[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6536667,"mediaKeyId","3736806-6676088d05df8f2a293ea3e839d63099","parentId",3736806,"title","Teachers and union leaders describe unpaid work, financial strain; district survey shows modest gains on compensation and engagement","audioSeconds",403,"startMs",5056000,"endMs",5459000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3736806-6676088d05df8f2a293ea3e839d63099&start=5056&end=5459","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3736806-6676088d05df8f2a293ea3e839d63099/thumbnail_5056000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6536667/Derby/Sedgwick-County/Kansas/Teachers-and-union-leaders-describe-unpaid-work-financial-strain-district-survey-shows-modest-gains-on-compensation-and-engagement","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6536667-b9afc8aa528de34aad134350ba714ce4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771192711&Signature=IffXyHDP8X2U6p0GTm5SKQrfsy~4uBNuRnZEVPyQiKdtW8pp8VTsJC4WgR8inEPdUVCIu8TiUGyMjrJUMRpyTaC3xd-btzA~uB4Bi4jtb-foTfbaQu0KHMYFi1ydVlk9~K4lykz-R56nTjaRfvUnOubbl8ulGUmmpxVa0OFKOyW33n8D~LYIFq2Whnhwx-hjB0Oh3BvCwxV-OFQQkmEDMYXKYKy9OG1Sax7eYw6KRT71ZdhjqldpW85eD~W4vXp82tXIDRVFQnLxrmPOPaJdsDiPASIZ-woGc5weqRH7ojW5PuLa1qZl~JhZ59H-zAr0IMWWhzK58D2LUHus3DTgfQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Derby","date","2025-06-09T00:00:00Z","article","Kathleen O'Brien, president of the Derby NEA and a high‑school science teacher, told the board during public comment that teachers work beyond their contracted days and often hold additional jobs to cover household expenses. \"We're contract employees, and we're only paid for the days of our contract,\" O'Brien said, noting that Derby teachers were contracted for 184.5 days and that paychecks are spread over 12 months. O'Brien thanked the board for approving a contract that raises the starting salary for new teachers to $50,000 and described the variety of supplemental work many teachers do in summer months.

The board also received the annual employee engagement and satisfaction survey presentation from Becky Mader, assistant superintendent for human resources. Mader said the survey ran Jan. 6–21 and drew 615 responses (about 51% participation). Key findings she summarized included:
- District‑level measures (health benefits and compensation perception) showed the largest aggregate improvement: a 15.57% increase in positive responses on the district‑attributes questions compared with the first year of the survey cycle. Mader linked that gain in part to recent changes in health‑insurance design and targeted salary adjustments.
- Overall work‑atmosphere and work‑environment items showed modest year‑over‑year increases (about 2–3 percentage points across multi‑year comparisons), though narrative comments raised concerns about workload and desire for greater voice and flexibility.

Mader presented top comment themes: staff passion, desire for stronger voice and flexible workload, requests for more recognition and ongoing communication from district leadership. She noted that the district will use these results to guide action steps including elevating employee voice, strengthening onboarding, promoting employee well‑being and continuing compensation and benefits work.

Board discussion and follow up
Board members and administrators discussed next steps. Several board members asked for more granular breakdowns by role or building; Mader said the survey intentionally omitted role and building identifiers to protect anonymity. The board asked the HR team to consider ways to increase participation and to discuss tuition‑assistance or expanded reimbursement options at upcoming budget and needs‑assessment workshops.

Why it matters
Teachers’ testimony and the survey data speak to recruitment, retention and student‑instruction continuity. Board and staff said compensation and workload remain district priorities tied to strategic goals and the upcoming budget process.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Derby - School Board - Jun 09, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Teachers and union leaders described unpaid and out‑of‑contract work and financial strain in public comment, and district leaders presented the annual employee engagement survey showing modest gains on some district measures but continuing concerns about workload and pay.","taxTitle","Derby, Sedgwick County, Kansas","taxId",56179,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6536672,"Derby Board hears end‑of‑year strategic plan reports; pre‑K enrollment and professional development metrics cited as gains",5533,1728000,7261000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3736806-6676088d05df8f2a293ea3e839d63099&start=1728&end=7261","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3736806-6676088d05df8f2a293ea3e839d63099/thumbnail_1728000.jpg","/articles/6536672/Derby/Sedgwick-County/Kansas/Derby-Board-hears-endofyear-strategic-plan-reports-preK-enrollment-and-professional-development-metrics-cited-as-gains","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6536672-24ea53c10e3e695329a5d2bab550d784/orig.mp4?Expires=1771192711&Signature=SAF0uc-Kq8-zIJ1atkBFogt9V77-hi~cBBSL0HQ~giDc5SsCXRcjhpWjyAnN~HQzdCJ~8b2ZixUB7uqPCu6VwMfsKwo-pD8uhUEdCDx4cAvIF1KYXZvbf1iexJ8rpRZofwHapPyXN~ef78G7F5sDRcYxYfAfFmQBtR1qqmVv-X8dO18ztGdI6ZKSamySkLoOeTxDsepg2-DGDkaPmEpc4RoWK2eiJ0yPI13c1wnZq2TEOT~nd6-d3cGeMDsbMyaY45yUIAAvULPKXHze4f25k4FIPuoZVV3JrgikIdYpnbUpsI6WkmhEhU4~OLVnpWwFjzrZ8LWAVtYZ7ZAGMSl44g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Superintendent Heather Bohati told the Derby Board of Education on June 9 that district strategy committees presented end‑of‑year summaries showing progress on multiple priorities, including early childhood expansion, professional development and chronic absenteeism.

Dr. Putnam Jackson, director of curriculum, said the district revised its professional development evaluation to include locally developed measures; the share of staff rating January trainings in the top two categories rose from 78.8% (Jan. 2024) to 89.6% (Jan. 2025) for “how valuable was the training,” and similar gains were reported for relevance and job‑specific usefulness. “We feel that one was met,” Dr. Putnam Jackson told the board.

Early‑childhood and inclusion
The district reported a rise in pre‑K participation in state head‑count reports: 37.5 students in 2023–24 to 76 reported for 2024–25 after additional kindergarten/pre‑K classrooms were added. Staff also said they resolved state criteria problems on two early‑childhood indicators (6a and 6b) for inclusion of students with special needs and moved them to green status on the state rubric, opening access to some grant opportunities.

Special education and implementation fidelity
Director of Special Services Dawn Gresham said the strategy 3 committee set SMART goals to improve fidelity of IEP and 504 implementation beginning August 2025. Recommendations include tracking accommodation usage, enhanced communication between case managers and classroom teachers, and ongoing professional development with a one‑year refresher model. Gresham said some facilities changes (adult changing tables, ADA door locations) were referred to the facilities master‑planning process.

Chronic absenteeism and mental health
Dr. Putnam Jackson presented a year‑end chronic‑absenteeism report using the state definition (10% or more of days missed, excused or unexcused). The district cumulative rate declined 3.48 percentage points year‑over‑year; Derby High School fell from 31.2% to 22.67% cumulatively, and several elementary schools reported year‑to‑year improvements. Staff attributed progress to parent outreach, school incentives and targeted action plans; administrators said they will continue a deeper problem analysis to identify root causes (health, safety, mental health, sense of belonging) and implement interventions.

Student and staff mental health
Lou Anne Sparks, co‑chair of the mental‑health strategy, said the committee needs more time to select an at‑risk screener that captures internalizing and externalizing behaviors and to finalize districtwide measures. The committee requested and received board approval to move its final report to fall 2025–26 so staff could complete data collection and tool selection.

Why it matters
Board members and staff said the strategic plan’s embedded committees have created cross‑departmental work that is beginning to show measurable results in classrooms and student supports. Administrators emphasized that several goals are in early implementation and will require ongoing monitoring.

","Administrators reported year‑end progress on the district strategic plan, citing increases in professional development effectiveness, pre‑K enrollment and improvements to early‑childhood inclusion measures. Work on chronic absenteeism, mental‑health screeners and special‑education implementation continues.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6536677,"Derby Board approves tractor, meal-price increase and facility equipment; routine agenda items pass",78,8942000,9020000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3736806-6676088d05df8f2a293ea3e839d63099&start=8942&end=9020","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3736806-6676088d05df8f2a293ea3e839d63099/thumbnail_8942000.jpg","/articles/6536677/Derby/Sedgwick-County/Kansas/Derby-Board-approves-tractor-meal-price-increase-and-facility-equipment-routine-agenda-items-pass","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6536677-bba6f61852b64ae00ff01905444bffe0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771192711&Signature=Q65Zgw-uTwy9PWHtowZFI0WgQOtLjCsTn7XeXM1h6H6vY~iItk0Gf-xRZD-SZ-tWhb4fvSFNpxMVWXP3N7VnMtwVx9u4mDpR7QQK8J77TWM6o-DJm3ofxDNbifJ0oIzNXacg8Q13cbkv0cII8IIh3NSMgKqmb~RkHn9fTZI61hRRto27BjWMSDRyj2fwy4TtsbYl54X9McfrR2GhLQwrVgtnLLNv~9LJ9L6BnZthZvmDJa5tiyyuEOd9I9XFiIMM7PMWIZ38Vjszkng7UazIcYWPpo0Djcl3g2614uF2CiMkbXdxZXlXIUogaATdGPiItWwoj635ZZk2BJ9T3VBKvA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Derby Board of Education on June 9 approved a set of operational and budget actions including purchase of a new grounds tractor, a 25-cent per-meal increase for school lunches, and replacement dishwashers at two elementary schools.

Board members voted unanimously on the package of routine and capital items, with most motions recorded as “Pass 6–0.” The meeting included multiple routine approvals (minutes, consent agenda) followed by several action motions on capital and operational items. The board also set next year’s meeting calendar and approved organizational and staffing documents.

Votes at a glance
- Adopt agenda — Pass 6–0. (Procedural motion to begin the meeting.)
- Approval of minutes (May 12 and May 27, 2025) — Pass 6–0.
- Consent agenda (donations, out‑of‑state travel request, Sedgwick County SRO agreement for 2025–26, contract renewals, bids, personnel reports and claims) — Pass 6–0.
- Meeting dates and times for 2025–26 school year — Pass 6–0.
- District organizational chart for 2025–26 — Pass 6–0.
- Strategic plan and board goals for 2025–26 (as presented) — Pass 6–0.
- Student meal price increase (proposed 25¢ per meal across elementary, middle, high and adult meals) — Pass 6–0.
- Two new dishwashers (Wineteer and Park Hill elementary) (installed price via cooperative) — Pass 6–0.
- Band and orchestra five‑year capital outlay adjustments — Pass 6–0.
- Job description for lead nurse (updated language on occasional duties outside regular hours) — Pass 6–0.
- Engineering automation pathway (course approvals) — Pass 6–0.
- Tractor purchase (new Kubota; $21,700 list with $3,000 trade allowance; net $18,700) — Pass 6–0.

Items discussed but not finalized during the meeting included the high‑school student handbook cell‑phone policy (tabled for full board discussion at the June 23 meeting), substitute pay proposals and proposed latchkey fee changes; those items were presented for discussion and will return to the board for future action.

Why it matters
The approved purchases and price adjustments affect daily operations (grounds equipment and kitchen capacity), family costs (meal price increase), and the district’s near‑term capital plan. The board approved the majority of items with unanimous support, signaling consensus on these operational priorities as the district closes the fiscal year and prepares the 2025–26 budget.

Meeting context and next steps
Finance staff said they will finish the budget for board review ahead of the state’s revenue‑neutral rate mailing in July. Several discussion items (substitute pay, latchkey fees, and the high‑school handbook cell‑phone rules) were left for follow‑up at upcoming meetings.

","At its June 9 meeting the Derby Board of Education approved a package of operational and budget items including purchase of a grounds tractor, a 25¢ per-meal price increase, new dishwashers for two elementary schools, and several routine governance items. Multiple motions passed unanimously, 6-0.","actionData","errors"]

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Teachers and union leaders describe unpaid work, financial strain; district survey shows modest gains on compensation and engagement

Derby Board hears end‑of‑year strategic plan reports; pre‑K enrollment and professional development metrics cited as gains

Derby Board approves tractor, meal-price increase and facility equipment; routine agenda items pass