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1-13-25 — January 2025 Board Meeting Review

Jan. 13, 2025 ~ The Olathe Board of Education met Jan. 9 for its regular meeting. Haley Pham of Olathe Northwest High School led the Pledge of Allegiance prior to the meeting agenda being approved.

Recognitions

  • Members of the Olathe North High School gymnastics team are 6A state champions.
  • Kayla Rasmussen of Ravenwood Elementary, Meg Shadid of Olathe Northwest High School and Julia Wenzel-Huguley of Olathe North High School are certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Beth Pope of Forest View Elementary and Nancy Smith of Heatherstone Elementary maintained their national certification with NBPTS.
  • District social studies coordinator Julie Fishburn received the 2024 Liberty Bell Award from the Johnson County Bar Association for her work with the third-grade mock trial program.
  • Superintendent Dr. Brent Yeager read a special statement recognizing Olathe Board members, as January is Board of Education Appreciation Month.

Update on School Schedule Changes

Green Springs Elementary Principal Dr. Todd Wheat, Pioneer Trail Middle School Principal Scott Appell, Olathe West High School Principal Jay Novacek and Deputy Superintendent of Organizational Operations Jim McMullen updated board members on the bell schedule changes across the district. They shared the positive impact of the new schedule, including additional plan and collaboration time at elementary, consistent bus schedules at middle school and decreased absenteeism at high school. They also shared a few challenges and areas of growth as they continue to adjust to the new schedules. 

School Spotlight

Chris Zuck, principal of Olathe Northwest High School, shined a light on his students’ accomplishments, ranging from sports championships to National Merit semifinalists, debate champions to First Robotics Team 1710. He mentioned the teamwork and dedication of his school’s staff, including a display case that recognizes staff who have been with Northwest for at least 15 years. Zuck praised students for their increased participation in PSAT exam preparation, and the growing number of National Merit semifinalists. For this year, the Advanced Placement teachers have scheduled 685 sessions to provide strategic AP test preparation, up from 415 sessions the previous school year. He noted fewer students are needing reading intervention this school year than last; less than half the number (so far this year) of the 2022-23 total. Math intervention is also down significantly from any of the previous three school years.

2025 Legislative Session

Stuart Little and Mallory Lutz of Little Government Relations provided an update on the 2025 Kansas legislative session that begins Jan. 13. 

In other business, the board:

  • Held an executive session to discuss non-elected personnel.
  • Approved a consent agenda including meeting minutes, financial and accounts payable reports, and human resources report; resolution to establish regular meeting dates at its July 2025 meeting; resolution to elect board leadership positions at its June 2025 meeting, with officers taking office in July; updates to six career pathway competencies; revisions to four course curricula; and three student trips.
  • Approved the purchase of replacement administrative office furniture at California Trail Middle School. (Bond 2022)
  • Approved the annual support and maintenance renewal for the Business Plus financial and human resources management software. (capital outlay)
  • Approved upgrading safety and security systems at all remaining support and school buildings. (Bond 2022 and Safe and Secure School Grant funds from the Kansas State Department of Education)
  • Approved renewal of the support and maintenance for Cisco Network Systems. (capital outlay)
  • Approved renewal of the district’s virtual server machine software. (capital outlay)
  • Approved purchasing software for Food Services business management. (capital outlay)
  • Approved change orders in excess of $20,000 for the new Innovation Campus. (Bond 2022)
  • Accepted the quote for security and access control systems for the Innovation Campus. (Bond 2022)
  • Approved change orders in excess of $20,000 for the new Santa Fe Trail Middle School parking lot. (Bond 2022)
  • Approved the proposal for upcoming aging facilities projects at Olathe North High School this summer. (Bond 2022)
  • Accepted trade bids for the high school media center, middle school auditorium and miscellaneous upgrades projects. (Bond 2022)
  • Adopted an update to the Personal Electronic Device (JTC) board policy.
  • Approved the district’s legislative priorities for the 2025 session.
  • Received information on future action items including student trips, audiovisual equipment for recording and streaming graduation ceremonies, preventative maintenance services for HVAC equipment, board policy updates, learning management system, audio visual and technology equipment refresh for meeting spaces in the Instructional Resource Center, and bids for audio visual projectors and equipment in classrooms across the district.
  • Received the monthly Bond 2022 written report.
  • Held an executive session to have a preliminary discussion relating to the acquisition of real property.

The complete agenda is available on the BoardDocs website.