Feb. 10, 2025 ~ The Olathe Board of Education met Feb. 6 for its regular meeting. Representatives from the Principal’s Advisory Group at the Olathe Advanced Technical Center led the Pledge of Allegiance prior to the meeting agenda being approved.
Recognitions
- Scarborough Elementary School first grade teacher Marie Jones and Olathe West High School science teacher Dr. Steve Murray were named statewide winners of the Kansas State Department of Education Horizon Award.
- Prairie Trail Middle School teacher Winston Heilman was named the Kansas Council of History Education Elementary / Middle School Teacher of the Year.
- Representatives of the Olathe Mayor’s Children’s Fund board were thanked for their efforts to help students through the Pennies for Shoes campaign.
School Spotlight
Olathe Advanced Technical Center Principal Amy Stolz said the half-day programs are celebrating their 10th anniversary. Currently eight programs are offered to juniors and seniors who can earn college credits and industry recognized credentials. In the fall semester, her students earned 524 hours of college credit and 414 industry certifications. Twenty-eight seniors held internships last fall, and this spring, 87% of seniors are in internships, a 10% increase over the 2023-24 year.
OATC students from the Principal’s Advisory Committee presented on a variety of topics a Homework Help Committee, a Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports Student Voice Committee and an Attendance Committee — all ways for students to help other students.
Legislative Update
Dr. Stuart Little of Little Government Relations provided an update on the 2025 Kansas legislative session.
In other business, the board:
- Approved a consent agenda including meeting minutes, financial and accounts payable reports, and human resources report; two student trips; and establishing 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 25 as the date and time for the board’s end-of-year special meeting.
- Approved the purchase of a single learning management system software for all grades to replace multiple platforms currently in use. (capital outlay)
- Approved the purchase of digital projectors and related equipment to replace aging equipment in classrooms across the district. (Bond 2022)
- Approved the purchase of access switch replacement equipment in high schools. (Bond 2022)
- Approved the purchase of replacement audio visual and technology equipment for the Instructional Resource Center’s meeting spaces. (Bond 2022)
- Approved professional services for inspections and preventative maintenance of the district’s HVAC variable refrigerant volume equipment at four buildings. (capital outlay)
- Approved trade bids and proposals for the high school media center, middle school auditorium and miscellaneous upgrades project involving several schools. (Bond 2022)
- Approved bids and proposals for aging facilities projects including carpet replacement, resinous flooring, painting, casework, doors and windows occurring this summer. (Bond 2022)
- Approved change orders in excess of $20,000 for the Innovation Campus. (Bond 2022)
- Approved the addition of ballistic film to school windows. (Bond 2022 and a Safe and Secure School Grant from the Kansas State Department of Education)
- Adopted updates to board policies BDA (Developing, Adopting, Amending and Repealing Board Policy), CC (Organizational Chart), CNA (Preservation of Documents Pending Legal Action), DE (Fraud Prevention and Investigation), and IDACA (Special Education Services).
- Adopted a resolution to change the date of the April 2025 meeting from April 3 to April 10 at the regularly scheduled time and location.
- Received information on future action items including curriculum standards updates; Head Start eligibility priority criteria, policies and procedures; multi-year contract for brass and woodwind instrument maintenance services; absorbent floor map replacements; OATC welding equipment replacements; Apple device replacements and accessories purchase; district student device replacement; and eight student trips.
- Received the Head Start director’s monthly written report.
- Received the monthly Bond 2022 written report.
- Received the Learning Services monthly written report.
- Held an executive session to consult with the district’s attorney.
- Held an executive session to discuss non-elected personnel.
The complete agenda is available on the BoardDocs website.
