[{"_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",6508292,"mediaKeyId","5732097-354a9d32b7fb0b313c7309b1237d1421","parentId",5732097,"title","Shawnee Mission reports early drop in referrals after new personal electronic device policy","audioSeconds",1534,"startMs",2360000,"endMs",3894000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5732097-354a9d32b7fb0b313c7309b1237d1421&start=2360&end=3894","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5732097-354a9d32b7fb0b313c7309b1237d1421/thumbnail_2360000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6508292/Kansas/Shawnee-Mission-reports-early-drop-in-referrals-after-new-personal-electronic-device-policy","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6508292-3c3a02d330de2c556cca259e0ddcd060/orig.mp4?Expires=1775217332&Signature=LftWcNZ51f3tDwM5UriELN7A2jNgdPQJFcUZplMAiWC1knQFDcwWCyttyWKAjN-ZlGDvZJSGJIqJtP-yc4ZTgtwQhlvHnoMwRNnhwCF2kU~2gpXnEPB8MMkRaM7AqX2jG816ri6NUHE-7hMroKI2QXKIdZ1T9Y~vm6s7hEflPvqc200HX1KFbXFqnWtRD7nVwUY8KOhPrpmLgP5RS9URWPY0BjWtzScHxIGpOfy9AGievdGeyPBBhba~4MG9QvegDnJuOigbJG08IOc00ueSZM5J-lTY66-d0XOxt66KeIzilGDKjzaucrXc~ZO9jZWeZxgasGAD554YXa6hLuLRcA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Shawnee Mission School District","date","2025-06-26T15:42:58Z","article","Shawnee Mission School District officials provided the board an update on implementation of the district’s personal electronic device policy and reported early declines in discipline referrals after putting the policy into practice.

The policy, adopted earlier by the district and implemented in buildings in February, treats grade levels differently: elementary schools have a school‑day ban; middle schools allow device checks only at lockers during passing periods; and high schools “protect instructional time” by requiring devices be put away during lessons while allowing use during passing periods and lunch, district leaders said.

Superintendent Dr. Jason Schumacher told the board the policy was placed in district strategy 4 (technology) after several months of committee work and community input. Schumacher said the committee prioritized “consistent enforcement” as the central goal when reconciling two broad community positions — a complete bell‑to‑bell ban and controlled access.

Dr. Kelly Capper, who described middle‑school implementation at Indian Hills, said administrators took primary responsibility for enforcement so teachers could focus on instruction. Capper said staff used a Securly pass and locker checks and that administrators handled compliance conversations. “We just had conversations with kids. We just talked to them like they're humans,” Capper said, adding that teachers were told not to make enforcement their primary task.

District leaders presented preliminary referral data comparing the first three weeks after the policy’s initial implementation with the first three weeks of the current school year. The district reported middle‑school referrals fell from 13% in the first three weeks after implementation to 6% in the first three weeks of this school year; high‑school referrals fell from 26% to 20% in the same comparative windows, Dr. Schumacher said.

Capper also cited classroom measures she described as early indicators: she said one school predicted 3% MAP growth but reported 11% growth after the change. Capper characterized that as correlational evidence rather than proof of causation, and she asked the board for time to collect longitudinal data before recommending major policy tweaks.

High‑school leaders described a mix of tactics for managing downtime and transitions — teachers and students reintroducing reading, games such as UNO, and other low‑tech activities during unstructured periods. Dr. Grama (high‑school leader) said many teachers adopted phone caddies and that staff reported clearer expectations and improved classroom participation.

Board members asked about gray areas such as Kindles and other e‑readers; district leaders said they consider intent and internet access when deciding whether a device is treated like a phone. The board also discussed safety: Capper and other leaders said the policy supports safety by ensuring students attend to adults’ instructions during emergencies rather than looking at screens.

Board member Garcia asked how teachers redirect students who finish work early; Grama noted librarians, art and structured activities were among the options being re‑used by teachers. Several board members urged letting the policy “get legs” districtwide and collecting more data before reconsidering major changes.

District leaders said they will continue work on a developmental guide for age‑appropriate technology use and an evidence‑based framework for evaluating educational technologies.

The board heard the update during a regularly scheduled meeting; no new formal action on the policy was taken that evening.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","SMSD Board Meeting September 8, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Shawnee Mission School District officials provided the board an update on implementation of the district’s personal electronic device policy and reported early declines in discipline referrals after putting the policy into practice.","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},6508283,"Board approves consent items, $2.5 million elementary furniture refresh and Northwest band trip to Orlando",97,6381000,6478000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5732097-354a9d32b7fb0b313c7309b1237d1421&start=6381&end=6478","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5732097-354a9d32b7fb0b313c7309b1237d1421/thumbnail_6381000.jpg","/articles/6508283/Kansas/Board-approves-consent-items-25-million-elementary-furniture-refresh-and-Northwest-band-trip-to-Orlando","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6508283-f78bacc0006819aa4be66a9044e683b1/orig.mp4?Expires=1775217332&Signature=Fu3zlRGB01UNRRXmxdzXUmabWmofc2OQ3nfuQOhbnhzkmi~uwvOKuqZtV-D3AsO3YRx2RVUYE-lZm77aI95yGZft2FzlRgxJuwobtoLl0KFHGHNSed23bR~4Y2JXaaYocZyc6ssX174JN~Y7SO3nqD4Mn4as5dnYYBuNcIVF9XqwWkKO2MJhN5ksW8VR485kCIzXaGkftH5ryVrmmTrwxrK3I8n04UYgl7jQhZRBSXLLbHaxNvm8sw0eoxMhDxyAhV9OvUuJoPII0fJPULkigmNaMsNncPQivWB5T6h1P395Wfdo5Jn9QAiBA5MczBuxkQmysnDKrHdSSQYWgb9ZqA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its meeting, the Shawnee Mission School District Board of Education approved consent agenda items and two action items: authorization to purchase elementary furniture and authorization for a student band trip.

The board approved consent agenda items 5.01 through 5.11 by a 7–0 vote.

Furniture authorization (6.01): The board authorized the purchase of new furnishings for six elementary schools from Freedom Interiors in an amount not to exceed $2,500,000, to be funded from the district’s capital fund. The motion was moved by Board member Ashley, seconded by Board member Westbrook and passed 7–0. The schools identified for year‑two refresh were Ray Marsh, Merriam Park, Roseland, Corinth, McAuliffe and Sunflower, and district purchasing staff said the contract follows a vendor RFP process and leverages competitively awarded vendor pricing.

Band field trip (6.02): The board authorized Shawnee Mission Northwest band students to travel to Orlando, Florida, with an expenditure not to exceed $325,000. Superintendent’s staff said no district funds will be used and students will pay personal costs; approximately 135 students, four district employees and roughly 10 approved adult chaperones will attend. The motion was moved by Board member Borgman, seconded by the clerk (second recorded as “Clerkship” in the transcript) and passed 7–0.

Executive session: The board later moved into an executive session under the attorney‑client privilege exception in the Kansas Open Meetings Act. The motion (item 8.01) set a 5‑minute break, specified an executive session to begin at 7:55 p.m. and reconvene at 8:15 p.m., invited Superintendent Dr. Jason Schumacher, Deputy Superintendent Dr. David Stubblefield and Rachel England to join the session, and stated no action would be taken after the session. The motion passed 7–0.

Other routine motions: The meeting opened with adoption of the agenda (moved by Hembree, seconded by Sinclair) and approval of minutes for items 1.01–1.06; both motions passed 7–0.

All votes recorded during the meeting were unanimous (7–0) as documented in the meeting transcript.","At the meeting the board approved consent items, authorized up to $2.5 million for an elementary furniture refresh from vendor Freedom Interiors and authorized a Shawnee Mission Northwest band trip to Orlando; all motions passed unanimously.",{"_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},6508289,"Shawnee Mission: middle‑school athletics at an all‑time high; high‑school fall participation reaches 10‑year peak",660,4668000,5328000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5732097-354a9d32b7fb0b313c7309b1237d1421&start=4668&end=5328","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5732097-354a9d32b7fb0b313c7309b1237d1421/thumbnail_4668000.jpg","/articles/6508289/Kansas/Shawnee-Mission-middleschool-athletics-at-an-alltime-high-highschool-fall-participation-reaches-10year-peak","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6508289-87e8f85af7aa7daebb25527dcd7ccb79/orig.mp4?Expires=1775217332&Signature=Nm7jUdT~RT2pjXur5d~nwdGWMJnxBixDnyUDDFRWzrkyQrmPG~CvPs4gzz7AvRUvpn5JOhnXg7FzM3Rw2UZLzC8LeqXzSBlE1NxY88~zfYXjJeJfpYUjzdspGhdbMnG0D66SaR4ULSXfCKktvrA4nmtUtM9WdxciFvKgwccbysaVPzVcfaGfVOJCFsz0UtLqW6VgEDa~q7l-JgTxP-m-95vM7CiiSQSYrdqBMbpoRzTqkhItEAOXq7kN78IKNH~ZX9tn2B6hNpN6MgTpGMorm2bBe1cRV8Dt0aBYE9PR33EacKxvmshGABV63287k6cphD4hHoKb0hTg1ywA6qObRQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Shawnee Mission School District officials told the board that participation in school athletics has increased across seasons and grade levels, with middle‑school participation at an all‑time high and high‑school fall participation reaching a 10‑year peak.

Deputy Superintendent Dr. David Stubblefield introduced the athletics presentation and called education‑based athletics “an extension of the classroom,” emphasizing teamwork, leadership and character development. Athletic director Kent Glaser presented 10 years of participation data that show growth after declines in the COVID period.

Glaser told the board the fall high‑school season is at a 10‑year high and that winter and spring participation also show strong numbers. He said middle‑school participation rates have doubled over the last decade — a change driven partly by the district’s expansion of offerings, including eighth‑grade football, seventh‑grade basketball and new girls‑and‑boys soccer opportunities. Middle‑school cheer was added recently with 138 students already participating.

The presentation featured a student example of inclusion: Jude Nixon, a visually impaired cross‑country runner at Indian Woods, who runs with a guide. At the meeting, Jude was quoted saying, “I think anyone can run‑in cross country, not just sighted people.” Glaser said the district is committed to “all means all” participation and highlighted how coaches and staff adapted equipment and logistics to include students with different needs.

Board members asked about future additions, injuries and measurement. Glaser said track and field remains logistically complex at the middle‑school level because not all sites have tracks, but other sports such as soccer provided alternatives. On injuries, the district tracks concussions with athletic‑training partners; other injury types are recorded but the district did not present a comprehensive injury report at the meeting.

Board members praised the growth as a community and student‑engagement win and discussed next steps, including continued monitoring and potential program expansion where feasible.

No formal action was required; the board received the update.","The district reported growing participation in athletics across middle and high schools, highlighted new middle‑school offerings and shared a student story about inclusive cross‑country participation.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Shawnee Mission reports early drop in referrals after new personal electronic device policy

Board approves consent items, $2.5 million elementary furniture refresh and Northwest band trip to Orlando

Shawnee Mission: middle‑school athletics at an all‑time high; high‑school fall participation reaches 10‑year peak