touch someone else to say who's best to deal with this question or this tip. it immediately whether it's 4:00 in the afternoon or 2 o'clock in the morning goes right to the principal um which I think is is a great way that that's been set up with the help of our technology team. Uh the other thing that I want to mention is and you all know this but um you know our staff gets to come forward and do presentations and you know for 15 or 20 minutes but it doesn't

106represent the hours and hours and hours of work that goes into establishing a committee putting putting things together. But I do want to thank uh Jill, Dr. Smith and Chris because when I told them it is time for us to update our uh district bullying policy that gets in turned into the state department of education that doesn't have excitement just ringing all over it. Right. So >> you're kidding. We were jumping for joy, aren't we? >> But but what I was they they responded very well and and Dr. Smith and working with general administration understood the importance of us not only updating our policy but also really which would have been the easiest thing to do is just update our policy and bring that forward but to also at the same time look at complimentary

107resources best practice uh creating a web landing page so we can really get the information prominent for our students our staff and our families. So, I just wanted to say I really appreciate the extra effort that went into this because it wasn't just about updating our policy that we turn into the state department of education. It was really about updating our entire process and our mechanisms for for addressing bullying in our schools in our district. So, I just wanted to thank them publicly for that. Thank you. There is one additional thing that I wanted to mention too. In in the past um JDDC board policy, the bullying plan was embedded in that policy or the bullying plan was embedded in that policy. The bullying plan will reside outside of the policy so that we can

108continue to make updates and changes. So the updates will occur on the website in lifetime. >> Okay. Thank you board. Any other comments, questions? Dr. Smith, Mr. Pitman, and members of your committee. Thank you very much. >> Miss Johan, at each regular meeting, the board of education reserves limited time for individuals to address the board. We ask that your comments be gerine, that is related to the business the board effectuates. Non-compliance may result in the president interrupting to redirect. We request that individual speakers limit their comments to five minutes. The clerk will monitor the time and notify the speaker when the 5minut time limit has expired. That correct? Thank you. >> Okay. Please direct your comments to the board and not the guests or staff. If a response is appropriate, the president will respond or

109refer to another individual. In an effort to respect privacy, we ask that speakers refrain from discussing personal complaints involving individual staff members or students. Audience disruption is also not permitted. Those speaking are advised that public comments are videotape recorded for broadcast on the district's YouTube channel and audio tape recorded as a matter of public record. Individuals addressing the board should come to the podium at the front of the room and state your name, city, and state and relationship to the district. Thank you. Our first speaker this evening is Amber Hartzuk. This is the >> Hello, fathers of the board. Hello, mothers of the board. My name is Amber Hartsuk and I'm the mother of Triton Maurice Hartzuk. Triton was a member of the 2026 graduating class at Altha South. He attended school in Altha from

110kindergarten through his senior year up until he was called home by his name. Triton lost his life in a car accident while our family was traveling over winter break. As I stand before you today, there's a space that exists between this podium in your seats. It's the space where policy and compassion meet and sometimes collide. My hope is and that the next few minutes we can meet there together not out of public pressure but compassionate consideration instead of addressing graduation invitations and screwing for the final touches of a graduation party. I'm here to address policy and screwing to get a change implemented before May 16th. Today I would like to discuss policy JP that was adopted February 5th, 2026. The current policy does not promote uniformity as suggested but leaves schools to individualize recognition which

111is heavily influenced by school climate, culture, and building principle. It also puts a lid on opportunities to educate and truly support those of us left behind to endure suffering. The policy language also states you will respect the wishes of the family but only offer from a pre-approved list. This poly policy does not consider the complexity of loss and grief. Life is different without treatment. Here I spend more time in reflection and creating visions of memories since the future I had dreamed of sharing with him no longer exists. Take a moment to create a vision with me. I won't ask you to imagine yourself as me because you cannot understand the depth of that pain unless you have experienced the loss. Imagine yourself sitting at graduation and a moment of silence is called to attention. With

112no recognition of who we're honoring, then they're calling names in alphabetical order. You're following along in the program. [snorts] Steve Gilbert, Jackie Haps, Be Cosmer. Oh, did you notice? They just skipped over Triton's name. No mention of his name anywhere in the ceremony. [snorts] Some of you did notice and you had a strong emotional reaction. Probably one of his family members, peers, friends, teammates, or teachers. And others, it didn't change a thing. Probably because you weren't impacted by his life. And the day just went on. What should have been a quiet moment of recognition of his existence and accomplishment for those of us who knew and continue to love Titan shouldn't be taken away. As an educator myself, I know you understand the importance of access and support. And I know you understand that not

113every student or every family has the same needs. Grief is not a one-sizefits-all. What feels honoring and healing to one family may feel different to another. That's why I'm not asking for equality. I'm asking for equity. I've spent time having thoughtful conversations with my family, neighbors, friends, strangers, local business owners, family members of graduating seniors, parents of potential future students, [laughter] current and retired teachers, parents of siblings of deceased students, Triton's peers and classmates and teammates. There's near nearly 4,000 signatures in just a couple days of petitioning for a change in the current policy. We all agree and would like our voices to be considered in making the decision to amend the policy to include an optin option for names of deceased students to be read aloud and implemented by May 16th. The National Council

114for School Crisis and Berement lists recognition by saying deceased students name aloud as their first first consideration during ceremonies. And I'm asking you to amend the policy so families of deceased students are given a choice, the option to have their child's name read or not based on what feels right for them. If while listening today you feel even a small pole, a quiet voice telling you this should be different, I hope you'll listen to it. That's a voice that you're hearing that has been put upon your heart with intention. So, let's close the space between policy and compassion and stand together. Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Hartzer. Karen Bishop. I'm back. Um, I intended to come back of my own accord, but after a month of listening to my co-workers, I am obligated and

115privileged to share some stories tonight. I am Karen Bishop, librarian at Mission Trail, mother of three graduates and three alumni of Fairview. That was a really cool thing today. My comments will again address the district's potential elimination of the benefit that converts unused sick days to an HR account at the end at the time of retirement. And first, I'd like to acknowledge your difficult situation. I know that the state is not funding us as they're obligated to do. And I suspect that funding is actually way worse than you guys are letting on. Um, I know we're entering a new stage of contraction instead of growth. And I know that you you guys [snorts] are volunteers, that you have an impossible problem. I know that you value educators, and I know above all you want to

116do what's right for kids. Uh what I'm asking tonight is that this financial burden of our district be shared broadly across the entire district. I'm asking that you don't balance the budget on the backs of career educators who have dedicated decades of their lives to the public schools. At a time when the state is going back on its word, I ask that the district not do the same thing to its loyal employees. Almost everyone I talked to this last month has had two overriding messages they wanted me to try to convey. And the first is that without this HR benefit, a lot of us won't retire until we reach Medicare age. This is I'm a good example of that. Um, preliminary work with my financial guy says that there's a retirement sweet spot in six

117years, but that's only with the current benefits. When if those are gone, then I'll work probably 11 or even 13 years more um and I'm at the top of the pay scale um instead of my hopes for six years. So, um, OA analysis during contract negotiations indicates that if 40% of retirees are enticed to retire [clears throat] early because of the benefits that are offered now, then the district actually saves money. Um, and that's me and that's a lot of people that I know and that I talk to. The second message that teachers want me to share is that they will absolutely use their paid time off if this benefit is eliminated. And please don't take that as a threat. It's just employees using what's rightfully theirs. Remember that PTO, it's not a favor. It's

118part of our compensation package. That time is ours. Um, if the model becomes a use it or lose it model, then who can blame us for using it if we're going to lose it? District policy can encourage us to come to school. Um, or it can encourage us to use all our PTO. Please remember that the HR payout is a significant savings over the price of substitutes since the reimbursement is about half of the daily sub rate. A single employee would cost the district $15,000 more by using all of their PTO rather than saving it and converting it at retirement. Um I'd like to share with the rest of my time just some stories that um that I've collected over the past year. and I removed any identifying information, but these are direct quotes from

119educators. And the first one says that she came back early from maternity leave because her long-term sub wasn't teaching math. Another one says, "Migraines, but I come in anyway because with special ed students, um, especially, they [snorts] just don't do well with a sub." One says, "My mom was put on hospice. I should have left immediately to see her that day, but I was advising yearbook and I needed to check out cameras to students. My mom slipped into a coma. By the time I got there, she was unconscious and I never was able to talk to her one more time. Another says, "I came back to work 2 days after my son's tumor was removed. I should have just used FMLA." Another postponed the induction of her second child because a long-term sub had not

120been secured. One says, "My wife was in the hospital, but I had a study session for my AP students." And then a last one says, "I am so disappointed that this is even an option for the district. Every single teacher that I've talked to has said that they've always prioritized our jobs over and our students, usually over our own families. I'm looking back on the last 20 years and I realize what a mistake I've made. I have jeopardized my own health so many times over the year. And for what? I'm hurt and so offended by the district that I love. I've got 50 more stories like this. It was really hard to get it down to time. Um, but these are the people whose retirement rewards are in jeopardy. career teachers. We privileged our students

121first days um of school and had the grandparents [clears throat] take our kids to kindergarten for the first time. We left spouses in hospital rooms because it was testing season. We valued IEP meetings over final hours, fading hours with our loved ones. Tha public schools will have to make so many sacrifices in the upcoming years, but let's share that pain together evenly across the system rather than taking away even more from our dedicated retirees. Thank you. >> Hi, my name is Sean. >> Did I get that last name? >> Help me with it. >> Um, my name is Kylie Misho. >> Misha. >> Yeah, sorry. >> That's okay. Um, hi, my name is Kylie Misho. Um, I live in Gardener, Kansas. Um, I've been teaching at Altha South for the past 27 years. [clears throat]

122Um, and before that I attended Altha South Indian Trail Junior High School when it was still the junior high and [snorts] Black Bob Elementary. So, I am an Olethian. I care about this district. Um, and what I really am here today to tell you is that I'm very sorry about what's happening in our state and what's happening to our district. [clears throat] But I need to talk about the impact that it's having on people who are getting ready to retire. That's me. Um, I care about everybody. Um, we are scared of losing our retirement benefits. Uh I'm here today to talk about my story um and also talk about uh some things from my friends as well. Um as you guys know um the ne negotiated agreement says that the district must give us one-year

123notice before it terminates retirement benefits. I would challenge um that this is not enough time. Okay. [clears throat and snorts] Especially for those who have been counting on this the voluntary early retirement plan and the health reimbursement arrangement to help afford retirement until social security. Up until these this year, these benefits were a sure thing. We thought that we were being proactive and responsible by conserving hundreds of our sick days in order to pay for our insurance later. Now those hundreds of days have been reduced to possibly three. Three days that we could have been with our families that we could have taken care of our days, our sick days. We could have been at home with our children. How is this fair? We feel betrayed, confused, incredulous, scared. I could go on. I'm an

124English teacher. But [laughter] but more than that, we're just sad. You know, we know that the district is in a bad place. But now we all have to scramble and create a new plan. We can't afford to retire and stay in our jobs at the top. I mean, say many of us will decide that we can't afford to retire and we'll stay in our jobs at the top of the salary schedule. But some, like me, will need to retire and try to figure out how to pay for insurance with limited income and record high costs. Um, my plan, as it stands, is to retire in June of 2028, um, one year after the change might take place. I have an autoimmune disorder where I have to manage pain and fatigue on a daily basis. Uh,

125in the face of these cuts, I must decide whether I will retire and lose my insurance or keep working while I'm struggling physically. Neither of these options work for me. This is just my story. Okay, we all have a choice to make. But to be clear when I'm talking about everyone throughout our long careers, every single one of us has done what we were supposed to do. Every single day we've embraced this every new in initiative. We have rolled with every punch. We have given the district, our schools, our students the very best of us. And we've cried [laughter] when we felt like we didn't give enough. In short, we've taught our hearts out the tha way. We know the district is scrambling to create a plan for its future. It cannot be easy process,

126but we humbly and sincerely ask whatever is decided. Please don't take retirement benefits away from those who have given the most and have the most to lose. Thank you. Thank you. Nick Cley. Hi board. I got in trouble for not for missing April. So I made sure to be here even though I twisted my ankle cuz I love you guys. Um thank you for being. I'm a teacher at Mil Creek campus. I live in North Oland Park. I wish I lived in Otha, but I don't. Um I wanted to start by saying um my comments were not related to this, but I y as always stand in solidarity with my union siblings that are asking you to maintain current retirement uh benefits. Um uh you're going to hear me say solidarity a lot tonight, so

127I hope you're ready. Um I also wanted to say it's mental health awareness month. As a person who has been diagnosed with generalized anxiety and depression, super important that we recognize mental health. It's pertinent to everything I do every single day. Um, also, uh, late late addition, but just wanted to remind everybody as an English teacher that the works of Paul Verhovven were intended to be satire. So, if you know, you know. Um, it has been 2 months since I've been up here and a lot of things have happened. Um, last week I spent an hour talking to a family with questions about local school districts and they purchased a home in Cedar Creeks this weekend. So, I hope that I get featured as a footnote in the demographic data slides from now on. Um,

128last Friday was my my [clears throat] favorite holiday who's Mayday. We celebrated workers all over the world and K&A and OA marked it with a week for full of worker spirit. Um, and every single day since I last spoke to you, we have had seniors in all sorts of alternative programs and credit recovery programs around the district fighting tooth and nail to get classes done in order to walk the stage with their [snorts] graduating class. And they're doing it right now. I can assure you that my inbox is probably blowing up. Um, [laughter] most notably in March, I joined hundreds of educators from across the state at a rally organized by K&A to ask the legislature to fully fund special education. It meant the world to me to see Clare Reagan and her adorable children

129present for the rally. As a social studies teacher, I do not love that so much of electoral politics has been reduced almost solely to aesthetics. But if it must be, then there certainly was power in uh our booming voices singing solidarity forever, an old union folk song from the second floor ratunda with our elected representatives as a captive audience. Uh unified they heard our voices on the House floor. Sped funding has come up a lot and I appreciate how committed the leadership is to this necessary obligation and that we must not forget that a failure to meet that funding requirement is an attack on all students. We know that it is easier to fight one another than to target those distant figures who truly hold the power. But if my experience in schools has taught

130me anything, it is that the end goal end goal of great schools is joy. [snorts] But the path by which we arrive there is through reflection and struggle. And that struggle is best when it is collective. And it is through that collective struggle and only that that we can rise above our current circumstances and givea families the resources to which they are entitled. So, while you are working and find yourself at odds with someone you know has the same goals, ask if you are putting twice as much energy into fighting those that keep resources from our schools as you are the stakeholders who are asking for their fair share. [snorts] When I talk about our THA public schools, our THA public schools to quote the wonderful Megan Bicks, it comes naturally that I can say

131that our board, our administration, our families, our educators, and our staff are all fighting the same fight. I was [snorts] just meeting with a prospective uh candidate for state office earlier today and I was like yeah it's cool that I know and I can tell people genuinely and unically that like the people that are on this displace and look we're not always going to agree on every single minutia element of policy um but we are working towards the same goal and we all know that we are working together and we have to keep working together. I know around the state that there are leaders who are using the current shortfalls in funding to divide rather than unite. That is what they want. Not the leaders necessarily, but the people who are underfunding education. They are

132trying [snorts] to destroy us from the inside out. You all, I am deeply grateful, have not fallen for this trap, and I am hoping that you will continue to fight. And [snorts] I will be back here in June to remind you of that again. >> Thank you. Janelle Stigle. >> Yeah. >> Is it Stiggle? Thank you. >> Yes, it's Stigle. But it's all good. >> Thank you. >> It's all good. All right. I practice on this computer, so I need to do it with the computer. Hello everyone. Um, my name is Janelle Seagal and I'm a library media specialist at Madison Place Elementary. I am also a I'm a resident of O overland Park and live in the Walnut Grove attendance area. Um I'm here tonight to put another face to those who will be

133impacted if the voluntary early retirement plan andor the health reimbursement agreement are taken away. I've been a teacher in the state of Kansas since 1992 and I've worked for the tha public school since 1998. During my tenure here in THA, I've worked at Fairview, Indian Creek, and now at Madison Place. I taught most of those years in kindergarten, spent six years in third grade, and have been a librarian since 2020. I've written kindergarten summer school curriculum, written math curriculum, been part of numerous teams to help choose new resources, taught kindergarten teachers um during inservice days, taught families that are families learning and partnership programs, been a math wings coach, led a science club, put together yearbooks, ran ran a running club, ran a coding club, ran a 3D printing and technology club, held summer reading

134meetings, wrote and received 408 the public school foundation grant, mentored new teachers, been a member of site councils, been on many building level teams, and have ran many a bookf fair and the list could go on. I have of my own valition given my all to this profession. I have loved it all and still love what I do. I might cry. For some reason though, our society does not value teachers as they should. Additionally, since we are a public school, our salaries are completely at the mercy of others who may or may not know exactly what we do. It is widely accepted that we should do it for the children. Cost of living raises are not a thing to be expected and there are no bonuses to speak of. These are things that I have

135known and lived with. However, I have always felt valued in THA and was proud was proud to say that I worked in the THA public schools. I don't always feel that way now, [snorts] especially when the verb that I have planned on and the HR that I have been saving towards are in jeopardy. This means a loss for me of about $87,000 a retirement. In January, when I left my financial planner's office, I called my best friend to tell them that I wouldn't have to live in a box down by the river. I had enough money and would be able to retire at 60, and I was elated. Then a few months later, I learned that this may not be possible. Now, for those of you who come from a two-income situation or have some

136generational wealth or inheritance at all, you might [clears throat] not be impacted by the loss of $87,000 at retirement. For me, however, this is a blow. It's a blow that really made me question saving all those sick days and giving all that time for what? The kids, you say? Well, yes, that's true. and I love them all, but that won't pay my insurance like an H would. And really, VERP saves the district money. When I retire, you will hire someone who makes half of what I do. Just because you can take away [laughter] VERP and HA doesn't mean it's right. And what is the plan for subs? when those of us with over 300 days start taking Tuesdays and Thursdays off because the air is gone. This is not something I would normally do, but

137it's a benefit that's been given and we all deserve to reap some benefit. So, I need you to consider my thoughts and my face is just one of many, but we do matter. And I really liked what that mom said about this space in between. Um, you guys are the people who can see us as people. There's people who have to see this as dollars and cents, but I need you to see the people. And I need you to not put it just on the backs of us. And if you're going to take some of my money, then take some of everyone's money, not just those of us who are um retiring in the next few years. Thank you very much for your time. Thank you. board. We are ready for um items action consent

138item 6.01 to 6.13. [snorts] Is there a motion? >> I move to approve consent agenda item 6.01 through 6.0 6.13 as presented. >> Second >> motion by Mr. Boyd, second by Miss Reagan. >> Mrs. Reagan, >> yes. >> Dr. Ericovich, >> yes. >> Mrs. Steel, >> yes. >> Mr. Boyd, >> yes. >> Mr. Babbot, >> yes. >> Mrs. Johan, >> yes. >> Motion passes 60. Action, bids, contracts, agreements, items 7.01 to 7.15. Is there a motion? I move I moved the screen moved found me. I move to [laughter] approve 7.01 through 7.15 as presented. >> Second. >> Motion by Miss Johan, second by Mr. Babbot board. Before um we vote on that, Mr. Palangi, and I was supposed to give you a heads up on this, so I'm going to put you on the spot

139here for just a minute. Um 7.09 is [snorts] related to the innovation campus and change orders. We as a board had opportunity for some administrative background to talk about the um staff health facility and the the reason for this change if you will. Um could you just clarify that it's not a change because of more expense but because we didn't have all the information about what we were going to need at an earlier date. Am I getting that right? >> Yes, that that is correct. So, it wasn't part of the original project, but we are using the same um contractors that did build the project. So, technically that would be considered a change order to their contract, and that's what we're presenting this evening. >> Okay. All right. Thank you for that clarification. >> Okay.

140Um we have a motion then um to approve action bids, contracts, agreements 7.01 to 7.15. Miss B. >> Mrs. Johan, >> yes. >> Mr. Boyd, >> yes. >> Mr. Babbot, >> yes. >> Mrs. Steel, >> yes. >> Dr. Jükovich, >> yes. >> Mrs. Reagan, >> yes. >> Motion passes 6. Action other uh 8.01 01 special services LEA asurances for the IDA VIB application is our motion. The move to approve action item 8.01 as presented. >> Second motion by Mr. Boyd, second by Miss Johan. >> Mr. Mr. Babbot, >> yes. >> Mrs. Johan, >> yes. >> Mr. Boyd, >> yes. >> Mrs. Steel, >> yes. >> Dr. Uricovich, >> yes. >> Mrs. Reagan, >> yes. >> Motion passes 6. Item 8.02, board policy updates. Is there a motion? >> I move to adopt the board policy

141updates as presented. >> Second. Motion by Mr. Babbot, second by Miss Steel. >> Mrs. Reagan, >> yes. >> Dr. Jükovich, >> yes. >> Mr. Boyd, >> yes. >> Mrs. Johan, >> yes. >> Mr. Babbot, >> yes. >> Mrs. Steel, >> yes. >> Motion passes 60 8.03 Head Start Continuation Grant Fiscal year 2026 to 2027. Is there a motion? I move to approve 8.03 as presented. >> Second. >> Motion by Miss Johan. Second by Mr. Babbot. >> Dr. Jükovich. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Steel. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Johan. >> Yes. >> Mr. Babbett. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Reagan. >> Yes. >> Mr. Boyd. >> Yes. >> Motion passes 6. Future action items. um long list for next month with trips and curriculum and technology board policy updates. Um just again a reminder board if you review

142that and have any questions the sooner that you can reach out um the the sooner you'll get responses to that. Um written information, Head Start director provided a report. learning services may report and then um updates on both our 2022 and 2026 bond issues. Thanks to all those individuals who've facilitated that and provided the information. We are now ready for item 11.01 topics for discussion. Miss Reagan. Well, first I wanted to say happy teacher appreciation week to all of the educators far and near. Um I know that lots of schools did lots of things to help their um staffs feel loved and appreciated. And I think that we so often lose sight of how vital educators are. not those of us in this room, but I think society because you don't have all the other

143professions if you don't have educators. So, thank you so very much and congratulations to everyone on how far you've made it through Mayber already. Um, this time of year is wild and it's wild for parents and guardians and children. It is wild for educators. So, I'm glad we start Mayber off by recognizing you all because man, it's May 7th and I feel like it's May 37th. Um, there we go. I really appreciated the legislative update from Dr. Little as I normally do. The funding piece is not going to stop being a problem until we all make our voices heard to the people who make those decisions. and all of the people in the House of Representatives are on the ballot in November. All of them. I also want to say that I really appreciate the

144ever growing dialogue in our community about the legislature. I see people talking about it more. I see the frustration of our staff which is very valid. I see conversations talking about the larger source of where that strain is coming from. And we do have to make hard decisions. Those decisions are much less difficult when we have legislators who are willing to fund us at the statutory level for specialed investment. and that partnership uh that Mr. Crayley mentioned where we all are rowing in the same way, but we're fighting over who gets to hold the ore and whose fault it is that water's coming in the ship and all that. We got to stay on the boat together and row in the same direction and and that's hard sometimes. That's really hard sometimes. So, I I

145want to put that out there as well. There has been a lot of conversation and unrest in our community regarding policy JP which was adopted unanimously at our February board meeting. A lot of feelings, a lot of warranted feelings. Speaking for myself, I come to this chair as a graduate of public schools, as a former teacher, as a taxpayer, as a voter, as a wife, and as a mother. Those different roles color my perspective and allow me to consider issues and policies from different angles during the hardest and heaviest votes and topics. Often being a mom and those instincts and reactions bubble to the top first, as does my own lived experience as a human. As an individual who has endured deep loss, if I were in the position of losing any of my three

146children, I can't begin to fathom the pain, sadness, anger, and urgency to keep my child's memory alive and to find a way to experience such an important milestone like high school graduation. And while I wear a lot of hats, as we all do, when I sit here and when I vote, I do so as a board member elected to make decisions on behalf of our very large, very diverse system. And in this seat, I don't get the luxury of voting as mom to Evan, Abby, and Isaac. Policy is very black and white. Those up and down yes no votes offer us the opportunity to provide stability in times of uncertainty and in the face of vast tragedy and sorrow. Grief is unique and universal. It impacts everyone differently and it impacts our students differently. Death

147is something that touches all of us. It isn't black and white. It is very gray. The manner of death, the tension of one parent wanting a name read while another can't bear to hear it. Students who pass in unexpected accidents, students who succumb to a long illness. Students who die by suicide. So much gray. So many scenarios, so much sorrow and uncertainty. In February, we had a thoughtful and intentional discussion and passed a policy that was crafted by an equally thoughtful intentional committee of many voices. As Evan, Abby, and Isaac's mom, I am heartbroken for those who are in pain today and for those who may be in pain down the road. As a board member, [snorts] I believe the policy that was adopted remains appropriate. Thank you. Any other comments, board? Miss Steel. >>

148Thank you all for being here tonight. I too would like to echo the um thoughts on teacher appreciation week and how grateful we are to the countless hours and the steady encouragement and the endless patience and the lasting impact that our educators make every day. So, thank you to all of you. We also had another celebration this week um for our retirees and um I want to say congratulations. It's a new chapter and um as I said the other night, your impact never retires. It ripples on and on and on. Um, so for your storied careers that are coming to an end in the next couple of months, some who are in this room, um, and some in a couple of weeks even, uh, depending on your contract. Um, we wish you all the best

149and thank you for your time here in THA public schools. I'd also like to say happy Mother's Day to all the moms on Sunday. Um, so many types of moms. um bonus moms, grandmas, stepmoms, foster moms, adoptive moms, pet moms, chosen moms, and all kinds of mother figures. Um and that also includes um moms who are experiencing loss, and I too cannot imagine um walking that walk. Um I'd just like to say um I support um Miss Reagan's comments. Um, and while some policy discussions involve painful and deeply complex subject matters, I want our community to know that every conversation is approached with thoughtfulness, compassion, and humanity. And I know that for every single person on this board, the care this board brings to delicate decisions is genuine and it's heartfelt and we still ask

150hard questions of staff and we verify processes that led us to this point. The gap between the podium and the disas is one to be recognized, but this board works really hard at making sure there isn't a gap and staying in touch with our community. And that doesn't mean we always have the luxury of of making decisions from our heart. And I just want people to know that um we hear you and we are very compassionate and heartbroken of some of the decisions that we make up here. Um I personally will speak for myself. I support the policy um that is is is causing our community a lot of pain right now. um because of the people that were in the room developing it and who proposed it to us. And that was people who

151are experts um in quite frankly child development by way of being longtime committed devoted high school principles as well as parents in who have lost children. And when those two entities along with other voices proposed the policy, I realized that that group knows more about that than I do. And I trust the process that that went through. And I'm sorry that that has caused pain. And two things can be true. So, thank you for your time tonight. board. Any other comments? I will also add my um appreciation to the teachers, the educators um in our school district, but also across um the nation. Um because as has been said multiple times tonight, we value you. We value who you are, the contribution you make. Um, and and this is a week that we draw attention

152to it, but our appreciation extends on a daily basis throughout the year, even in May. Um, when it is busy busy trying to fit everything into the calendars. Um, my own kids who have children in elementary school are like, there is something every day. And is it really necessary to have spirit days in May? You know, >> but it's fun. But it it's it's fun and to see kids um experience that. Also, congratulation to the graduates. Um all of us will have opportunity to be present at Tha High School graduation ceremonies as well as step up. um to those students who are transitioning from elementary to middle school, from middle school to high school. Uh those are exciting times as well. I also want um to give a shout out to our tha public school

153foundation. Uh today I had the opportunity to be on the surprise patrol um and we were delivering big checks for classroom grants. We delivered over $86,000 in grant monies that has been coordinated by the foundation as well as some private donors. Um 26 grants at 18 different schools today. Um a thanks to those teachers who take time to apply for those grants because that's an additional responsibility. But the fun really comes when they're surprised and the students are surprised and get to hear about new equipment or books or experiences that they're going to have. I would um thank Miss Reagan for her comments tonight related to the policy um that has been a source of [laughter] uh discussion for the last couple of weeks to Miss Steele as well. And I would also share the

154the compassion to those who have lost children. I personally have not experienced that, but I have sat with parents who have um sat with students who've lost their friends. And so I I recognize and empathize with the pain in in the room tonight. Um I thank you, Miss Hartsuk, for being here. Um I do however u agree with the comments tonight um that the policy while some may view as cold actually does provide some compassion um for those who are dealing with the situations on a regular basis and provide some guidance. And as [snorts] has been mentioned tonight and was discussed um during the time of the policy, the individuals in the room were also full of compassion. It wasn't a rules or an organization decision. It it was one looking at the families and

155the students who will be attending those graduation ceremonies way to support those who've lost someone while still celebrating um those who are present and and commencing on the next stage in their life. So I I personally um am am sad, sorrowful that individuals would view the decision as one lacking compassion or selfish or um how however you know things have been depicted. Um, but I I do believe that we as a board after receiving a lot of communication input from individuals that have already been mentioned tonight um made the decision that at this time is best for THA public schools and our community. So, Dr. Joerger. >> Well, thank you. Um, I have a number of things, so you'll probably have to give me a little extension on time this evening. But, um, the first

156one, Is that okay, Mr. Boy? I saw I saw that. Look. Yeah, he did. He's like, "Come on now." [laughter] Um, but I have a couple things I want to update you on and then kind of go to my regular uh regularly scheduled programming. So, um, I did want to spend just a couple of minutes updating you on where we are with our middle school work. Um, obviously, you know, we're making some some changes in middle school uh for next school year, and I just wanted to kind of give an update of where that work is. Thanks to Kelly Ty for for giving me some more expanded information. But so far this spring, we've had 32 sub days with a total of 51 teachers um who've come in to work on courses, and that's in

157addition to um professional learning days in February and April, CTE um professional learning as well. So, a lot of people have been involved with that. Um, as of next week, all lessons for CTE courses will be complete as well as their content guides and in many cases, uh, Canvas shells are built and ready to go as well. Uh, the three required courses should have all lessons completed within the next week. Standards will be presented to the board of education in June and PowerPoints will be created and all courses vetted by the end of June. Uh there's 12 teachers who have volunteered to work over the summer to finalize courses. Bless those teachers. Um we should be able to provide provided draft lessons to those who attend summer conference and get a final to them by

158the end of June if they'd like to review those. Uh the learning services is working on a plan to provide professional learning on the district professional learning day in August to all teachers teaching one of the required courses as well as leadership and media courses. And then staff uh who are dedicated teachers of the staff who are dedicated teachers of the required courses will work together on district professional learning days in the fall to begin creating Canvas courses and refining lessons. So, uh our learning services team has done a remarkable job um thanks to our teachers across the system who have jumped in quickly to help uh for all things related to the middle school um work that we're uh going to be doing to support our kiddos for next year. Uh, a couple other

159things I just want to mention. Uh, we are beginning to get a number of questions about the cell phone statute that um will go into place uh in our state on July 1st. Um, we have been tracking that and paying attention to it for a while. Um, what I want to clearly make sure that that our community and our staff and our schools understand is it's not simply a cell phone ban. the um law that will go into place is pages and pages long. Um the sample policies that have been written are five or six pages long. It's not simply just don't use a cell phone at school. There's some very specific languages in that policy about them not being accessible to students during the school day. Um them being stored in a secure location.

160So I say that all to say that what we're trying to do is work through it in a way that obviously we will comply comply with the law and statute when it goes into place. But the other piece is we're going to try really hard not to have an undue burden on our school staff and especially our classrooms as our number one job is to educate kids each and every day. Um today we had a principal committee get together for the very first time to look at that and it may feel a little bit late but we actually been hoping for some relief um from someone in Topeka to help us say that's not exactly as stringent as the law is is not what we intended. Um at this point it doesn't look like that

161relief is coming. So my commitment is that um we will continue to share information about where we are with that journey. Um, we will get input certainly from our board as there has to be a board policy in place prior to September 1st. Um, our best hope would be to have one in place in the August meeting so we can warn people and talk to people about what will happen when school starts. But there's still quite a bit of work to to be done there. Um, to be frank, there's a lot of things in the law that are overly burdensome both financially but also overly burdensome on staff time in terms of what it will take to manage a lot of it. And so we are just trying to figure that that piece out. Um

162so I would encourage people who who feel like that might be a simple task um to just pull up the state statute that will become law and recognize what we're we're trying to navigate in terms of not having an overall impact on our schools that that will be negative based on what's supposed to be a positive thing I think. So anyway, we'll we'll continue to work on that. I do want to thank the board. Um, you know, as I sit here and reflect this meeting and and and other meetings that we've had, you know, I think there are times where, um, you know, we we are maybe as maybe you all as a board or us as a school system are accused of not being transparent and clear, uh, those kinds of things. And and

163I just want to thank you for your transparency and your clarity that you have. I know it's not always easy, but you know, I think specifically about the the conversations that we've been hearing certainly certainly tonight, but also for the last, you know, number of weeks about um the the retirement benefits and and the reality is the board did not have to share that that was even on the table. That's not in the negotiated agreement. Um you know, our board with obviously the support of our administration uh made a conscious decision to put that in our negotiated agreement letter this year. to be clear and honest and transparent with our staff that it was on the table. Um there is nothing in the negotiated agreement that would have required our board to notify our staff

164that it was even on the table. Uh the only thing you were required to do is to say by June 30th whether or not that would continue. So I think sometimes things like that don't go recognized because by doing that you've certainly helped people recognize that it's a possibility and you're getting a lot of feedback but behind that is always the intention because you want the feedback. You want to hear from our staff, you want to hear from our community. And I could probably come up with 10 other examples where that's happened in the last 6 months. But I I think uh and it's probably inappropriate for me to say, but you know, sometimes when I think see things on social media that this board is not acting in transparency and there's not clarity, I

165almost chuckle sometimes because um it's the complete opposite. uh there are things that that you all very uh specifically ask for feedback on, share and discuss that frankly other boards probably wouldn't. So I just want to say thank you for that. Um because it makes the work harder I think but at the end it what what has been said a number of times tonight is because you value the partnership not only with our students but our community, our patrons and our staff. So I just want to thank you all for that. It's it's something that that I notice and and and really do appreciate. Um just a couple this is the regularly scheduled programming now. Um a couple of other things that I just want to mention. We did have our retirement celebration uh this

166week and oh my gosh it's always such a special time just to uh celebrate people. But you know, one of the things that that happens is you start seeing people retire that you were your mentors when you came to the school system and uh people that have taken great care of you and man, it's hard when you see those people retire and the expertise that's walking out of the the doors at the end of the school year, but you want to talk about so many uh well-lived careers with well-earned retirement. Um such a special thing and just a congratulations to all of our retirees this year. It was teacher appreciation uh day I think on Tuesday and it's to teacher appreciation week this week. And you know at the retirement dinner the other night as

167part of my my corny speech I listed every elementary teacher that I had uh the nurse at my elementary school, the secretary at my elementary school, the custodian at my elementary school. And I don't know that there's any other place in our world where somebody who's almost 50 years old could sit and remember all those people that they had interactions with. um some cases 40 plus years ago. Um but the reality is you can do that and it just I think exemplifies the the impact that that teachers have on all of us and who we are and the work that we continue to do. So thank you to all of our teachers that uh not not only impacted me but the teachers that continue to impact our kids in in our world today. Uh graduation

168is coming up for the class of 2026. Uh it's hard to believe, but you know, each year we have uh thousands of kids that walk across the stage and and earn their high school diploma. Um and such a such an important uh event. But I tell you, one of the things that I always uh notice is the kids that come through with a firm handshake. Um so this year I actually have somebody I don't it was at least a hir maybe I talked to. No, it wasn't. I don't know who I talked to. I talked to somebody about standing on the side of the stage that if I get kind of a weak one, I'm going to make a little motion and that person's going to do a quick solid handshake with the student on

169the side of the stage. But um just kidding. But it really is a a very special um thing. I do want to thank Dr. McMullen and Chris Garl and others who have already hosted two update or two facility alignment task force meetings. Um those meetings again are not easy meetings but it is an effort for us to co coales our community about the things that uh we need to address and work through over the next few years. Uh the engagement in those meetings has been really high people have shown up. It's a large group of I think about 150 people. Um a lot of really good questions, a lot of really good information. But um I really appreciate just the thoughtfulness behind that and um the the people across our community that are engaged in

170that process and asking really really good questions. And then it's unbelievable the school year is almost over. Obviously graduation signifies that, but uh it seems like it was just last week that uh we were we were just getting started. Uh the school year has gone quick, but um I just want to encourage everyone keep coming to school until the last day. um your teachers have things they want to share with you through the very last day. Um and uh it's been a great year. So, thank you to everyone in our system for that. And um be watching for information about our summer meal programs as well. We have a number of students in our community who uh can use meals during the summer and our food services staff does a great job of providing that

171and I think the information actually has been shared in the last couple of weeks. So, uh tune in to that stuff as well. Thank you. Okay, Brad, you can deal with Will later, but he asked to make one more comment. >> Sorry. Um, I just needed to make a very quick comment. Uh, yesterday was school nurse appreciation day. >> Oh, yeah. Thank you. >> And I wanted to call out Dr. Sarah Gilland in the audience as the director of health services and all of her school nurses for keeping our kids safe and healthy from the scrape knees to the bumped heads. Um, thank you for taking care of our kids. So that's all. [laughter] >> That's right. We know. >> And to all the kids that I'm shaking their hands at graduation, I've been working

172my hand out this week, so you're not going to crush it again. [laughter] >> All right, we are to item 13.01. >> Do you mind if I say one more thing? I am so sorry. >> Sorry. No, no, no. >> Not done yet. See, that's what happens when I move away from my notes. I forget to say things. So, uh, Mr. Dr. Bab, thank you for recognizing school nurses day. Our school nurses are are so important. I was just going to mention two other now that I'm looking at my notes. Um May 1st was school principal day and school lunch hero day. And you want to talk about two important groups of people in our schools. Thank you to our principles and our school lunch heroes. And then May 18th is speech pathologist day as

173well. So many of us in our past have had an important speech pathologist in our life and so um I just want to thank them as well. So, thank you. >> All right. All right. Okay. Item 13.01, executive session. Is there a motion? >> I move that the board go into executive session for the purpose of discussing matters relating to employer employee negotiations under KOMA and that the board return to the regular meeting at 8:55 p.m. in this room. Second. >> Motion by Miss Steele, second by Mr. Boyd. Mrs. Steel. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Reagan, >> yes. >> Mr. Boyd, >> yes. >> Mrs. Johan, >> yes. >> Mr. Babbot, >> yes. >> Dr. Ericovich, >> yes. >> Motion passes 6.