[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6648575,"mediaKeyId","2627965-a99f71040f6ee7bc1d1f034884aa292c","parentId",2627965,"title","Votes at a glance: Shawnee Mission board approves HVAC upgrade, network equipment and policy clarifications","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",7245000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2627965-a99f71040f6ee7bc1d1f034884aa292c&start=7245&end=7245","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2627965-a99f71040f6ee7bc1d1f034884aa292c/thumbnail_7245000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6648575/Kansas/Votes-at-a-glance-Shawnee-Mission-board-approves-HVAC-upgrade-network-equipment-and-policy-clarifications","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6648575-d9decd469fdfb0de3b74d02be5e363ab/orig.mp4?Expires=1775224069&Signature=XnjJXRBb56o2s-7lGpQ3TV96hyaN~lOpSuqSRzfL36hmf8UrJOInM7FI~D7dqbFYk~wYq0n1u4Vg4ona1dSHD8rdVTFmbDlMBnpdCNUoPuz8ZIVWgvKDVaM~Rni9vnkr1ud8mo5TTB-F1ehLV9YwWcS0lmhjXiUoKc25AvzdobrOngk6QmbSVgT5JOYI1SU3cTm2yKa5u56pP4XIFdcnLox6STqq4hIgqZoKOAd86VHaq2d5pbNzoSreg4PtNAFlUCDI8qlO5wmTK1jE07A2V4u-gzHUYT8d8lvvOEstrCDOSSv8ZrTRiI3IAsIhDr4jWmkMc0kDUNROhb05jhrzuQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Shawnee Mission School District","date","2025-02-12T14:03:37.767Z","article","The Shawnee Mission School District Board of Education took votes on several consent and action items during its January meeting. Key outcomes:

- Consent agenda (items 4.1–5.13): Approved by voice vote, the board chair announced “Motion carries 6–0.”

- Item 6.1 — HVAC cloud-control system contract: Approved 6–0. Administration recommended a phased, multi‑year implementation estimated at $8,546,105 plus a 5% contingency, to be funded from capital funds.

- Item 6.2 — Data center WAN distribution, data storage and security system switch replacements: Approved 6–0. Staff recommended purchasing network switches from CDW under state terms for $272,163.78 as part of the district technology refresh plan.

- Item 6.3 — Revised board policy JBCB (district transfers): Approved, vote recorded as 5–1 (one nay). The revision adds clarifying language about reasonable accommodations and aligns policy language with the district’s existing reasonable-accommodation practices.

- Item 6.4 — Revised board policy JBCD (open enrollment): Approved, vote recorded as 5–1 (one nay). The revision contains parallel clarifying language for open enrollment transfers.

- Executive session motion: The board voted to enter executive session for attorney-client privileged discussions with invited staff; motion carried 6–0.

Motions recorded in the meeting were made from the floor with seconds. Where the transcript named a mover or second, it was noted in the record; several routine procedural motions (agenda adoption, minutes approvals) passed by unanimous voice vote. The board did not take separate votes on the health center annual review, the assessment update, or the legislative update; those items were presented for information.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","SMSD Board Meeting January 27, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The board approved consent items and several action items including a multi‑year HVAC controls contract and network switch purchases; policy clarifications for transfers and open enrollment also passed with split votes.","taxTitle","Shawnee Mission Pub Sch, School Boards, Kansas","taxId",13093,"location","Kansas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_46":81,"_48":82,"_50":83,"_52":84,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":85,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":86,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6648580,"Shawnee Mission board approves $8.55 million multi-year HVAC control system upgrade",351,4362000,4713000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2627965-a99f71040f6ee7bc1d1f034884aa292c&start=4362&end=4713","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2627965-a99f71040f6ee7bc1d1f034884aa292c/thumbnail_4362000.jpg","/articles/6648580/Kansas/Shawnee-Mission-board-approves-855-million-multi-year-HVAC-control-system-upgrade","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6648580-3f5fd7a8ba62cf5c807bc9a89f084439/orig.mp4?Expires=1775224069&Signature=PL11fD9ELuGop5W0sx6AJ32DIBGBcHbjgoG7qkYo8btiuo2uelqjPxU4aEnYWtec4Ll1y7n5BsIt5OWgsmiA7fkBUNuJejtx-bEeokH3503tdPpbxGaEaSbaEIGFlaGThoSrtI8fg5a2ljLJbwD3HTLM10BkIRuCnmBhf-v~jxnZIIZ2VlqiM14dH7G8kwtU~BUsExFKrHMHsC10-AlvZg0G08-N5rU~0DWmHtvVDVQSLOuahp2RxefN1AOVWsfbxCG9Pv-ajtHo4XzpsuSOCX4P3MYQosgztqhgZhzy-WfHytZSPIEK0uKAAFAL2KLlLfVdvRO3RdUsH5w5-ZmbYg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Shawnee Mission School District board on Tuesday approved a phased, multi-year contract to replace the district’s aging HVAC control systems and consolidate multiple vendor platforms to a single cloud-based control system.

The administration recommended awarding the work to Vendor Elite Automation LLC at an estimated total implementation cost of $8,546,105, plus an additional 5% contingency to cover unforeseen scope items. District staff said the expense will be paid from capital funds and that the work will be phased over three years.

“From that point, there really hasn’t been an upgrade to the large data server, the brains of the HVAC controls,” said Tyler Club, a district staff member who described the controls as largely unchanged since the early 1990s in some buildings. Club said consolidating platforms will reduce the manpower needed to manage system settings across dozens of buildings and allow district technicians to push global changes (for example, districtwide outside-air settings) rather than individually updating each building system.

Administrators said the project will replace distribution, data-storage and security-related switches tied to building controls and allow more remote monitoring and secure cloud access. Board members asked whether the 5% contingency was sufficient; staff said vendor pricing was locked and the contingency covers unforeseen scope additions rather than inflation.

The motion to approve passed by voice vote, with the board chair announcing “Motion carries 6–0.” District staff said the upgrade follows a planned capital improvement cycle and will enable more consistent temperature and ventilation management across the district’s buildings.

The board approved the item as presented; staff will manage the phased implementation and return to the board for any significant adjustments in scope or budget.","The board approved a phased, multi-year contract to replace aging HVAC control servers and standardize controls across district buildings; the contract is estimated at $8,546,105 plus a 5% contingency and will be funded from capital funds.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_46":93,"_48":94,"_50":95,"_52":96,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":97,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":98,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6648585,"District lobbyist outlines fast-moving Kansas budget session and bills affecting schools",243,2141000,2384000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2627965-a99f71040f6ee7bc1d1f034884aa292c&start=2141&end=2384","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2627965-a99f71040f6ee7bc1d1f034884aa292c/thumbnail_2141000.jpg","/articles/6648585/Kansas/District-lobbyist-outlines-fast-moving-Kansas-budget-session-and-bills-affecting-schools","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6648585-549754a4a552326f146d609eff16e011/orig.mp4?Expires=1775224069&Signature=FOVIrZy0J7edDFNQdhaanUIsA8qrfImFP9MfsGxIbMDTpJAKSs-lOOAcq5s6Vlc9QcQzwo4tIJMLtZkv5oec39EB5kKrRF1O~54viHGxj2DSGii8bi8Mapmiv5QMCpcWn2NoUkdVEk4MJq-nAopTtJcK0iU8b8ZHgMbgY9aeIH~YA3i5THYzeppKxWBUwPT-t45A55nnv7OMrqNy9LAyz8PokNSkrRkbDVXj8RzXARe6FGdjlpfZSpDRWEJ8v6~4ius38COQgVNMAdAksLXUu4lcAPDspUR3yi5Jk05g9ejLeSBc2cLZSRP4NOqEzjDdkh-O3NRCbb1BxhExbZstVw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Shawnee Mission’s lobbyist Stuart Little told the school board on Tuesday that the 2025 Kansas legislative session is moving quickly and that the legislature has taken steps to set a lower baseline budget with additions considered as separate items.

Little said the Legislature’s leadership and a Legislative Coordinating Committee met over the fall to create a near-term baseline that starts from a flatter position than the governor’s traditional recommended budget. The effect, he told trustees, is that additions to K–12 spending must be proposed as separate increases rather than being part of a larger governor-proposed baseline, which can compress opportunities for hearings and additions in a 90-day session.

Little summarized bills of interest to districts: proposals to expand school scholarship programs for nonpublic schools; bills that would require public entities to use names and genders from birth certificates for records; an increase in capital outlay mills to fund security and ADA costs; increases to minimum district project thresholds; and proposals to reduce a 20-mill property-tax levy to 18.5 mills with legislative mechanisms intended to backfill some K–12 funding from the state budget.

He also listed items in the governor’s budget being discussed by committees: full funding of base state aid per pupil, a two-year funding commitment for predictability, the second year of a $72 million special education allotment, and a $5.5 million proposal to cover co-pays for students eligible for reduced-price lunch. Little said the House Budget Committee planned to complete its recommendations quickly and that hearings were underway at the time of his presentation.

Board members asked questions about how the Legislative Coordinating Committee’s process differs from previous practice. Little said the committee’s approach is not yet statutory but that leadership has discussed making the process a standing practice, and he said the change has the practical effect of making additions to the baseline more difficult in a shorter session.

Little closed by noting ongoing work on the rollout of the state’s literacy blueprint and said district lobbyists will continue monitoring bills and the budget as the session progresses. No board action was taken on the update.","District lobbyist Stuart Little briefed the board on an accelerated legislative calendar, the legislature's alternative baseline budget approach, and bills on school scholarships, school finance and policies affecting school operations.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_46":105,"_48":106,"_50":107,"_52":108,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":109,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":110,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6648591,"Shawnee Mission sees gains in ACT and Kansas assessment results; district sets grade-level focus",565,4673000,5238000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2627965-a99f71040f6ee7bc1d1f034884aa292c&start=4673&end=5238","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2627965-a99f71040f6ee7bc1d1f034884aa292c/thumbnail_4673000.jpg","/articles/6648591/Kansas/Shawnee-Mission-sees-gains-in-ACT-and-Kansas-assessment-results-district-sets-grade-level-focus","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6648591-661f4bb7999e10c7c8bbaccfeab365c7/orig.mp4?Expires=1775224069&Signature=hBAGq~3WycVm3jlkWEArHqnDIykWjluQr59kzk3ff1tKnDS6NKwAV5G7L~h086IIq~kgxoJ9GrTVXMk-mYTZmWCkAqKoHElO7~IRVEi-uxFTlZseQqEJVOiji1nbPBjR25NpXi1Gz5Qpp3byjNnR~o~t4vfu4GEQp55Py~ZmEQFWVpUdmtPXystHnngX3ecZCNMwsRjxir2tR7Qmv94l25YozTuy3pNWQBKNX4ndVxPqXfth34MntTSGA5D6qMXk3xwhoGXsO1IzUMl8cqvy26ge8V6bf3~L01lQMClcqP283HioEPoYQGZnnt0PGyvv81NFMFGJfDlEP-lpEOD8Xg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Shawnee Mission School District officials on Tuesday told the board the district’s ACT and Kansas assessment results showed improvement and outlined how interim assessments will be used as lead measures for school improvement.

Dan Grama, director of assessment research, said the district’s ACT composite average rose to 22 for the class of 2024 after two years of flatter results, with core-course completers (students who reported the four-year English/three-year math/science/social studies sequence) attaining a five-year high average of 24.8. Grama noted participation and the timing of test events affect averages: after a period in which many juniors took the February/March state-funded ACT and did not retest, the district saw more students again taking the ACT later in high school, which can increase scores.

“Opportunities to learn that college-preparatory material — course consumption — is the strongest correlate with higher ACT scores,” Grama said, summarizing the research base. He cautioned that higher-education admissions policies have shifted in recent years, with many colleges moving to test-optional models or limited test requirements in some contexts; however, he noted test scores can still influence course placement or scholarship eligibility at some institutions.

On state assessments, district presenters said Kansas Assessment Program results improved for three consecutive years in both English language arts and mathematics. Shawnee Mission’s percentage of students scoring at the lowest performance level (Level 1) decreased modestly, while the share scoring at Level 3 or 4 increased; the district continued to outperform statewide averages by roughly 9–12 percentage points depending on the subject and year. District leaders cautioned that Kansas will roll out a revised assessment and new cut scores in 2025; those 2025 results are expected to be released in the fall after the State Board approves new performance-level descriptors and cuts.

Administrators described a district “wildly important goal” (WIG) to increase student achievement through targeted, grade-level interventions. Pam Lewis and Highlands Elementary Principal Laura LaHue described the district’s approach: teacher teams working in professional learning communities (PLCs), district-created curriculum maps and common formative assessments, and a two-tier interim assessment system (short formative checks plus longer predictive interims). LaHue said the systems allow teachers to “intervene immediately, to either enrich or intervene to make sure that we see the growth that we need to have happen.”

Board members asked about subgroup performance and benchmarking. Grama flagged persistent gaps for some student groups and said the district would continue targeting support. Several trustees thanked principals and staff for the data-driven work and the PLC structures that underlie instructional decisions.

No formal board action was taken on the assessment presentation; staff said updated 2025 assessment results will be shared with schools once the state finalizes cut scores and performance-level descriptors.","District data staff told trustees ACT composite scores rose for the class of 2024 and Kansas assessment performance improved for three consecutive years in reading and math; administrators described interim assessments as district lead measures for 2025 goals.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_46":117,"_48":118,"_50":119,"_52":120,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":121,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":122,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6648595,"Shawnee Mission reports higher use, cost-avoidance from Priority 1 employee health center",369,3187000,3556000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2627965-a99f71040f6ee7bc1d1f034884aa292c&start=3187&end=3556","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2627965-a99f71040f6ee7bc1d1f034884aa292c/thumbnail_3187000.jpg","/articles/6648595/Kansas/Shawnee-Mission-reports-higher-use-cost-avoidance-from-Priority-1-employee-health-center","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6648595-3e8a7a5098872e764c1124a30f3d8c0c/orig.mp4?Expires=1775224069&Signature=EZV7q62d8Ete2v2swpD3AJnwaMXJm4UyjklToczNNy8hB6fOfAzq2bW~CVlq2vKHNdjuYxzZjbpF~3tWlddjR6NL4ief0KlVY5i19siJumpVDh1TOyLLVIh6oh72OBYTtWbKvFuPEUS~tP02s34Ved4BeWaW8SPyigL8hIcmvPM3vHl5JBAyEBE2d2potr1oEeENcKWVLtyP5GeBL6yyd7uXecd0LgNMMi3YRm71vTzxinqTA5dBcY66ioMGPYatux~hBHcVnrRupJ5pwPepHNvP~riwIlc9cla14xlpKx2NnP5x-YDqgZFp7IX7hkZYxCyARpZqTrPwv7KQi7pg0A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Shawnee Mission School District on Tuesday reported rising use of its Priority 1 Health Center and presented data the district said shows cost avoidance and improved employee health outcomes.

The annual review, presented by Dr. Higgins and Erin Eason of CBIZ, said the center recorded 6,860 visits in the most recent reporting year — a 16% increase over the prior year — and 1,060 mental-health visits. Board members were told employee engagement with the center rose to 65 percent and that employees who were engaged and had high-risk or chronic conditions increased their engagement by 13 percentage points.

District leaders argued those numbers support the center’s role in recruitment and retention. “By being fully engaged with the health center, we see a 24% decrease in health-related costs,” Erin Eason, national director of clinical consulting practice for CBIZ, told the board. Eason said the average medical appointment at the center lasts 31 minutes versus a national primary-care average of roughly 18 minutes.

Eason and Dr. Higgins also discussed recent staffing and service changes: in September the board approved an addition of 24 behavioral-health hours (bringing counseling capacity to 54 hours), and an additional eight hours of primary-care provider time was added before the school year to improve same-day and next-day access. Presenters said these changes helped increase behavioral-health utilization and primary-care visits.

On cost metrics, the district’s analysis used medical- and pharmacy-trend assumptions to estimate cost avoidance. For year 7 the presenters estimated roughly $11.5 million in cumulative cost avoidance and a projected return on investment of about 6.9 to 1 for the year; since the clinic opened they reported an approximate 4.8:1 ROI. Presenters cautioned those are avoidance estimates rather than cash reserves, since avoided costs can be realized differently depending on future claims patterns.

Board members asked how the clinic integrates data from outside providers. CBIZ said biometric screening events and the district’s vendor analytics (Marathon) combine claims and screening data so the center can track outcomes for engaged versus non-engaged employees without examining individual-level claims data publicly. Members also asked whether colocating physical and behavioral health reduces stigma; presenters said anecdotally it appears to increase referrals and uptake, and the district’s experience with integrated visits supports that conclusion.

Presenters pointed to staff survey comments and patient feedback as qualitative evidence of value: “I can schedule appointments quickly, and I’m seeing quickly — love it,” one written comment read; another said, “I love this place and couldn’t imagine leaving Shawnee Mission and not having the same opportunity.”

District staff said the center’s cost this year was just under $1.8 million and that behavioral-health access and primary-care capacity remain priorities for the coming year. The board did not take a separate vote on the annual review; presenters stood for questions and the meeting moved on to other agenda items.","District administrators told the board the Priority 1 Health Center saw a 16% increase in visits in its seventh year, with expanded behavioral-health hours and an estimated return on investment of about 6.9:1 for 2024.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Shawnee Mission board approves HVAC upgrade, network equipment and policy clarifications

Shawnee Mission board approves $8.55 million multi-year HVAC control system upgrade

District lobbyist outlines fast-moving Kansas budget session and bills affecting schools

Shawnee Mission sees gains in ACT and Kansas assessment results; district sets grade-level focus

Shawnee Mission reports higher use, cost-avoidance from Priority 1 employee health center