[{"_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":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",6142482,"mediaKeyId","5557229-3d150b4aee0bd5b4fafdc2a5857b9b6a","parentId",5557229,"title","Board approves routine motions unanimously; executive session convened for personnel","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",43000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5557229-3d150b4aee0bd5b4fafdc2a5857b9b6a&start=43&end=43","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5557229-3d150b4aee0bd5b4fafdc2a5857b9b6a/thumbnail_43000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6142482/Kansas/Board-approves-routine-motions-unanimously-executive-session-convened-for-personnel","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6142482-da9bace1c1a546c2e4ad9c0785756d37/orig.mp4?Expires=1770985126&Signature=LmKbiSgCeRHycg17GLkDsLXMCd5yYaC8Vr8E0paa2PernEtqz0eMDFHGKMaTt0fVz0sKgN4jLNCd5HkFlT0jUiDOG6GWOvwiYnQblLEvfgz-EcJ7vBdnFtnfWSy~ZAXv~D9a7MEAvgZgT26VJJvnC1XlXmvu0NlV5or3ji9PBsVvtDkNh0GNsCWC6oJg7iDNq-joad70c8I3LkUKHkQ72lsjznO4lxmtZGsI87aKJcdasah5WwKOh0zZv1UJBzcdFT6H-1fzxeJEiXzl4EB3Rp-nh-8rPPaOHP6~z4NCM6gmWmjIbCdrFNhbLtyx8uXzzNFIlBILPqPyQMbKJ11HCA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","TPS School District","date","2025-08-08T12:24:45Z","article","The Board of Education of USD 501 voted on several routine procedural items during the meeting; all recorded votes were unanimous.

At the start of the meeting a board member moved that the board \"recess into executive session for 30 minutes to discuss confidential personnel matters to protect the privacy of the individual employees to be discussed pursuant to the personnel exception of the Kansas Open Meetings Act. The board will return to open session in the boardroom at 06:02PM. The superintendent and executive staff are invited into executive session.\" The motion was seconded on the record and the board then voted; \"All votes are in, and the motion carries unanimous.\" The board returned to open session at the indicated time.

Later the board moved to adopt the agenda \"as presented.\" The motion was seconded by Mister Munoz; the board voted and the motion \"carries unanimously.\"

Under business by consent a board member moved that \"the board approve the items of business by consent as presented and authorize the board president or superintendent to sign the special project and purchasing contracts for and on behalf of the board.\" The motion was seconded by Doctor Beeson and the motion carried unanimously.

At the meeting's close a board member moved to adjourn; the motion was seconded by Mister Tatum and the board voted unanimously to adjourn.

All motions referenced the personnel exception of the Kansas Open Meetings Act when moving into executive session. No additional votes on ordinances, resolutions or contracts were recorded on the public record during the meeting beyond the consent approval noted above.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","TPS Board of Education 8-7-2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Board of Education voted unanimously to recess into executive session, adopt the agenda, approve business by consent, and adjourn the meeting. The executive session cited the personnel exception under the Kansas Open Meetings Act.","taxTitle","Topeka Public Schools, School Boards, Kansas","taxId",14492,"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},6142487,"Board reviews needs assessment: special-needs index, mobility, extended-year programs and transportation challenges",1447,3598000,5045000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5557229-3d150b4aee0bd5b4fafdc2a5857b9b6a&start=3598&end=5045","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5557229-3d150b4aee0bd5b4fafdc2a5857b9b6a/thumbnail_3598000.jpg","/articles/6142487/Kansas/Board-reviews-needs-assessment-special-needs-index-mobility-extended-year-programs-and-transportation-challenges","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6142487-7c6fe6aa33c17c5ad4dfe1701857df39/orig.mp4?Expires=1770985126&Signature=mXQl9fur00oqISideoUOW5o~bWW3zdFe-h-9UalGN4QkJvBeKBYWF5pbAOXbWS-Jg5iJITPZunADP7YYTt9sbvWw0OhYvdiYVZGdna7x6xK1ThZlM-G6KnH~jpVUEH7BmcluTY5Y6P8sv7385~0iwOsGo2o-l0PEcSlZpMXEOKt2QeA6BVbpOnmYk6vdOHruMyx-2NzOVaAPdsyNHdBXantBqtmKWt3FEk1YgaVV1x~vK5FJwxtNll8KlnRg7-Nz9h57Wff8bPRZDMAGeNcpUPVn7RgSaCvZcDivVKwtdTTuvrPoMK5xiHeeRXqZOPEznWE4pfOlWx68cnvLw8Z7jA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District staff presented part two of the needs assessment and fielded detailed questions about how the district measures need, tracks interventions and responds to student mobility and transportation barriers.

Miss Kramer introduced the part-two presentation and asked whether board members had questions. Dr. Kipp explained key metrics, saying, \"SES just ranges from 0 to a 100%. And as a district, we're about 75% low SES,\" and describing the Special Needs Index as \"an amalgamation of homelessness, socioeconomic status, ELL, special ed, mobility\" used to guide resource allocation.

Staff explained that the Special Needs Index (SNI) is additive and typically ranges from 0 to 2; schools with higher SNI receive more district resources, staff said. Schools use the needs assessment to produce school-improvement plans, which staff said are documented in the district's Kansas Star system and include SMART goals, parent-engagement plans and after-school programming.

Board members pressed staff on whether the district tracks the effectiveness of strategies built into school plans. Miss Wallace said schools maintain improvement plans and track student achievement; staff acknowledged it can be difficult to isolate the quantitative effect of one program but said they are working to identify which strategies yield the most growth. Dr. Kipp emphasized the district tracks growth as well as achievement, noting that some high-poverty schools show strong year-to-year MAP growth even where overall proficiency remains below state targets.

Transportation and student mobility featured prominently. District staff said mobility tends to follow poverty patterns and gave an example in which closure of an apartment complex forced about 60 children to move and re-enroll. The district described exceptions processes to keep students enrolled at their original schools when capacity allows; Chief of Transportation explained rules for daycare or babysitter drop-off and routing criteria.

Chief of Transportation told the board, \"Now you should know this year already. We have 50 homeless students, living at the shelter, as of today already,\" and said the district uses McKinney-Vento protections where applicable to maintain school stability for homeless students.

Board members asked about the district's extended-year and summer programs for its lowest-performing schools. Staff reported increased staff retention for summer programs, higher student attendance in extended-year offerings and early MAP/CAP growth signals; CAP data was noted as not yet released. Staff said the district will evaluate multi-year trends to assess impact more fully.

Several board members asked for deeper discussion at a future retreat or work session focused on the needs assessment, SNI methodology and chronic absenteeism. Staff and board agreed to consider a targeted follow-up session to review the SNI and growth-versus-achievement metrics in greater depth.

","Board members spent substantial time on the district needs assessment. Staff explained the district's Special Needs Index (SNI), discussed mobility and homelessness, reviewed evidence-based school improvement practices and reported early signs of growth from extended-year and summer programs.",{"_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},6142492,"Two TCALC students earn national recognition; district expands teacher apprenticeship pathway",958,2145000,3103000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5557229-3d150b4aee0bd5b4fafdc2a5857b9b6a&start=2145&end=3103","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5557229-3d150b4aee0bd5b4fafdc2a5857b9b6a/thumbnail_2145000.jpg","/articles/6142492/Kansas/Two-TCALC-students-earn-national-recognition-district-expands-teacher-apprenticeship-pathway","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6142492-20eda09f4116e950a7ce4b9c97649358/orig.mp4?Expires=1770985126&Signature=d7oj~~DFMQEYd5tS-75YJ6ptPGU08pFUcz6yb8QdtRvTtd70ahR~2viVVhkhJRCsY7-Smgf7HyoGk9mCFHP-0fNH9fxW41WSaqUFwLgVRk98L2n8HLXn0h8M1sNLD9ChM0YW5-DShdompXLIdDNHoj5CPYTYOLYJNRGNmQGdZR9IuK2i1xFKz-SjQWjEfmo8NEPPLADfv5MMZwEGfid-DFRgbNrKJuD1qjPIw6QmB4Kieu0P~Af-Gcsd1CYsuGpUi3-ggjy8hEvfbwJ75tu3AwYZRRTSlRoXbdPbvQHe4ruWm3BpmhfDEH-lGXSgfereLVVJ9Mj6Hi-a5VG-EJb6Sw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Two students connected to the Teacher Career and Leadership Center received national recognition and the district announced an expanded apprenticeship pathway that will place apprentices in classrooms while they earn college credit.

Miss Dixon, a TCALC instructor, told the Board that \"Ellie placed eighth place overall in the nation in her category, and Adeline finished first in the nation with her children's book,\" and introduced the students and their achievements. A TCALC student who described her book said, \"I'll be getting a publishing deal for\" the children's book.

The district said the apprenticeship will be run in partnership with Washburn University and Washburn Tech. District staff described the program as an apprenticeship model in which students will be hired as apprentices, take college courses (Washburn will provide instruction counted toward high-school graduation), and work in district classrooms. The district reported 21 students are currently enrolled in the program and that apprentices will be compensated hourly; the district said apprentices will not likely receive full benefits and that work hours are expected to be part time.

Board members praised the students and the pathway. Board member Mister Tatum told the students, \"You are representing Topeka Public Schools across the nation and making an impact,\" and encouraged the students to consider returning to teach in the district.

District staff said the apprenticeship is intended to create a local pipeline to address teacher shortages by giving students early classroom experience and an associate degree on an accelerated schedule. Staff described the timeline as starting the junior year so that by the end of the senior year apprentices will have completed the associate-degree requirements; one student noted she will begin classes at Emporia State University in August. The district also said it secured access to apprenticeship funding through the U.S. Department of Labor to cover tuition costs, and that Washburn negotiated tuition reductions.

Staff announced a commitment ceremony for apprentices on Friday, Aug. 15, at 9:30 a.m. at TCALC.

The board did not take formal action on the apprenticeship during the meeting; the program update was presented as a district initiative and informational item.

The district identified TCALC staff and program partners present at the meeting, including Miss Nichols and other TCALC staff who accompanied students to the boardroom. Presentations and board remarks took place in the highlights portion of the agenda before public communications and consent business.

The district said the apprenticeship will begin next week in classroom placements and will be further refined as staff and partners finalize schedules, placements and employment details.

For now, the district characterized the apprenticeship as a job-plus-education model aimed at keeping local students in the district’s teacher pipeline.

","Two students from the Teacher Career and Leadership Center (TCALC) received national honors and Topeka Public Schools announced an expanded apprenticeship pathway with Washburn University and Washburn Tech that will let students earn an associate degree while completing high school and working in district classrooms.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves routine motions unanimously; executive session convened for personnel

Board reviews needs assessment: special-needs index, mobility, extended-year programs and transportation challenges

Two TCALC students earn national recognition; district expands teacher apprenticeship pathway