[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-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",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_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",6206610,"mediaKeyId","3761497-a4817189ed2a28f1bfb9d9e2fed9d2ae","parentId",3761497,"title","Board ratifies 2025–26 pay agreements for multiple employee groups","audioSeconds",549,"startMs",5554000,"endMs",6103000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3761497-a4817189ed2a28f1bfb9d9e2fed9d2ae&start=5554&end=6103","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3761497-a4817189ed2a28f1bfb9d9e2fed9d2ae/thumbnail_5554000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6206610/Kansas/Board-ratifies-202526-pay-agreements-for-multiple-employee-groups","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6206610-1d6f3a73b099af54a957f9d4cb611b13/orig.mp4?Expires=1771193552&Signature=HiutofJKMgMOtvGyjwFGMOQUsWzWPLADFcL-EPZoxzKDwMulqvddm~MnWgcjsq306lG7K8s79HMsruYoct39atUDzuzEdXd~7vN1qy0nCYggOxsFsyQycS7tP~h68VyZwWa~2FYBu66RJf2DofWfcJldQVJICi8sOsbI0qmdbORsJhBFTDdmXp22eIVxu91XY5KiRsoPkqhHq8D9ulAWKDXaHwhKP4xrYiC-bbbekt14AwfC3e~xLMeZ7nWupHw1jIVlOo9vw81n5u1dPAw1b~ZdCZj3jZkRKWWSlfg4m9JA4ZrHJ~bQRI6Qw01H4OtzyZphchvVvgG1PhNO7U9SFQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Shawnee School District","date","2025-06-09T00:00:00Z","article","The Shawnee Mission School District Board of Education ratified multiple employee compensation agreements and schedule adjustments for the 2025–26 school year.

The board ratified the negotiated agreement with NEA Shawnee Mission effective July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. The professional agreement increases the salary schedule 4% on the base; district staff said combined compensation changes produce an overall package increase ranging from roughly 4.32% to 7.19% depending on steps and placements. The board voted to ratify the agreement after the professional employees ratified it on May 23, 2025.

The board approved a 4% base increase for school psychologists (personnel policy updates and schedules attached), a 4.3% base increase on classified schedules (the district noted prior multi-year adjustments and an additional $1 million directed to classified compensation in past years), and a 4.1% base increase for administrators (with market-based adjustments as appropriate). District leaders explained certified staff negotiated two additional leave days as part of their agreement; classified staff received a slightly higher base percentage in lieu of additional leave.

Board members asked how the district will measure new work tied to compensation and implementation. District leadership said curriculum and program-planning guides and other measures tied to the Portrait of a Graduate will be used to align work with expectations. Board members thanked bargaining teams and HR staff for completing multiple negotiations this season.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","SMSD Board Meeting June 9, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The board approved multiple 2025–26 compensation actions: a ratified NEA negotiated agreement increasing the certified salary base 4%, a 4.3% boost for classified staff, a 4.1% increase for administrators, and schedule updates for school psychologists.","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},6206620,"Board reviews reimagined 'Portrait of a Graduate' and next steps to embed skills preK–12",1863,2653000,4516000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3761497-a4817189ed2a28f1bfb9d9e2fed9d2ae&start=2653&end=4516","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3761497-a4817189ed2a28f1bfb9d9e2fed9d2ae/thumbnail_2653000.jpg","/articles/6206620/Kansas/Board-reviews-reimagined-Portrait-of-a-Graduate-and-next-steps-to-embed-skills-preK12","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6206620-05881d4f1a4decd97b00489a4e128f1b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771193552&Signature=ledGdAEpAJkU1cCs0XlECF5r4x92br8tg5BDcUUjWJFf4g6j71U7zml6RPgOMH87z4V3cfuYvIT0vfEeonl0IF~JIaza6vQTvlB~yyH5r3Tp~SEBGoB-PZLbSD0F6QCW5LFuqGJyc0OWPJHH7LIQ4YoNhibWzZrbTwdGAU~92kxz5DZirtWT9NAqk-bzM9h9XYMUOtqlvOEou6QN-ReoobHPWoR6jnIPTLo~eR5PIyOnnXYxC1SAsAMZ-4pNsj9uSAHbZ-5KVb4TccLuqPdWeJI1iP~xJQoUxOV28gfpowra5aHoXE-55S-6UmWH--JiklgymCKS~WBrmDfaO3TFhA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District leaders presented an annual strategic plan update and unveiled a reimagined Portrait of a Graduate intended to guide instruction preK–12.

Pam Lewis and Dr. Neal (lead presenters for the strategic plan implementation) told the Shawnee Mission School District Board of Education the reimagined portrait focuses on observable, measurable interpersonal skills—skilled communicator, effective collaborator, innovative and critical thinker, civic and global contributor, and resilient learner—and emphasizes embedding those skills into curriculum maps and lesson design rather than keeping them as a standalone statement.

Presenters said action teams worked across the district this year: 33 action steps were advanced and 21 active teams contributed to the six strategic goal areas. The district will open applications in July for additional action-team members to broaden participation. The implementation plan calls for development of a portrait rubric so students can reflect, set goals and receive feedback from preK through grade 12.

Specific near-term steps mentioned include expanding elementary counseling staff (a recommendation already submitted for the 2025–26 budget planning cycle), creation of a digital resource hub for family and community well-being supports, and the addition of two new pre-K elementary sites at Pawnee and Tomahawk as part of early childhood expansion. Presenters also said the district is exploring a possible bond proposal and that more detailed recommendations could appear in the third quarter of the upcoming school year.

Board members emphasized measurement and accountability. Several asked how the district will document and report student attainment of these interpersonal skills; presenters replied implementation now moves from design into curriculum cadres and program planning guides, and that measures may include embedding skills into course guides, program plans and postsecondary assets on transcripts.

Board members and staff also discussed artificial intelligence (AI) as an immediate strategic priority; Dr. Stubblefield said an AI-related work team will begin next year. The presentation included district-produced vignettes and videos that will show what each skill looks like across grade bands.","District leaders presented a reimagined Portrait of a Graduate focused on observable interpersonal skills and returned recommendations for curriculum integration and a rubric that will let students reflect and set goals.",{"_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},6206625,"Shawnee Mission board hears annual safety and security update; district highlights wearable alert use and training",864,1262000,2126000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3761497-a4817189ed2a28f1bfb9d9e2fed9d2ae&start=1262&end=2126","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3761497-a4817189ed2a28f1bfb9d9e2fed9d2ae/thumbnail_1262000.jpg","/articles/6206625/Kansas/Shawnee-Mission-board-hears-annual-safety-and-security-update-district-highlights-wearable-alert-use-and-training","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6206625-4b385b6d13e7fbe85496039bd74b9cbd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771193552&Signature=D0XPbuOVigMvXk3cOBJJI4rxgBx4gD1QHPE6XOTeQXRewtvWNZKfULerL0YWOxTqU~--kWQQj3LcvmrZzBaicWp2MoClhgxiOYo0u4isxWxlsu1ylWJWnISmKuXA41qYoOrx~eE1sHjT4geGbW8-id83i-maGm9RaWP9GfgnXRAo~MRTnC0FFH0dbqEBxBVm~8zgwUMacSu9He6uhh7xBeGgpVvqfTPJCUGTkGic3u7qFpa3uxRsiXFlxL8jy7-QZ-dX4jxQA~ZcOwTHlWYYCxG2L3Q6kqg4HSAV3HSe2~rByhPAfTIuWspARk2qkxGtop~pHLe0Sme6zMIFTwNH1g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chief Mark Schmidt and Officer Philip Laughlin presented the Shawnee Mission School District Board of Education with the district's annual safety and security program update, describing staffing, training and new technology deployed this year.

The district police team, which includes school resource officers (SROs), designated resource officers (DROs), campus security officers and a communications dispatcher, exceeded annual training requirements, logging 1,112 hours of training this year, Chief Schmidt said. “Our role is more protect the perimeters, protect our kids, and make our staff feel comfortable, because I don't think you learn if you don't feel safe,” Schmidt said.

Officer Laughlin described technology the district rolled out this spring. Syntegix wearable panic buttons issued to staff went live April 21; in the first five school weeks staff activated those alerts 327 times, prompting on-site responses from administrators, nurses, social workers and officers. The district also administers Raptor Technologies for visitor screening, monitors roughly 2,500 cameras daily, and recorded about 71,000 visitor screenings, staff said.

Schmidt and Laughlin told the board the district added a full-time elementary officer position this year so officers no longer need to be pulled from larger buildings to cover smaller schools. Officers also provided security for about 250 noninstructional events last year, including sporting events and dances. Schmidt said arrests on school property were rare this year—two incidents—with one arrest on a state warrant and another required by statute.

The district revised and consolidated its emergency operations plan over the summer, making a digital version available on district devices and phones and providing laminated classroom posters that summarize actions administrators and teachers should take in three main incident types (shelter-in-place, code red, evacuate). Schmidt said the revision focused on clarity and making the plan “findable” in an emergency.

Board members asked about student awareness of the Syntegix badges after an accidental false alert at Shawnee Mission Northwest. Dr. Stubblefield and Schmidt said students are not trained to use staff wearable badges, but staff teach students simple guidance—how many presses indicate a building-level response versus an outside response—and administrators speak over intercom to clear false alerts. Dr. Stubblefield said the district will continue drills and communications to reduce alarm-related anxiety.

Board members and district leaders praised the collaborative work between police, administration and technology staff and noted Officer Laughlin's leadership in statewide juvenile officer and SRO training efforts.","District police and safety staff reported expanded training, new wearable panic-button use, an updated emergency operations plan and a full-time elementary officer as part of the Shawnee Mission School District's annual safety and security update.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6206615,"State task force begins reexamination of Kansas school finance; Shawnee Mission officials told to expect changes",2116,6214000,8330000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3761497-a4817189ed2a28f1bfb9d9e2fed9d2ae&start=6214&end=8330","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3761497-a4817189ed2a28f1bfb9d9e2fed9d2ae/thumbnail_6214000.jpg","/articles/6206615/Kansas/State-task-force-begins-reexamination-of-Kansas-school-finance-Shawnee-Mission-officials-told-to-expect-changes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6206615-373fc8cb08da652ab8f9d6f5fb6f9a95/orig.mp4?Expires=1771193552&Signature=SzXmgmZePxJy7XxXvMskFNjCouPGvrmg8OmNrNw80hc0A7VUor-PoFLHt3XzDewU4YZJ0VxK2P6xWAYezPyMvODx83rpMD4~R-fKy6vfbyEUAiXr~~nSZRrf4QAdbskF2niCDToBuWzKm8svnhpuFp~k08m5vzk6EBGii2MwVS3BpAYXB2KX5z1Q07bveSTvI~LTaG-7~VqT2ZwOFhDU~BqZo1O~ETy6zgc58AtYfZX9ASaRXxUFv-ccoiz468r9Dfpi-~kN~EzGO49vfXhXMOu~e1Mfrz30vY5nLr10umtf-BgQ5hMeL9ckt8C41vkpUufQMP8C6VevuaTOCeszIA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dr. Little provided the Shawnee Mission School District Board of Education an update on the state K-12 education task force charged with reexamining the Kansas school finance formula.

The 15-member task force was created by a 2024 legislative bill and began meeting January 31, Dr. Little said. The panel is charged to propose a school finance formula reasonably calculated to have students meet required capacities, provide adequate, consistent and reliable funding, and offer meaningful accountability measures. The current school finance formula expires June 30, 2027, and the task force's chair has said the group intends to produce a draft bill by the end of 2025 for consideration by the 2026 Legislature.

Dr. Little told the board the committee has spent recent meetings reviewing components that feed into the formula—special education, at-risk funding, English-language-learners, transportation, and enrollment-based weightings—and has issued model runs that consider alternatives such as moving categorical weightings into the base funding calculation. He said some models under consideration would reallocate hundreds of millions of dollars and could help some districts while reducing funding to others.

Special education and at-risk weighting drew particular attention from the task force, Dr. Little said. Presentations have explored alternative approaches such as front-loading services, categorical funding by student need categories, or converting reimbursement-based special education funding to per-student weightings. He cautioned that changes to any weighting can have ripple effects across local option budgets and district revenues.

Board members asked how the public can engage. Dr. Little said the task force is using staff runs and presentations; public hearings on any resulting legislative bill would be the primary avenue for formal public comment. He also noted the State Department of Education and other superintendent groups are participating in outreach and that Kansas is building longitudinal data capacity to track postsecondary outcomes.

Dr. Little emphasized that committee members express differing views: some see the current formula as insufficient for academic improvement, while others argue funding increases are recent and the state is still implementing remedies from the Gannon case. The task force will meet through the late summer and fall with focused sessions on at-risk and special education in July and August.","A K-12 school finance task force created in the 2024 legislative session is midway through work to redesign the state's school funding formula. Dr. Little told the Shawnee Mission board the panel will focus on weightings such as at-risk and special education, with possible major redistribution effects and a bill expected by the end of the year.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6206605,"Board approves routine procurement and annual authorizations including utilities, contracts and supplemental staffing",676,8312000,8988000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3761497-a4817189ed2a28f1bfb9d9e2fed9d2ae&start=8312&end=8988","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3761497-a4817189ed2a28f1bfb9d9e2fed9d2ae/thumbnail_8312000.jpg","/articles/6206605/Kansas/Board-approves-routine-procurement-and-annual-authorizations-including-utilities-contracts-and-supplemental-staffing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6206605-c31f3536c43e275932fb3a1e2bbea772/orig.mp4?Expires=1771193552&Signature=eJNdSfWK1ndlLEnIiw0wA1IBMWe8sttkzhIqh90H6lEE-LxEf6e40N48yQykw65zvENV9Cee5m49yf5gsrofj-WOnSlwUnOPjrQnC6XZJMzeccVQH5u3XBEzy3jEMxzuoqo7XS7X58RQ~erf4upBvWnr7mo9U-OVRrCCn2B6~oCTMdt2adFOKWG~h52FCClFOij5CNbZQy5JfH4bbURg1LLkLbTmunp1HB~033N0M3088ZgHoVdf37tK5e1KtleIOPDR7V44QXR11KcUfelz9MaGDDGRuKyJe5P~2VqfF4kbql9fsTwQ9gGG6I~uPi6EkGN2Y6zX0dacYSJcwzRHEQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Shawnee Mission School District Board of Education approved a series of routine procurement authorizations and contracts for the 2025–26 fiscal year.

Superintendent Schumacher presented consent and action items the administration described as customary annual purchases and renewals. Items approved by the board (motions carried by recorded or voice vote) include estimated authorizations for electricity (Evergy; estimated $7,200,000), water utilities (Water District No. 1; estimated $400,000), natural gas (Symmetry Energy Solutions and Kansas Gas Service; combined estimates), transportation fuel (multiple vendors; estimated $600,000), referee services (ArbiterPay; estimated $297,000), and continued administration of Raptor and camera monitoring described earlier in the safety presentation.

The board approved contracting ATS Facility Services for supplemental custodial staffing (estimated not to exceed $2,476,000) to backfill about 70 unfilled custodial positions and noted contracted labor will be funded from general funds freed by unfilled positions. The board approved a contract with Sunburst Workforce Advisors to provide nursing and supplemental school staffing on an as-needed basis (estimated not to exceed $1,500,000), funded from special education operating funds; presenters said the Sunburst contract consolidates multiple vendors and removes prior buyout penalties.

Other approvals included legal services panels (several outside counsel firms), authorization to purchase referee services for athletic officials, and authorization to permit Shawnee Mission West Orchestra students to travel to San Francisco in April 2026 (estimated expenditure not to exceed $279,109; no district funds to be used).

Administrators told the board that most of these items were budgeted and that final expenditures depend on market costs and usage. Board members thanked staff and noted the timing coincides with budget planning for the upcoming year.","The board approved multiple routine but high-value authorizations for 2025–26—utilities (electric, gas, water), fuel for transportation, referee payment system, supplemental custodial and nursing staffing contracts, legal services, and other annual agreements—and approved a student orchestra travel request.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board ratifies 2025–26 pay agreements for multiple employee groups

Board reviews reimagined 'Portrait of a Graduate' and next steps to embed skills preK–12

Shawnee Mission board hears annual safety and security update; district highlights wearable alert use and training

State task force begins reexamination of Kansas school finance; Shawnee Mission officials told to expect changes

Board approves routine procurement and annual authorizations including utilities, contracts and supplemental staffing