[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-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],{"_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",6130167,"mediaKeyId","5741017-9fe295aae274214da0a4f36497ab9f63","parentId",5741017,"title","Topeka High students and staff recognized; school bank MOU placed on consent agenda","audioSeconds",3044,"startMs",1934000,"endMs",4978000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5741017-9fe295aae274214da0a4f36497ab9f63&start=1934&end=4978","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5741017-9fe295aae274214da0a4f36497ab9f63/thumbnail_1934000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6130167/Kansas/Topeka-High-students-and-staff-recognized-school-bank-MOU-placed-on-consent-agenda","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6130167-de026ae8935c32c8a49c6abe5d9fb551/orig.mp4?Expires=1774750170&Signature=FM~O55hc3BZUSTgHY8X4cv28Ml2yGa8Fs-5mflNos9MiPO0bBGoC4c0ygCof5OPfsdmwzRJAuHLGcqScDseCeAsb56CCOsdwRkk0VtZGBWus4puqpiPHWZNZHGhg7vCJsxEzKVH9bBTNoPJ7wtWA5ZLwAlA2YYCbcYAIfHLhcDzXHd~QfZ-Ba3GGlrRT3Kp4RuJLEsKJgm29~gtrTRMEdq-5pkBCEg0FMWF5z2Bioj4uOUjo0zTjjaEeQMWySWnxLYCLW8T5bGgRKWoQz-fOHV0iizwqZL8S-BAUt014xzARHqJ1kOjuo8yUCQtoWvqPSAB5A2tcYDx1n0bPnkFWsg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Topeka Public Schools ","date","2025-09-06T02:32:25Z","article","The Topeka Public Schools Board of Education recognized student and staff achievements and heard a presentation on a proposed Envista Credit Union branch at Topeka High School, an item included on the meeting's consent agenda.

Hara Del Castillo, a senior at Topeka High School, was introduced as the district's senior of the month. \"I pledge of allegiance to the flag of The United States Of America...\" Del Castillo told the board in brief remarks; teachers and board members praised her school leadership and course selections aimed at a career in nursing.

Philip Wrigley, a Topeka High civics teacher, was recognized after winning the American Civic Education Teacher award. Wrigley told the board the award is administered by the National Education Association, the Center for Civic Education and the Center for Representative Government at Indiana University and honored excellence in civic education. Wrigley described classroom and extracurricular programs that emphasize civic engagement, including a high-school voting club that registers students and encourages election participation.

The board also heard a presentation from Jamie Beaton of Envista Credit Union and Sheila Crowe, a Topeka High teacher who leads financial-education classes, about a memorandum of understanding to open an Envista branch at Topeka High. Under the proposal, the branch would operate on campus during lunch and select hours, provide student internships tied to classroom coursework, and allow students and staff full access to accounts beyond the school day. The target opening date discussed was Oct. 15, pending final approvals and execution of documents.

Board members asked about branch staffing and financial-education supports. Jamie Beaton said Envista would train student interns on credit-union procedures, budgeting and account management; Sheila Crowe said students researched school-bank models and proposed Envista after visiting other districts.

The MOU and related contracts were listed on the consent agenda and the board subsequently approved the business-by-consent motion that authorizes the board president or superintendent to sign special-project and purchasing contracts. That consent vote carried unanimously.

Why this matters: The school-bank partnership is intended to provide hands-on financial education and pathway experiences for students, potentially including paid internships in future years. The teacher award and senior recognition highlight district efforts in civic education and student achievement.

What's next: Staff will finalize the MOU and coordinate a planned opening and student-intern training schedule pending execution of the consent-agenda contracts.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","TPS Board of Education 9-4-2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Topeka Public Schools Board of Education recognized a Topeka High senior and a nationally awarded teacher, and received a presentation on an Envista Credit Union branch-to-be at Topeka High that was placed on and approved via the meeting's consent agenda.","taxTitle","Topeka Public Schools, School Boards, Kansas","taxId",14492,"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},6130172,"Topeka school board adopts 2025–26 budget, approves exceeding revenue-neutral rate after public hearing",2485,2003000,4488000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5741017-9fe295aae274214da0a4f36497ab9f63&start=2003&end=4488","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5741017-9fe295aae274214da0a4f36497ab9f63/thumbnail_2003000.jpg","/articles/6130172/Kansas/Topeka-school-board-adopts-202526-budget-approves-exceeding-revenue-neutral-rate-after-public-hearing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6130172-67ca32011f9f298c663be72d10b12cb8/orig.mp4?Expires=1774750170&Signature=C6fYQlUQkRw75G6WLOlv0s5G6woZ1rAeGdO5XBC3kk8WF-qsbSfjCMwoE5UqoexWnFjVuXfGHbDkSglnAGx3wbB7gy6H9IBP-GEk0UvdAUqUs9DtA7-f~CG1uxQI2imjoUfDSKgbzFVn89KJGtNyh~ge3qdyWlwvzMEAwqXhxVTmjdKFYo1jl1s-895q478nhUR7MKA1nX3PmS~j7UPiXYrjCNJUsOU1IUPP82Y3VYimxw2JWxr6kZe5noMTOBv3O3yhV7kXYFgSK~ZTn0f9Evy-QAly4cG1rDrV7-tEnLMo1FGsJrxjiDhAtEgx5OVsONXArboXeD4aqfh9KafnWA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Topeka Public Schools Board of Education voted unanimously to adopt the district's fiscal year 2026 budget and approved a separate resolution to exceed the state's revenue-neutral rate after holding the required public hearing.

The actions came at a regularly scheduled board meeting where the district also adopted a supplemental general-fund LOB percentage of 29.3 percent. The board voted by roll call on each measure; the motions carried unanimously.

At the public hearing required by Kansas law on exceeding the revenue-neutral rate, several residents urged the board to limit property-tax increases and look for ways to reduce the burden on taxpayers. Lynelle Griffith, a Topeka resident, told the board that rising property taxes were \"a hardship to a lot of people\" and urged trustees to \"very seriously consider your budget and see, is there a way we can give some property tax relief?\"

Justin Gilbert, a Topeka parent, asked the board to explain how state, federal and local revenues flow into district funding. He cited the district's per-student figure and asked how property-tax increases and federal revenue changes affect the district's per-pupil spending. Finance staff explained that state aid is largely distributed on a per-pupil base aid formula, that the first 20 mills of the general levy are remitted to the state and redistributed, and that local property-tax receipts for the district are typically in the range of the low- to mid‑$30 millions annually after abatements. The board and finance staff also explained that federal COVID-relief dollars had declined, contributing to shifts in revenue sources.

Several commenters asked the district to allow private schools and homeschoolers to rent district facilities at-cost when space is unused. \"Because people are paying into taxes to fund the school and they're not using it, can we let them use our facilities at cost instead of at a profit?\" Griffith asked. Board members acknowledged private-school use already occurs in some cases and said they would take the request back to staff for further review.

Board discussion and finance staff presentations described major budget drivers: payroll and benefits are the largest expense, special-education costs exceed the state reimbursement and require local support, capital-outlay and bond-and-interest obligations are notable drivers of the levy, and federal COVID-relief funding had previously inflated federal revenue figures.

Formal motions recorded in the meeting minutes included:
- Resolution 26-004: approve exceeding the revenue-neutral rate (roll-call vote; motion carried unanimously).
- Resolution 26-005: adopt the supplemental general fund/LOB percentage of 29.3% for fiscal year 2026 (motion carried unanimously).
- Motion to approve and adopt the fiscal year 2026 budget (motion carried unanimously).

The meeting included a prior consent vote that approved business-by-consent items; the board's consent motion authorized the board president or superintendent to sign special projects and purchasing contracts on the board's behalf.

Why this matters: Exceeding the revenue-neutral rate triggers additional notice and hearing requirements under Kansas statute and typically signals an increase in property-tax levies for district taxpayers. The board's adoption of the budget sets spending and levy levels for the coming fiscal year and outlines funding for operations, special education, capital projects and employee compensation.

What's next: The board approved the measures by roll-call vote as required. District and finance staff said they will continue to brief the public and work with community members on facility-use requests and on outreach to explain budget components.","The Topeka Public Schools Board of Education voted unanimously to adopt the fiscal year 2026 budget and approved a resolution to exceed the revenue-neutral rate after a statutorily required public hearing in which residents urged property-tax relief and asked the district to expand facility access for private and homeschooled groups.","actionData","errors"]

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Topeka High students and staff recognized; school bank MOU placed on consent agenda

Topeka school board adopts 2025–26 budget, approves exceeding revenue-neutral rate after public hearing