[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-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",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":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,"_75":74},"mediaId",6577456,"mediaKeyId","3141392-c3fa7c1bc8e5898f9c0a6d0d944be215","parentId",3141392,"title","District lobbyist: Kansas Legislature’s fast calendar limited debate and left gaps in school funding","audioSeconds",877,"startMs",1826000,"endMs",2703000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3141392-c3fa7c1bc8e5898f9c0a6d0d944be215&start=1826&end=2703","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3141392-c3fa7c1bc8e5898f9c0a6d0d944be215/thumbnail_1826000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6577456/Kansas/District-lobbyist-Kansas-Legislatures-fast-calendar-limited-debate-and-left-gaps-in-school-funding","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6577456-6b145f2628a0037273e04939e1a76c9f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771139865&Signature=nlEAif8RmGoiSLO-gRYVuYX1Q3sxDdaz7F2F1TrupGoAh3BGCA9UWleg-3Vo~Hj4iBBoiN0ZCAvqCZVKkKxnUnGooDzRsj2nDvUfWEXVvCHxPqF5Puwsty9RJ9hAPmBfhOAHpkNtUm3Hcf1-U42hGTdZvcZoUAopwOizJt~IlCntF~A8fuBeIwRFmr4mR2xwFvNYRgA24jXhHMDpwjyKWYKwG3svNjVaEIhtfsMgesSb~ros~YWRcyYzjnJH1alApmZ8fMIVUH1eOn4eezI4NQYzwtB6g-ArWdVqKMDdw0kUdy0oJkjms9GoeKIBg9UKgE4RfVOtbHuwU8-4Qhrcdw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Shawnee Mission School District","date","2025-04-29T01:01:47.26Z","article","Stuart Little, Shawnee Mission Public Schools’ government relations representative in Topeka, told the board that the 2025 Kansas legislative session moved on an expedited calendar that compressed hearings and limited opportunities for public input and detailed vetting of bills.

Little said leadership in both chambers sought property‑tax reductions to accompany last year’s income‑tax cuts but were unable to agree on a package. He described two broad approaches debated in Topeka — limiting growth in property‑tax levies or constraining the ability of local governments to raise revenue — but said neither approach produced a compromise the legislature could enact this year.

On K‑12 funding, Little said the legislature’s budget baseline was set by the legislature’s own early budget work rather than the governor’s budget recommendation, a choice that he said produced a materially flatter baseline and contributed to deeper reductions in some proposals. He said the enacted budget included a consumer price index (CPI) increase and $10 million in new special‑education funding for each of the next two years — far short of the roughly $72 million per year some advocates had sought to increase the state share of special‑education excess cost toward the state’s target.

Little also told the board the legislature inserted fewer policy provisions into the K‑12 budget bill this year than in past sessions; lawmakers treated K‑12 as part of the regular budget rather than a vehicle for broader policy changes. He noted several pieces of legislation that passed, were vetoed or remain pending, among them:

- Senate Bill 114: removes certain barriers for nonpublic students to participate in district activities where they had previously been excluded, Little said.

- House Bill 2382: included two provisions — letting the State Board of Education increase its salary from its own budget and a requirement for certain health/human‑development courses to show a video depicting fetal development. Little said the bill was vetoed by the governor and then overridden.

- A one‑year, $10 million appropriation to the attorney general’s office for a private vendor’s firearm‑detection software; districts applying for that funding will be responsible for ongoing operating costs after the first year, he said.

Little said some controversial items did not survive the compressed process or were left to next year, including proposals about restricting some groups’ campus access and expanding refundable tax credits for private‑school tuition. He also flagged a statute change that subjects governing‑body subcommittees to the Kansas Open Records Act and Open Meetings Act.

Finally, Little described the K‑12 education task force that will study school finance reform over the coming year. The 15‑member task force includes eight legislators and seven non‑voting members and has begun reviewing other states’ formulas, special‑education excess‑cost calculations and longer‑term policy goals. Little said the panel aims to have a bill draft by the end of the year for consideration in the 2026 legislature but cautioned the formula rewrite is complex and may be approached as a multi‑year effort.

Why it matters: changes to state funding, maintenance‑of‑effort rules and statutory requirements will influence district budgets, mandates and program funding. Board members asked how reductions or federal�to‑state funding changes might affect maintenance‑of‑effort obligations and the potential need for a special session if federal funding formulas change; Little said the ultimate impact would depend on how federal funds are reallocated and that state responses were still uncertain.

Board members pressed staff on specific cuts that removed funding for professional development, mentor teachers and other programs; Little said some reductions were intentional and taken in the compressed budget process without substantive floor debate or clear rationales presented in committee.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","SMSD Board Meeting April 28, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Stuart Little, the district’s government‑relations representative in Topeka, told the Shawnee Mission Public Schools board that an expedited 2025 legislative calendar compressed hearings, limited debate and left several education funding and policy issues unresolved.","taxTitle","Shawnee Mission Pub Sch, School Boards, Kansas","taxId",13093,"location","Kansas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6577461,"Shawnee Mission officials propose new early childhood center using capital outlay and bond reserves",907,3471000,4378000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3141392-c3fa7c1bc8e5898f9c0a6d0d944be215&start=3471&end=4378","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3141392-c3fa7c1bc8e5898f9c0a6d0d944be215/thumbnail_3471000.jpg","/articles/6577461/Kansas/Shawnee-Mission-officials-propose-new-early-childhood-center-using-capital-outlay-and-bond-reserves","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6577461-d545db47985a40b6a045de936780c85d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771139865&Signature=kyWoxjmWrGS1uWANroSoBu12cg5sraQ~6TrXWCLxeeQ37JFFCJxAj0QpI-WW0oIWtb7m~C7PLPRDGGa8NMNna~o3e7TSOLTMaOEgkxgPXLIoFmvHJVWhksnnRSs8L4ikNkjTSQ0z068wjXw-ThE6sMkiBXAF-6-pvNZGsjs47CfqzapWmhSOaRripM3opE8cPA6VuNLz-TREXvJRl2uknyI2z91WXlej5P6S-JePBgbL2BCvnoqk0j1AbUB-iYBx9M0hMUVh2537r49jdXQV7L4XRpR6ZmEMyw7dFli4BkExD03c0UrQ07tz9uaX5ks8-~rBwGOT2PSd0m0ucLw5EQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Shawnee Mission Public Schools officials on Tuesday outlined plans to use capital outlay funds and remaining bond proceeds to create a new early childhood education center intended to expand pre‑K access, provide full wrap‑around care and centralize specialized services for young learners.

The district’s budget team told the board that capital outlay revenues for the coming year are projected at $47.3 million, with a beginning capital outlay fund balance of about $19 million. That combination gives roughly $67 million available to budget. The district’s anticipated capital outlay budget for 2025–26 is $62 million; after planned refreshes and projected personnel costs, staff say about $6.61 million would remain unallocated for new projects and emergencies, plus a targeted minimum ending balance of $5 million.

Superintendent Dr. Jon (Doctor) Schumacher and finance staffer Russell Knapp presented the numbers and the early childhood recommendation. They said the district is nearing the final phases of its 2021 bond program: voters authorized $264,220,000 in bonds; issue 1 proceeds and premiums were spent on earlier projects and the district currently reports roughly $152.4 million available from issuance 2, of which about $123 million is already spent or encumbered, leaving roughly $27 million available for additional projects.

District leaders said a purpose‑built early childhood education center would offer a broader continuum of classroom models — general, unified (mixed general‑education and special‑education peers), integrated and specialized — and provide a centralized hub for related services and screening. The current Shawnee Mission Early Childhood Education Center (SMECEC) at Broadmoor houses 14 classrooms and serves about 204 children; the new center would be designed intentionally for early learners and could include full‑day wrap‑around care and dedicated space for therapy and collaboration among service providers.

Shawnee Mission’s presentation said 21 of the district’s 34 elementary sites currently operate pre‑K programs (15 general pre‑K classrooms and six unified classrooms). The district estimated wrap‑around care is available at 12 sites; a new centralized center could allow busing of children from buildings that do not offer before/after care so families could access full‑day options.

Officials identified the former Catherine Carpenter site as an ideal location for the new center and said the recommendation came after an action team led by district early childhood leaders and facilities staff reviewed options. Russell Knapp noted the major project list already includes board‑approved bond work and that the district has the capital‑outlay and bond resources to consider the early childhood center as a near‑term capital investment.

District staff emphasized that many details remain to be finalized, including design, schedule and exact use of bond versus capital funds. They also noted transportation and operating costs — including staff and wrap‑around care — will require planning; staff said some special education transportation is already provided for 3‑ and 4‑year‑olds who attend centralized early childhood programs.

Board members asked staff about classroom models and how special education students are served in unified and specialized settings. Staff described unified classrooms as generally 15 students with a mix of general‑education peers and students with identified early‑childhood special education needs and said licensed early‑childhood special education teachers would serve as case managers in those classrooms.

Next steps outlined by staff: the finance and facilities committee and the full board will continue to review specific project lists and costs; operating‑budget impacts and final construction plans would be part of subsequent board decisions.

Why it matters: district leaders say expanding pre‑K access can deliver long‑term educational and economic benefits and reduces downstream special‑education costs. The recommendation would change where some centralized early‑childhood services are delivered and would use one‑time capital and bond resources rather than recurring operating funds.

Officials asked the board for continued review and for staff to return with more detail; no final board action to authorize construction was taken at Tuesday’s meeting.","District leaders presented a budget workshop outlining non‑operating funds and recommended building a purpose‑built early childhood education center to expand pre‑K access, centralized services and wrap‑around care, funded in part by capital outlay and remaining bond proceeds.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6577451,"Board approves consent items, procurement and policies; open enrollment report adopted",6413,540000,6953000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3141392-c3fa7c1bc8e5898f9c0a6d0d944be215&start=540&end=6953","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3141392-c3fa7c1bc8e5898f9c0a6d0d944be215/thumbnail_540000.jpg","/articles/6577451/Kansas/Board-approves-consent-items-procurement-and-policies-open-enrollment-report-adopted","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6577451-ad0eb8a4538ec366e43f6e5f3570b71b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771139865&Signature=R2y6RUWC6dghFVgjfN3xxOFzehkCF7cMMVLrVzmlHQ5GN821tWZ0tkrw9p2RI5LKObP0ZT9ZQBoPxMdvis6NhfJscMCos53cY4ffe7MY4eCg--vrVrVroXGB8eGLidBOzmJqCkU1HtHiF2czmz6YIYvjZZ52kGqtHiIzZmDCSBRdffP4DWEaj9IPfrIdcvuHnwdMZiHk34j09Z-xWVjjoudpbD6ENnfa9n6UODSRM13EZS684xI5lu5rShNq~2nF-mfGOtySqsf4yvikD22lH47AbMpU1viJaY3e4n1Eu4QM5dezGM8PgDcv4TYFCIV0MxYwVIgzCAht3qy7bXpaeQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its regular meeting the Shawnee Mission Public Schools Board of Education voted unanimously on a slate of consent and action items, including procurement and policy measures.

Key votes and outcomes

- Agenda adoption (item 1.03): Motion to adopt the agenda carried unanimously (7–0).

- Minutes and consent items (items 1.4–1.09 and consent block through item 5.14): Approved unanimously (7–0).

- Career and Technical Education computer‑lab refresh (action 6.1): The board approved a planned refresh of CTE computer labs, a purchase not to exceed $350,000. The purchase was presented as budgeted in the capital outlay fund and sourced from the State of Kansas contract (KSA citation provided by staff). Motion passed 7–0.

- Revised board policy KH, Public Gifts and Donations (action 6.2): On second read the board approved edits to policy KH and an accompanying position‑request review process document; the superintendent and policy review committee presented the changes. Motion passed 7–0.

- Open enrollment capacity report (action 6.3): The board adopted the district’s open‑enrollment report for the 2025–26 school year, which established capacity and the number of open seats at each school and in signature programs. The report included proposed class‑size guidelines and noted which elementary and middle schools the district expects to close to new transfers due to capacity. Motion passed 7–0.

- Milk products contract (action 6.4): The board approved contracting with Highland Dairy for milk products at an estimated annual cost of $809,716; the initial term runs Aug. 1, 2025, through July 30, 2026, with up to four one‑year renewal options. The expense will be funded from the food‑service fund. Motion passed 7–0.

- Executive session motion: The board recessed into executive session to discuss matters privileged by the attorney‑client relationship under the Kansas Open Meetings Act and planned to reconvene in the boardroom at the scheduled time; the motion carried 7–0.

What the votes mean

All items on the meeting’s consent agenda and each listed action item passed unanimously. Several approvals referenced statutory procurement authority or board policy; staff said budgeted funds (capital outlay, food service fund, existing appropriations) will cover the purchases and contracts approved at the meeting.

Supporting details and next steps

Staff noted the CTE purchase is within budgeted capital outlay resources and follows the State of Kansas contract cited by staff (KSA reference read aloud during the motion). The revised donations policy will be administered through the superintendent’s office and an associated application/scoring rubric; staff told the board that the operational details of the rubric and process are a superintendent prerogative and will not require future board approval unless policy changes are needed.

The open‑enrollment action adopted capacity limits that staff said they will monitor annually and adjust during future enrollment cycles. The milk contract is a one‑year initial term with district funding from the food service fund and contains standard renewals.

All recorded votes in the meeting transcript for these items show a 7–0 approval unless otherwise noted in the minutes.","The Shawnee Mission board approved routine consent items and several action items including a planned $350,000 CTE computer‑lab refresh, revised policy on public gifts and donations, the district’s open‑enrollment capacity report for 2025–26, and a milk contract estimated at $809,716 annually; all votes were unanimous (7–0).","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

District lobbyist: Kansas Legislature’s fast calendar limited debate and left gaps in school funding

Shawnee Mission officials propose new early childhood center using capital outlay and bond reserves

Board approves consent items, procurement and policies; open enrollment report adopted