001We'd like to call this meeting to order. Uh if you will join us, please in standing for the pledge of allegiance. Thank you. I'd like to welcome everybody to our meeting this evening. Um, and we will move to 1.04 adoption of our agenda. Please. I move to approve the agenda as presented. Second. All those in favor raise their right hand and say I please. I. I. Motion passes. 2.01 the superintendence report. Thank you, President Myers. Welcome everybody. I have a long one here. We're going to recognize some other folks. Some kids on to my right and to my left here in a little bit as well. Some librarians towards the back left of me. Um but in addition to them, let's introduce uh some other folks we're going to uh congratulate. First is our own
002Miss Linda Ismer here. Um congratulations to Miss Ismer for receiving the master level of Missouri School Boards Association's Board Secretary Academy. This level not only requires additional training but also a passing score on a rigorous competency test. That's according to MSBA, not just me. This level is optional and demonstrates Linda's commitment to excellence and professionalism. Here's what I'm going to tell you. Linda pushed the state for a long time to create trainings like this. Um, she's one of the first through the state to get the things here that she's getting recognized for. And I don't know if you know this, the district reorganized in August of 1949. She's only the fifth person to hold her position. Been doing this for 20 years. Can we give Mrs. Burn a round of applause? Appreciate you, Linda. All
003right. Congratulations to our mo modern language students that participated the UCM modern language film festival. All three high schools submitted films in Chinese, German, and French, and they all won awards and accolades. A testament to not only our modern language department, but the educators and kids within it. So, kudos to them. In addition, all three robotics teams made it to the world championships in Houston. Lee Summit North uh was 12-1 and got to go pretty far, but they also received a special recognition, first time in their uh team's history. They won what's known as the Gracious Professionalism Award. So, congratulations to the Bronco Bots. A shout out to Woodland uh Elementary Student Council. They were one of the recipients of the 2025 ASCA Student Council School of Excellent Awards. So, congratulations to all the students
004involved and their sponsors Kobe Cantrell and coach Ryan Evans. Um, congratulations to Lee Summit North alum, class of 22, Arman Meu, who was selected number seven in the NFL draft by the New York Jets in the first round. Um, there was a watch party across the parking lot here at Lee Summit North and they have past coaches and teammates and they talk non-stop about an amazing uh person he was, not just a player on the field and he did start off as a tennis player as a freshman year. Um, right now you uh can go to one of our restaurants downtown and and enjoy a sandwich created by our own students at Lee Summit North Culinary Arts. Um, so thanks you to them and Dr. Tina Tatson. Um, they worked on this client connected project
005to create a barbecue sandwich based on surveys, food trends, and studying supply costs. So thank you to Smoke Brewing Company for uh engaging with us in that uh endeavor. Congratulations to Summit Tech Academy teacher Rachel Mitchell. She's been named as the state Missouri state educators of family and consumer science human services teacher of the year. Mitchell teaches the hospitality tourism and recreation management programs at Summit Tech Academyy's Paradise Park campus. This award recognizes her contributions to career and technical education and her unwavering commitment to student success. So Rachel is joining Rachel Benson who is not only the state but the regional foreign language teacher of the year and one of five up for the national teacher of the year um and and in foreign languages and then Jennifer Jones who's our reigning state teacher of
006the year. So um we got a lot of accolades going to our staff and welldeserved. Congratulations to three well-being superstar award winners we are celebrating this month. So Michelle Overbeck from Highland Park Elementary was our January award winner. Stephanie Wasanga from Trail Ridge Elementary was our February award winner and Marcy Hes from Pleasant Lee Middle School is our March award winner. You're wondering why I'm saying January through March award winners because we just now got to give it to them because if you remember we had a lot of snow and so we kept canceling those. So we got them in our April Learning for Life award winner was Miss Twi Ley the ISS teacher at Pleasantly Middle School and I think the first time we've had an ISS teacher win it in my tenure. She
007was recognized by her co-workers for her quiet, calm approach and extra efforts for all students leading to their success every day. I got to read everything that everyone wrote about her. They love her and she loves them. So congratulations to Miss Ley. Tonight are the Blue Star Awards up at Starart Theater. They're the annual awards to recognize Kansas City area high school students achievement and excellence in music theater. The award show is modeled after the Tony's awards with performances and winners. two LSR LSR7 students are performing in the uh show ensemble. So, good luck to Taylor Bell and Rowan Sulfur from Lee Summit North. As I say, go break a leg. Um, also all three high school musical productions earn nominations. We'll see if they win. That's Lee Summit High School's May We All Lee
008Summit West Beauty and the Beast and Lee Summit Norse Legally Blonde the musical. So, good luck to all of them. Congratulations to Lee Summit High School junior Dea Brock. She received the silver valor award last Friday. Um she was surprised. We had uh people from the military come in to give her the award. She This is the second highest decoration available in junior ROC for a voluntary act of heroism without the risk of her own life. Dea was at work and noticed that a patron was bleeding. She asked to see his wound, instructed co-workers to call for help, and cared for the patron until paramedics arrived. Paramedics later told her the man had elacerated an artery in his leg and her care likely saved his life. So kudos, Dea. I hope you're around when we
009all need you. Um LSR7 students recently participated in this year's Battle of the Books, a fun competitive quiz event that tests elementary students and our knowledge of selected titles. This year's winner is Prairie View Elementary. Kudos to them. Special thanks to our school librarians who made this event and Daily Love for Reading possible. Um, congratulations to all our Special Olympic student athletes who competed in the state indoor games at St. Louis. Um, so we had many teams and sometimes many teams in each division. In the single bowling, we had state champions, second place and fourth place winners. And unified bowling, we had state champions. And individual basketball skills, we had state champions. And threeon-ree basketball, we had state champions in second place. And five on five basketball, we had third place. So kudos to all
010of our student athletes. And a shout out to Long View Farm Elementary fifth grader, Audrey Craft. Audrey is a fifth grader. Her first year in archery. It's actually her second year, but she had a broken arm last year, so she didn't get to actually participate. But this year, her first year, culminated in earning a right to go to the national championship in Kentucky, where there was over 7,000 girls competing, grades 4 through 12, and over 1,890 kids in elementary competing. And out of those 1,890 kids, she took third place in the nation. So kudos to Audrey. If you put all the grade levels, including the big kids, she was, I think, 95th out of over 7,000 kids. So Audrey definitely showed well at nationals. Um updates. I want to thank all that attended the bookshelf
011buddies event at East Trails Middle School. It's our second year having this. We gave away 29 bookshelves to our youngest learners built by our high school kids and Jeff Beckner. Amy Taylor, the library media services uh team curated some incredible titles for them to go shop for. and they may have picked on me by making them book bucks and put my picture on them. Um, Mid-Continent Library was there leading um, story time and signing people up for library cards and parents' teacher was there signing families up for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library and to participate in parents as teachers. We had a lot of individuals in community that donated monies to pay for those books and I really really want to thank them. Um, it's only our second year but it may be my favorite um,
012event of the year. We had pancakes breakfast and it was a lot of fun. Um, congratulations seniors who just had their last day of school yesterday. Graduations kick off tomorrow and go through next week. And we can't wait to celebrate this accomplishment and send you into your next chapter. Congratulations to our retirees. We celebrated them on Tuesday night. Um, count going all the way back to May 1st last year. We've had 117 people retire in the last 12 months. Um, with over 2,000 years of of of service in our district alone. Um we also celebrate our our grow your own signes. These are seniors who have signed on intent to become a teacher and in return LSR7 provides mentorship professional development over the next four years. So and we also got to celebrate our first
013uh grow your own graduate of college. She graduated after three years and she was hired to be a fax teacher at Bernard Campbell Middle School next year. So it was a good night Tuesday night. Last, I want to let everybody know um if you have a eighth grader next year or 12th grader next year, so a rising eighth grader or 12th grader, um there are some vaccinations you have to do and Jackson County Public Health is offered to host an event at least in high school on Tuesday, June 3rd from 9 to 11:00 a.m. If you want to participate in this clinic, u please sign up by 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 29th. That concludes my long report. President Myers, thank you very much. Um 3.01 01. We've got recognition for the Lee Summit North
014Library. We've got lots to celebrate tonight here. I thought I was going to have a moment to break. So, I'm going to ask Lisa Scrogs from the director of literacy secondary uh schools at the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. She's going to come up and present something to our Lee Summit North um librarians. And I'll let her explain what she's presenting. But I just want you to know they've won two awards this year. One of them they won again in 2023. So, I think there were six schools chosen. and they were all high schools for the exemplary library um program. And also Mr. Russell and Mr. Miller, they also received the 2025 outstanding library program award from the Missouri Association of School Library. And so Lisa, I talked enough to give you a
015chance to get up here and she has two things she wants to present to these two gentlemen. Right. Thank you very much uh for allowing us to do this recognition this evening. Um, on behalf of the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, um, I am pleased to recognize our librarians from Lee Summit North High School, Michael Russell and Nathan Miller. Um, exemplary school library program is in its fifth year. Um, this library was one of only six schools in the state this year to receive the recognition. Um, this is their third year in a row receiving this recognition. So the fact that they have been able to sustain this high level of programming for three years in a row is tremendous and it speaks highly to the district for the support that they receive.
016So we're very appreciative of that. Um in order to receive this recognition, uh it's a very rigorous application process. and they have to score 90% or higher on 21 indicators in the areas of instruction, leadership, library management, library environment, and staffing. And so they have done well in all of those areas. Um this evening I am pleased to present to them resolutions from the Missouri House and the Missouri Senate and we will also be uh sending them a proclamation from the Missouri State Board of Education within the next month. So gentlemen, if you'll come forward and receive the resolutions. [Applause] Congratulations. All right, we're all going to join all three of you up here in the front for a photo. So don't go anywhere. So you three get in the center and the rest of
017us are going to come around and Miss Talia Evans gonna take our picture. One, two, three. [Applause] uh 3.02. Our student board representatives. We would like to take the opportunity this evening to thank our student representatives for committing your time and energy throughout the school year. Your presence and input helped shape conversations, helped us think about some of our decisions in different ways, including the cell phone usage policy um and the instructional use of AI. Your willingness to show up and represent the interest of your peers mattered more than you might realize. We're going to announce your name. Please come up and collect your certificate. And please wait up here for a group photo. And board member or Vice President Miller is going to get you your certificate this evening. You can good because I
018cannot go alphabetic order because they're not in alphabetical order. So first up, Max and Chin. [Applause] Caitlyn Levery, Logan [Applause] Henry, Emily or Emmy Harmon, [Applause] Isabelle Laflur Haley G. [Applause] Barnett, Nora Lassman, Lucas Taylor, Garren Simpkins, Addison Dittoore, [Applause] Leo Lynn, Casey Worthy, Lindseay McVey, Katie [Applause] Bruns, Jaylen Cample, [Applause] Anna Viaal. All right, board of education, come around. This might be interesting for Talia to direct us how to fit us all in one picture. like split yourself in half and then turn in a little bit so you can squeeze a little more. Two rows sounds great. You're good. If if you can see my phone, I can see you. Nikki, I cannot see you. There we go. Okay. [Applause] Okay, our board reps are going to give us one final update as to
019how things are progressing at their at their individual high schools. I think it's working now. Okay. Hello. Um, Lisa Summit North is up first. So, my name is Avea Hall and I am a senior at Lisa Summit North. I am also from Lisum North. My name is Max and Chen and I am currently a junior. Sadly, we haven't been able to um show up at a lot of the last few meetings. So, we would just wanted to go down like Dr. Buck did and just share some of the things we've done in the last few months. So, starting off, Lisa North had two seniors who were recognized as Missouri 100 top scholars. Um, seniors Eleanor Sullivan and Haley Ray were recognized. And additionally, a lead educator at Lis North, Miss Tracy Risinger. A math teacher
020has been nominated to be recognized at this summer's Missouri Scholars Academy at the University of Missouri. And then additionally, we have three state conference winners at FBLA. Bin Wallen placed 10th in public speaking. Lette Cantrell placed eighth in accounting, too. And Eleanor Sullivan placed first in help desk and was qualified for the national competition this summer. Sticking around in uh competition, the Lee Summon North debate team had a record setting year this year. We had 13 national qualifiers, which is the most in school history. And within those 13 national qualifiers, we had three district champions being Vivian Chira, my peer here AA Hall, and myself, Max and Chin. And then additionally with Ellison Speech and Debate, four Ellison speech and debate members were recognized by the National Speech and Debate Association with academic all-American awards
021where they had to receive a degree of superior distinction in NSDA points and earn a 3.7 weight unweighted GPA. These individuals were Caitlyn Levery, which she's sitting in the audience, Jake Johnson, Sam Jacobs, and myself, AA Hall. So, additionally, you guys may have heard of this, but one of our administrators at least up north, Miss Tammy Williams, was recognized as the high school assistant principal of the year by the Greater Kansas City, Missouri um principles association. And additionally, as M. Dr. Buck has already sort of said the Ellison Bronco Bots went undefeated last March in the Greater Kansas City Regional where they were earning their place in the world championship where while they did not place overall, they won the gracious professionalism award due to the help that they gave their peers. So something else
022pretty exciting with robotics. One of the juniors at Lee Summit North, Jackson Reed met with the Missouri Speaker of the House, John Patterson, who's also a congressman for new legislation about robotics programs throughout Missouri. So, Jackson Reed actually had the opportunity to draft a revolutionary bill in the Missouri House, which essentially provided subsidization and increased funding for every public Missouri high school within the state. So, this is a huge a huge step not just for Jackson Reed, but for the entirety of the state of Missouri. And then on May 7th, our Ellison National Honor Society commemorated the class of 2025 and allowed the class of 2026 to take the reigns. Collectively, the class of 2025 completed over 3,100 hours of service to the school and outside community. Additionally, we were able to bring in $3,000
023to help fund our community and organize events around National Honor Society. Unfortunately, I had to hand off my presidential badge to the guy beside me. But if he does even half as well as I did, they'll have a decent [Applause] NHS. Okay, so uh moving into some athletics. Uh just earlier this week, our boys our Bronco boys volleyball team defeated Grain Valley in the district championship to qualify to the state tournament for Misha. This is the second time in a row our boys volleyball team has qualified to the state tournament and they faced their first round opponent on May 20th. And then lastly, sorry for taking so long, LSR seniors had their last day of high school yesterday. Um, and we had many amazing last moments, including prom, senior sunrise, and visiting our teachers and
024staff to give them one last thank you. As a senior Bronco myself, I'd like to state how proud I am to be able to represent a school that not only celebrates student excellence, but lives and encourages it every single day in their students. Thank [Applause] you. Hi guys, my name is Haley Barnett and I'm currently a junior at Lee Summit West. So, Rley Summit West, specifically our academic fields, we have kicked off IB and AP examinations and our IB coordinator, Miss Davos, has worked especially hard um to get an IB bill passed in the um that requires every state college to um if you score a four or higher on an exam to give you college credit. Currently, that bill is sitting on the governor's desk waiting for approval, and we are super excited that
025we were able to help accomplish this bill. Um, moving on to some club and academics are DECA and HOSA and FBA recently went to state and DECA went to nationals in Orlando, Florida. Many of our Summit West Titans have um placed and represented our school very well. Um recently today I believe um we received our yearbooks um which are we currently just had our longest yearbook yet and we just wanted to celebrate all those hard workers at West who and contributed to our yearbook to make help us remember all of our great memories from this year. Um lastly I'd like to talk about um our teacher appreciation week. We recently celebrated that and we had the honor to honor a lot of our teachers and staff who work very hard every day. So, thank you.
026I am Emmy Harmon and I'm also from Lee Summit West. Um, and I'm here to talk about the things that we as seniors have done. Um, tomorrow the seniors will walk across the stage at graduation and we have had many senior activities such as our last day of school yesterday where we had our senior assembly recognizing all of our seniors and ushering in um our new junior class officers. Um, additionally, we had um our traditional senior breakfast where we also had um our senior Titan scroll where we are super proud of. Um, additionally, we had prom this year and the senior sendoff in general has been um amazing this year. Additionally, past um two weeks ago we had Westside Live and it has been a record-breaking number of tickets sold out since co 19 and
027we sold out of tickets actually before the show even happened and our music department has been thriving overall. We also had music awards uh Wednesday or Tuesday night and we recognized all sorts of students from band, orchestra and choir as well as theater and many of those are also at awards tonight and so we'd also like to recognize them. Um, additionally, like Haley said, um, we recognized a lot of our teachers during teacher appreciation week, and I've also had the pleasure of having two long-term substitutes, um, during this semester and this year that I'm super proud of who stepped in, and I specifically wanted to recognize them tonight. So, I'm grateful for them. Thank you. Good evening, everyone. My name is Addison Ditimore, and I'm a senior at Lee Summit High School. Um, I'll try
028to keep it a little brief because there's not too many things going on, but we'll get it through it. Um, so this year our school was the very first school to try out the new cell phone policy. So, we've successfully had a full year with no phones in the in the building during like bell times. Um, track is going to districts this year obviously. Um, we always do very good at every competition we do or every meet they go to. So, hopefully we make it to state. Um, we previously just had academic awards. I think they were talking about how this is the biggest academic awards that we previously have had in the past 50 years, something like that. It was really big. Just know that. Um, finals, we just wrapped up senior finals and
029so teachers were really quick about getting grades in so we us seniors could kind of figure out what ne what our next plans are that we need to take, whether it's redoing things or figuring stuff out. Um students previously have graduated from the EMT and fire programs um down at Cass and Hearnden with law enforcement and all that stuff. So they all have their they all have their certifications now. Certifications. Certification. Oh my gosh. What is it? Thursday. Gosh, I'm already checked out. Okay. Gosh. Sorry. Holy moly. Now I'm lost. Oh, okay. Um and then we just had senior checkout yesterday. So teachers were really good about setting up different stations to make sure that seniors had everything that we needed to graduate. Um there was the PLMS walk yesterday where we could go back
030to our middle school and say hi to all of our teachers and see the new building. Um graduation is next Tuesday. So of course I think we're the last school to go. Save the best for last. Um and then our project our project grad is the only one that we don't have to pay for. So our booster club and all of everyone around the community kind of helps sponsor and fund that event for all of us to go to. So yeah, um it was a really good senior year. Um us seniors kind of went through a lot of changes. We had a new principal this year, had a lot of different academic adviserss over the past four years, and so hopefully Mr. Mucky does not want to quit after his first year. Thank you. [Applause]
031I just wanted to personally thank each and every one of our student reps. they stepped into this these roles as new it's a new program and so I just want to say thank you all for being brave and um doing a great job of of making your voice heard and allowing for opportunities for um you to go out into your schools and the community to hear the voices of others to share back with us. So just know that your voices are powerful and those of you who are seniors and you're going out in the world you're going to do amazing things and we appreciate you. Okay. Uh 3.03 National Merit Finalist. So I'm going to do this one. My board president Myers goes around and I'm going to ask Adita and Ethan come on up
032so we can talk about you. You guys look so nice in your ties over there. All right. So why these two young gentlemen are here. So founded in 1955 to conduct the annual merit scholarship competition, the National Merit Scholar Scholarship Corporation is a privately financed not-for-profit corporation. Scholarships awarded through the program or underwritten by nearly 500 independent sponsor organizations and institutions as well as the corporation's own fund. Nearly one and a half million students throughout the United States entered the merit program as juniors by taking the preliminary SAT, National Merit Scholarship qualifying test, which serves as an initial screen for program entrance. Of the 1.5 million, some 50,000 with the highest uh SPAT uh selection uh index score qualify for recognition as a national merit scholarship program. Those students then go through two more rounds
033of consideration before scholarships are awarded. Lisa West students Adaj and Ethan Wood have both been named national merit finalists for the 2025 and Ethan Wood has also been awarded a national merit scholarship. So let's give these two gentlemen a round of applause. Look at the parents first. Okay. One, two, three. [Applause] You're up next. Okay. 4.01 public comment. Good evening everyone. We appreciate your attendance and your willingness to speak to the board. Please remember that the board does not respond to public comments during the meeting but may ask clarifying questions. Your comments will be noted by the board and administration and if appropriate, we will discuss further action and the sup with the superintendent. Only those who have signed up prior to the meeting will be allowed to address the board. Pursuant to board policy
034BDDH, we will be limiting all comments to no more than seven people with a limit of three minutes each. You may not transfer any of your time to other speakers. Your allotted three minutes will be counted down on the screen. Please conclude your comments when the timer expires. Your comments must align with the subject described in your written request to speak and must directly relate to the business or operations of the district. Your comments may not discuss individual employees or students in in the district regardless of whether your comments speak of them in a positive or negative light. Any such comment should be directed to the superintendent who will then determine if further action is needed because the board does not and cannot impose age-based restrictions on who attends or views board meetings and because
035children of all ages frequently do attend board meetings. Comments may not include obscenities or sexually explicit content. Furthermore, comments may not include threats or of physical or emotional harm or threaten in any way the safety of others. We also remind all those in the audience that board policy BDDH prohibits the use of signs or audible responses. This includes applause, cheers, or jeers. If you are in the audience and wish to respond in some way to a public comment, you may contact the board or superintendent after the meeting. Your comments must be directed only to the board because the purpose of public comment is to bring something to the attention of the board. You may not speak or interact in any way with any person in the audience. When your name is called, go to the
036podium and clearly state your name and the organization you represent, if any. Thank you. Sorry about that. The first speaker that we have is Joe Signs. Hello board. Dr. Buck, thank you for your time and your ears. I really appreciate uh you being receptive to my message today. Hopefully, it's not too taboo. Uh unfortunately, I'm going to talk about diversity, equity, and inclusivity. U notice I didn't say DEI. That's not what I'm about. I like to use the term appropriately because I think words matter and I think we need to uh really address this topic head on. It's an important one to me and I think it's a very important one to the district. So when we talk about diversity, I think it's important to note that diversity to me is about culture and we
037have a very diverse set of students. We have a very diverse set of educators, but there's lots of work that we can do and we can continue to do to address the culture that's present in the district and the culture that all these people bring to the table. This country is a melting pot. This community is a melting pot and this school is a melting pot or I'm sorry, this district is a melting pot. We want to not only embrace that culture, the different cultures that are brought to the table, but we want to lift that up and and bring it to the forefront. So, how do we do that? It's it's definitely a kind of a loaded topic. To me, diversity is not about hiring people. Uh well, let's not fall into the trap
038of of addressing diversity as um hiring the wrong people. Diversity is about uh where we go forward and who we attract as as skilled talent. So, uh a previous board has brought up the topic of let's look at who we're uh attracting because qualified candidates can be found in a number of different places. So try and make sure that that we're attracting a diverse talent pool and then I think we will we will come up with the right hires. So equity is another thing that's very important to me. And when we talk about equity, wow, time goes quick. Uh equity is is about uh not not treating everyone as equal equality. That's what I often hear uh people think about equity. Equity to me is meeting every student with what they need to be successful.
039You can look at that for your educators, too. Let's let's embrace them and find out what they need to be successful. Whether that's that's uh you know, a student that's struggling in reading, a student that uh you know needs needs help uh uh well, I I won't name examples, but there there's lots of work to be done there. And then I'm running out of time. Uh inclusivity is also a very important topic that we want to make sure that we uh just like attracting a diverse talent pool, we want to include every student and every learner um and make sure that uh we're we're thank you for your time. Thank you. Next we have Jessica Jones. Good evening board members. My name is Jessica Jones. I'm a parent of three LSR students. I just want
040to discuss some continued hot topic items that I think the board has a big opportunity to be unified on and help the community understand their importance. First is diversity, equity, and inclusion. There is a misunderstanding on what it all entails and how important it is for our students. When saying the words out loud, I don't understand which one would not be necessary and how any of them are upsetting. Diversity is important for all learners and functioning in society with diverse population. Equity for achieving achieving success for all students and getting them what they need as an individual for that success which is also our motto and gets lost in translation when having these discussions. Inclusion students need to feel included to have success and seeing others that look like them in the classroom as well
041as educators and administrators. Next is budget and transparency, which is very complex at the core, but spending money on teachers to educate students should be the priority, especially since our state is 49th in teacher pay. We have a lot of room for improvement. Many folks want to complain about high dollar amounts per student. Um, but they are also unable to think critically about what those costs entail. A personal example for me of DEI and education costs is that my son has dyslex dyslexia. It was a journey for our diagnosis. I was expressing concerns, not being heard. Um, but instead of giving up, I continued to push and didn't lose lose faith in the educators, the school, or the district. I also quickly realized my privilege as an edi educated white woman and began to understand
042on a deeper level what others without my privilege would face in these difficult situations and trying to advocate for your child. I sought to understand diversity, equity, and inclusion on a different level and gained more of a passion to fight for the injustice of others. I gained a better understanding of the cost that goes into educating kids. We had a private evaluation, but my son alone required multiple resources from classroom educators, social work, 504 coordinators, and reading specialists. He's one kid with one diagnosis. But there are many kids with complex issues that cost more to provide services for, and they deserve every bit to be successful. And it's easy to see how these costs and resources add up quickly. Then you throw in aging buildings and technology needs to keep up with the times. Some
043folks get wrapped up in things that don't need to be controversial. And we must keep the students and the teachers at the front of our thoughts, discussions, and decision-m because they are what it's all about. They are our future. They deserve the resources and compensation and necessary to be successful. The board needs to come together as a unified front and instead of engaging in ne negative commentary with the community about these issues, take a stance together to be 100% for it and promote it as a need for our students and staff in the district so that we may fully achieve the motto of prepare each student for success in life. Thank you. Thank you. Next we have Jennifer Novagratz. Good evening members of the board. My name is Jennifer and I'm a proud taxpaying resident
044of this district for 15 years. I also bring 20 years of professional experience in education holding certifications in both special educations and mathematics. I'm here tonight not only as an educator but as a parent deeply invested in the success and wellbe being of all of our students especially those with disabilities. First I want to thank the board members who consistently and publicly advocate for public education and for students with disabilities. Your voices matter and your support is noticed. I'd like to clarify something that often gets mischaracterized in public discourse. DEI stands for diversity, equity, and inclusion. My focus today, especially when it comes to students with disabilities, is equity and inclusion. These are not abstract ideals. They are legal and moral obligations. Unfortunately, my family is not alone in the struggling with the initiation and
045implementation of IEPs and 504 accommodations in this district. We've experienced predetermined denials despite providing proper diagnosis and documentation of mitigating measures in place and spent months fighting for what our child is legally entitled to for academic supports. Additionally, there's a lack of training among staff administrators regarding what the law permits and prohibits when it comes to denying accommodations or imposing academic punishments on students who use them. For the last three years, my child has faced intimidation, whether it was intentional or not, for simply advocating for their needs. This includes being punished academically for using accommodations, being denied their accommodations, and being denied reasonable supports when unable to complete certain tasks. In addition to that, they have had public announcements made to the class regarding the accommodations or disability when a class announcement is not necessary
046or appropriate. This is an inclusion. This is exclusion and worst case light. Despite repeated attempts to bring these issues to teachers and administrators, the pattern remains. We'll get back to you and they don't. I'm left chasing follow-ups often with no resolution. This isn't just frustrating, it's unacceptable. My family is not the only family that has experienced this and our buildings are not exclusive to the issues. So tonight, I'm asking for two things. mandatory meaningful professional development for all staff and administrators that clearly outlines legal responsibilities around IEPs and 504s and trains them on how to create inclusive environments for students who require accommodations. Second, a commitment to timely, respectful communication with families who raise concerns. When a child is brave enough to speak up with their needs, the adults around them must be equipped to
047listen and act. This is not just about compliance. It's about compassion and justice. Our children deserve better and we must do better. Thank you. Thank you. Next we have Vera Fosno. My name is Vera Fosno and I'm a senior from Lisa West High School. Cover up your shoulders, your back. Cover up your stomach, your legs. Don't let your bra strap show it's inappropriate. Before graduating middle school, I had a conversation with an administrator concerning the school dress code. And while I definitely can't take full credit, I'm so happy to now attend a school that doesn't ban spaghetti straps or halter tops or ask students to measure the length of their shorts by placing their fingertips against their legs. But as the school dress but as the school dress code process action team begins meeting, it
048is especially important that the school district understands the experiences of teenage girls because the that school dress codes seek to prohibit are usually clothes associated with what female students wear. When we tell young girls that what they're wearing is inappropriate, we are telling them that the parts of their body showing are sexual, disgusting, or immoral. And we are telling young girls it is their job to cover up so they do not distract their male peers or worse, teachers. Policing the body of young girls is sexualization. And maybe the board's concern should be coaches following indecent accounts on the same platform they post students and not girls wearing shorts during August. Strict dress codes lead to an atmosphere of shame and anxiety for young girls. On the last day of middle school, my mom bought me
049a new dress to wear. It was white with pink flowers. I was dressed because the straps of that dress were too thin. And suddenly my last day of middle school was tainted with shame and embarrassment. It shouldn't be the responsibility of teachers or administrators to police what teenage girls are wearing, especially when that policing rarely occurs fairly. During my middle school career, I witnessed some girls get dresscoded for something other girls did not with the only major difference being the shape of their bodies. Over four years ago, when I talked to my administrator, I was told that the dress code existed to maintain professionalism. The problem here is I recognize crop tops and leggings may not be right for a business meeting, but our school district has never tried to institute a business casual dress
050code. We don't require students to wear blazers or slacks to school. Dress codes have always been about banning crop tops and spaghetti straps, not pajamas or sweatpants. It's never been about professionalism. The school dress code policy across this district as it stands today is revolutionary in building a learning environment for teenage girls where we can learn without shame or anxiety. I urge the board and the dress code process action team to consider what they really mean when they ask girls to cover up their shoulders, their backs, their stomachs, and what they really mean when they term teenage girls and their bodies inappropriate. Thank you. Okay. 5.01 board committee reports. Dr. Nickens. Well, uh, having been on the board for a month, I have not attended any committee meetings yet, but I did find out what
051committees I'm on. Excellent. Board member Garrett. Thank you. Not too much to report, but I did attend a Lee Summit Cares meeting and a Lee Summit Educational Foundation meeting and address Cook Prep. Dr. Johnson. Okay, this time I actually have something to say. So, I had a busy month where I had three committees that I went to. One of them in particular, um, again, it's up and running for what's better, early education, team Lee Summit. I don't know which one yet, but the early education advisory board meeting I went to was pretty awesome. Talked about the um extreme importance of early education. I cannot advocate for that more than enough. Um everything that they do including the um great beginnings program, parents and teachers program and all the activities that they provide. There were two
052things that I wanted to um take a few minutes to mention. One of our great beginnings principles is retiring Miss Jeannie Cook. She did say that I can mention her name today, but I wanted to say how instrumental she has been in one educating me about all the different programs. If you would have asked me two years ago what early education was, I would have said prek and I other than that, I thought about daycare, but I know that there's so much more to it now. So, thank you to Jeannie Cook for all of her time and every and all of her um dedication to our students. And she's not going far, but she's going to be taking care of her grandb babies that she has. So, it's pretty exciting. One other thing is um
053we talk about advocacy a lot for education and one thing that this group does they do a parent survey and on the parent survey they allow for comments and if you would indulge me I'd like to read a comment from one of the p parents about the importance of our early childhood education program. I was given permission to do this. There is no information included. It really is a whole family learning experience. It has been so fun for our daughter and has been so educational insightful for us as parents. It has made us way more confident and empowered in regard to her development in education. It has helped us make the decision to send her to preschool and help through the transition into preschool. Our parent educator has been super open and helpful with all
054challenges we've had from potty training to bedtime routine disruptions. She listens and offered information and helpful suggestions and plans to cope with behavioral challenges. So when we're thinking about public education and we're thinking about early childhood education, keep those things in mind. We actually almost are providing a handbook for parents. How many of us could have used the handbook for parenting? I can still use one as a parent of a 14-year-old. So I wanted to say that. And Dr. Bucks, I heard about your books. You stole my sunshine by mentioning that. But the book buddies and the Dr. Bucks bucks, I heard they did have your face on them and kids got hardback books and it was an excellent experience and I've already signed up to make donations next year to get those books. So
055that's pretty amazing. Uh, two more things that I went to. I did the security pack and on the security pack has been very informational because there is a difference between like security and safety. I did not know that but I know it now. security is more like an external thing. Safety is an internal thing. So, that's been an awesome um experience. I realize the Pratts that I mean I realize that committees that I've attended um are very mentally involved. So, I appreciate that. And then I did have one more committee. Sorry, I got my notes here of which ones I attended. Um my bad. Sorry, I can't find it now. I don't remember what the other one was. CIP. Yes. Oh my goodness. Thank you. The new board member telling the old board member. Um
056I did attend CIP. It was a review year. So in a review year there are minor changes and minor questions that are addressed and we just went over some of those things. Um we have another review year coming up next year and then after that there will be a full review of it. So that was my report. Thank you. Board member Dawson. Okay. Uh well, like board member Nickens, I'm brand new, but I was able to go to my first uh finance committee meeting and I want to thank everyone who was there to answer all my questions. Uh it was it I I was thrilled to be there and I learned a lot and uh we have a lot of great programs coming up in uh in agenda item seven. So uh I the the
057teams did a great job. So thank you very much to everyone. Vice President Miller, thank you. Um, feels like a light month. So, but um I attended the dress code Pratt and um we are finished with our findings. So, um Dr. Herks will be bringing that those findings back to us for us to to look at soon. Um also the finance committee and um board policy committee. So those were my three um committees that I attended. Okay. So uh I attended business roundt um which was nice to see a good crowd um after the the election. We had a really nice crowd there and I thought it was really a positive conversation in terms of the direction that we start moving forward with regards to bond projects as well as you know the the beginnings
058of the the conversation about a Prop C. Um I attended the last safety and security meeting um which um Dr. Johnson has kind of already spoken to and the bookshelf buddy program. So those would be mine. However, I will say vice president Miller and I have actually been quite busy this month. It just hasn't been things that are like unofficial committees. So she and I have put in a little time. Okay. 6.01 to approve the transfer of funds. I move to approve the transfer of 2,738,44080 cents from the general fund to the special special revenue fund. Second. All those in favor, please raise your right hand and say I. I. 6.02 Approve the treasur's report and payment of the bills. I move to approve the treasurer's report and the payment of the bills. All those
059in favor, please raise your right hand and say I. I. I. Okay. Uh items for uh decision. This is our consent agenda. I move to approve the consent agenda items as presented. Second. All those in favor, please raise your right hand and say I. I. I. 8.0 run parameters resolution for the 2025A bonds. I'm having Dr. Shelton come up. We also have in here uh in the room both uh Gilbert Bell and Sander Pipler um officials here that can also be brought up if we need them. U but just let you know we usually in the past have went up and said we're going to sell bonds today. Here's what we're going to sell them with with what we have. It's a little bit different environment. I don't if you notice that the market's a
060lot more volatile right now. So, we want to and Ben from Gilmore Bell did this for us, Ben Thompson, put parameters. As long as those conditions are met, we'll sell them on the day that makes the best sense so we can maximize um our sale of bonds. So, Dr. Shelton, do you want to elaborate any more on that? So, uh item 08.01 01 is a resolution calling for the issuance of $45 million of general obligation bonds. As you recall, the voters approved $225 million in general obligation bonds. This is the first trunch. Um we have projects that we need to reimburse ourselves for but also we have projects uh that we are preparing for in the planning stages, design stages as well as things like roofs and mechanical that $72 million of pro projects we
061need to do over the next five years in that area. This is that first trunch that will allow us to take care of those initial projects as we begin. We'll come back again with a second trunch, a second resolution probably in in February and some at that some point. But this is that first trunch, that first resolution calling for the issuance of $45 million in general obligations bonds. As Dr. Buck had mentioned, the sale of those bonds are within parameters within these guidelines that you have before you tonight. And we ask that you approve this resolution calling for the sell issuance of these bonds. You may be wondering why don't we sell all the bonds at once. Once you sell those bonds, you have to spend 85% of them within three years. So a a
062talk a clock starts ticking soon as you sell them. So we know that we we're going to stagger these because we we're staggering our projects as well. So that's why we're not selling all $225 million bonds in this first trunch. I move to approve the resolution authorizing the series 2025A bonds as presented. I second. Is there any discussion? If not, all those in favor, please raise your right hand and say, "I I." 8.02. 8.02 is a similar resolution. This is calling for the refunding of some prior debt. This will allow us to restructure this debt, which will help us in the future, as well as provide us a lower interest rate, which would be be a savings to our taxpayers and you can see those parameters as well. I move to approve the parameters resolution
063authorizing the series 20 25 bonds as presented. No, they're the B 2025B. I move to approve the parameters resolution authorizing the series 2025B bonds as presented. Second. Is there any discussion? If not, all those in favor, please raise your right hand and say, "I." I. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. 9.01 MSBA board policy updates. Dr. Carlson's going to approach the mic and fill you in on what you have in front of you. Good evening. Yes. So this normally would have been a presentation during work session but with the commitments we had in the work session uh tonight we moved this to the board meeting. So this is the part where we I'm going to present these. If you have questions I'm happy to answer those. Um I'm going to break this into two parts.
064Uh the first part is our MSBA 2025A policy updates. These are the ones that come from MSBA and as you have reviewed those each of them have an introduction as to what's being changed and why and the rationale for those. So these are the normal cycles that come through. It's just the first one for 2025. Second, we have a district initiated policy revision which actually came from our work in teamly summit. The board will recall that last year uh per team summit's recommendation you suspended part of board policy GCBDA and GDBDA on the portion that's commonly referred to as emergency days so we could collect data and study um suspending that policy. Um quick review of the data. Teamly Summit dug into that. But basically we did see an increase on most uh what were
065were emergency days before of absences on those days by our staff. But I would also say that Kelly services was able to deliver on filling sub days uh for our staff. We did not see issues. our building principles uh did at times have to call emergency days and restrict the number of absences for operations of their schools, but that's always happened in the past and a part of our regular operational business. A little bit of trivia for you. It was not an emergency day per our policy, but again this year the highest absentee date uh for our staff uh teachers and such was again Royals opening day. Um so that is consistently our our highest rate of absency but we still uh have um good sub coverage to cover that in the places we need
066it. So the recommendation is for emergency days to return next year but much differently. Specifically, we've reduced the number of emergency days significantly down to only the first day of school, the last day of school, and then parent teacher conferences. And any other days would be evaluated by supervisors and building level leaders. So, those are the uh MSBA 25A and the changes to um GCBDA and GDBDA. Happy to answer any questions you might have. And before you ask questions, you're not voting on this tonight. This is the first read. We'll have this in the next board meeting where you actually will vote on it. So, or I don't know if we're going to accelerate it or next month will be first read and then second read. Y you technically have three reads. So, this we
067regardless of how you name it, this is the first of three times you see it, right? Hi. Um, so for the MSBA updates, um, did you see anything in there, um, that you found to be more challenging to work in or did it pretty much align with what we already had? Did anything jump out at you that was of concern? Yeah, good question. So, uh, MSBA policy updates go first to SLT for review and the the district leaders responsible for those areas review, they didn't have any concerns. It then moves to the board policy committee for review. board policy committee was supportive as well. Any other questions? Thank you, Dr. Carlson. Um, item 10, uh, items of information, written reports. Any questions? Okay, this meeting is officially adjourned.