Oct. 7, 2024 ~ The Olathe Board of Education met Oct. 3 for its regular meeting. Members of the Briarwood Elementary School Student Council led the pledge of Allegiance prior to the meeting agenda being approved.
Recognitions
- This fall’s inductees to the Olathe Public Schools Alumni Association Wall of Honor are Tom Kearney, Olathe High School Class of 1970; Kerry (Koenig) Lane, Olathe South High School Class of 1991; Joni (Caylor) Moreland, Olathe North High School Class of 1988; the late Catherine Smith, Distinguished Person of Honor; and the late Dr. Melvin Winters, Distinguished Person of Honor.
- Hailey France and Colt Hughey of Olathe East High School, along with Abby Vandaveer from Olathe South High School, represented the district at the national Educators Rising conference.
- Olathe East High School was named the Performing Arts School of Excellence by the Kansas State High School Activities Association.
School Spotlight
Briarwood Elementary Principal Andy Caspermeyer proudly told board members about his school. Briarwood opened in 1988 and serves more than 300 students in kindergarten through fifth grade. The experienced staff have more than 500 years of service to the Briarwood community. Community partnerships, the PTA and BriarDads are ways the school and surrounding area stay connected to benefit students. Staff and students celebrate an overall attendance rate of 93%, high level of staff retention, community involvement, academic success, the BW Care Closet for students in need, and overall community involvement.
Certified Hiring Needs for 2024-25
Dr. Lachelle Sigg, deputy superintendent of administration and leadership, Justin Howe, director of secondary human resources, and Dr. Cathy Donovan, director of elementary human resources, shared information about certified hiring needs this school year. She provided quantitative and qualitative insight on the vacancies and a snapshot of those hired to fill these roles. Dr. Sigg also mentioned recruitment efforts underway this fall to fill vacancies.
In other business, the board:
- Approved a consent agenda including meeting minutes, financial and accounts payable reports, human resources report, and eight student trips.
- Approved the architectural and engineering services proposal from Hollis + Miller Architects as part of the aging facilities 2025 projects. (Bond 2022 funds)
- Accepted trade bids for the summer 2025 roofing projects. (Bond 2022)
- Approved change orders in excess of $20,000 for the new Operations Service Center and Career and Technical Education Center project. (Bond 2022)
- Approved the copier lease and service renewals for FY 2025. (capital outlay)
- Approved the recommendation to award a contract for construction management services for high school media center, middle school auditorium, and miscellaneous upgrade projects. (Bond 2022)
- Approved the recommendation to renew vehicle leases for FY 2025. (capital outlay)
- Appointed Becky Johann as delegate and Claire Reagan as alternate delegate to represent the district at the 2024 Kansas Association of School Boards Delegate Assembly.
- Approved updated board policies for Executive Sessions (BCBK), Student Activities (JH), and Sale of District Property (KK), and adopted a new policy on Section 504 Accommodations for Students (IDACB).
- Received information on future action items including replacement grounds equipment, replacement or updated choral risers, renewal of the student data dashboard Ion, renewal for Destiny Follet software, renewal of the language arts subscription database Learning AtoZ, upgrade HVAC of data center two, purchasing custodial equipment, work order ticketing software solution for the Operations Service Center, network infrastructure for the new Operations Service Center and Career and Technical Education Center, tables for the Olathe South High School commons, eight student trips, and board policy update.
- Received the Head Start director’s monthly report.
- Received the monthly Bond 2022 update.
- Received the monthly Learning Services department update.
The complete agenda is available on the BoardDocs website.
