[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,76,88,99],{"_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",6129963,"mediaKeyId","5741018-ce54f50b4a81cf5cea9dab1b0fc52195","parentId",5741018,"title","Wichita Board adopts $1.01 billion budget, approves tax policy that exceeds revenue-neutral rate","audioSeconds",8044,"startMs",183000,"endMs",8227000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5741018-ce54f50b4a81cf5cea9dab1b0fc52195&start=183&end=8227","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5741018-ce54f50b4a81cf5cea9dab1b0fc52195/thumbnail_183000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6129963/Kansas/Wichita-Board-adopts-101-billion-budget-approves-tax-policy-that-exceeds-revenue-neutral-rate","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6129963-8bd231a22c9e74d4226668cea1e14fff/orig.mp4?Expires=1771101438&Signature=BxYWEEF-ZFgsfasWTVeiycdly5e5ISp-CLHBgr1v2jpxRe1I5lxT4UDbXJe7LqCZaPA2XSwo5ftbORg60ea3edPLBxrwuNYf92-DGx3e9UNpQpFPBkXrqgYGftCKtl9cwgmg6YQsjh6rsxRlvsCc9XQAyAonjtZYGxGekjUVzuMWrmhsy5oNAFgxXcZberZD3CUOw~aG7PzR8KHvpKJoiYo1Ty~fZZ~JnyN~Vsly0CGDivzirdKvQjOp8PmVV9aLc71OAOUu-y6nhN1RvAvURhixUIFjZuYnfC47T1Yot6l1sy~3nOLKAEqMXU9rY0u5ihqLInOGKkJka3I71zNIdg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Wichita Public Schools","date","2025-09-09T12:41:40Z","article","The Wichita Board of Education on Sept. 8 adopted the district's 2025'26 budget and approved related tax resolutions after holding public hearings and receiving comments from residents and local officials. The board approved a $1,009,854,676 total budget and kept the overall mill rate flat at 51.387 mills; the board also set the supplemental general (LOB) percentage at 33% for 2025'26.

The budget matter follows two public hearings the board opened earlier in the meeting: one on the district's intent to exceed the revenue-neutral tax rate and the other on the proposed 2025'26 budget. Members of the public who spoke addressed property taxes, student achievement and district spending priorities. After public comment the board closed both hearings and moved to formal actions later in the meeting.

Why this matters: The board's adoption authorizes the revenue measures and spending plan the district will use in 2025'26. The vote preserves the district's ability to collect more tax revenue than a revenue-neutral calculation would allow while keeping the adopted mill rate unchanged from the prior year. The budget includes targeted investments the district's staff tied to achievement goals and building-level needs.

Key details: The board's financial staff reported the proposed total budget of $1,009,854,676 and an operating budget of roughly $615 million; staff said 87.2% of operating funds go directly to student-facing services and instruction accounts for 53.5% of the operating budget. Addie Lowell, chief financial officer, told the board the district's proposed compensation package totals 5.47% and that base state aid per pupil is $56.15. The district's capital-outlay authority and bond payments remain part of the tax structure the board and county use to collect revenue; staff said capital-outlay mills (the statutory maximum) remain available where needed for facilities work.

Votes at a glance:
- Resolution 2025-03 (expressing property-tax policy as it relates to exceeding the revenue-neutral tax rate): motion made by Melody (mover), seconded by Stan; recorded roll-call vote: Knock: yes; Hazel: yes; Diane Albert: yes; Melody: yes; Stan: yes; Julie Hedrick: yes; Kathy: no. Motion passed 6'1.
- Resolution 2025-04 (authorize supplemental general LOB budget percentage at 33%): motion made by Melody, seconded by Stan; recorded roll-call vote matched the prior resolution: motion passed 6'1.
- Adoption of the 2025'26 budget as proposed: motion made by Melody, seconded by Julie Hedrick; final hand vote recorded as 5 in favor, 2 opposed; motion passed 5'2 (names for the 5/2 hand vote were not given in the transcript).

Public comment and board context: Several members of the public spoke during the hearings. A resident complained about rising property taxes and asked that taxpayers without children not pay for schools; a city mayor urged a budgeting approach tied to per-student targets; other speakers urged attention to classroom conditions and student outcomes. The board and administration reiterated they used a building-needs assessment process to prioritize spending and that roughly 80% of district revenues are restricted by purpose (special education, nutrition services and federal funds among them).

What's next: The district will implement the 2025'26 spending plan and staff said they will publish budget documents and detailed program allocations (financial services materials are available at usd259.org/financialservices). The board directed that staff continue building-level engagement and report follow-up information as needed.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Education Meeting - September 8, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Wichita Board of Education on Sept. 8 adopted the 2025'26 budget and approved tax resolutions that allow the district to exceed the revenue-neutral rate while keeping the overall mill rate unchanged at 51.387 mills.","taxTitle","Wichita, School Boards, Kansas","taxId",14489,"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},6129947,"Respiratory therapist urges Wichita schools to stock albuterol inhalers and spacers for emergencies",124,2232000,2356000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5741018-ce54f50b4a81cf5cea9dab1b0fc52195&start=2232&end=2356","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5741018-ce54f50b4a81cf5cea9dab1b0fc52195/thumbnail_2232000.jpg","/articles/6129947/Kansas/Respiratory-therapist-urges-Wichita-schools-to-stock-albuterol-inhalers-and-spacers-for-emergencies","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6129947-3c8a5f97319d01a8f0a2ab7b7cce6755/orig.mp4?Expires=1771101438&Signature=etSCwVhX4XrTiLEp6JiI4qQ7rHKeRuJT1KPp85CvI5h0h1pVD8lJYc3Pv5yKaogpEKW-DpWHM~FvBQ7Z9nPmKqkC65kKLLEAfJQT0yf9R18tQYduP1pE5WiDGAIBEJTnK4NqFAaNzu44vFwa0N3Bfg4M-niN7g4mbxnIiNO~S4M841cXf3hmWDPV7ldx7P9Yhr-VSlJcELFHxWR2FM9tWYO1lNXa~AQOt9kx~9UzHjFzwv9CZyU2uehkzKRw42SvJqtwXuj8s2fgk70oKeA16DBw66WQY2pHrZGPuGgWl1-iABEp-CD6eme~KF2PcuIXTHrY-exANsbd3kbkJdYY6w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kendraille Holly, a registered respiratory therapist and certified asthma educator, told the Wichita Board of Education on Sept. 8 that schools should make inhalers available as an emergency backup for students whose device is lost, forgotten or empty.

Holly said Kansas recently adopted legislation that allows school districts to stock emergency albuterol and that inhalers are a rapid and effective route for administering the medicine in an acute asthma event. She provided the board a handout recommending a preferred inhaler and described an incident in which administration of an inhaler allowed a child to attend class instead of missing school.

Holly asked the district to partner with her on next steps, including seeking funding for spacers (the plastic device that helps a child use an inhaler correctly) from state sources or local hospitals. She said she will return with additional information and offered to help the district implement a program.

District staff did not take formal action at the meeting; board members thanked the speaker and noted continued conversation would follow.

","A registered respiratory therapist urged the board to adopt policies allowing school staff to administer emergency albuterol via inhaler and to secure funding for spacers, citing asthma prevalence among students and recent state law enabling districts to stock emergency albuterol.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_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":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6129952,"Public commentator alleges problems in Native American parent advisory group after new appointment; board acknowledges follow-up",0,2027000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5741018-ce54f50b4a81cf5cea9dab1b0fc52195&start=2027&end=2027","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5741018-ce54f50b4a81cf5cea9dab1b0fc52195/thumbnail_2027000.jpg","/articles/6129952/Kansas/Public-commentator-alleges-problems-in-Native-American-parent-advisory-group-after-new-appointment-board-acknowledges-follow-up","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6129952-3ae629aee42e1adf53c32899137b8bae/orig.mp4?Expires=1771101438&Signature=V~g~OYLUL-akhG3MjR7fjrLXb~7b-lKKboNpND9NBwWN2BsJ5Yb~pV3BKYFD8X~QICGTNBhiv8XZoeazAiIfDXu0ccrQfo0h1lACHkRL8nDMs7qkVeNVOM6Eaw0ZU-kkTbM4oHCsDBcvZGgNvynU~VaZ8dD1kQ0yToZcKxYBOaO-HligbwXUpcAvJtapwqfT1Hd2irfdRfsoP9BQqf4HetdFRgCtQMmsxIys9AQHosCGZYb8Ae2iBX~uKx4NXcukRMKZktBxxvujfciVhigqgfJymZW9por0Lgi1sG2xbN18-qNA0v6N0mvwoWUoBN1hv7Nfx~qnK4UxM0o96Bhskw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A public commenter told the Wichita Board of Education on Sept. 8 that documents obtained in a court review raised concerns about the selection of the district's new Native American education program director and alleged irregularities related to the Native American Parent Advisory Committee (NAPAC).

Patrick Murphy, who identified himself during the meeting as a resident, said documents obtained via a court request were under review by federal authorities and that the newly appointed Native American program director'whom administration announced earlier in the meeting'was among those named in the materials. Murphy said parents and community members experienced intimidation and that committee elections had been improperly influenced; he called the appointment inappropriate and said it threatened trust between the district and Native families.

Administration earlier in the meeting introduced Veronica Gillette as the district's new Native American Indian education program specialist; Susan Willis, the district's interim chief human resources officer, announced Gillette's hiring and said Gillette had 13 years'experience with the district'including work as a parent involvement worker.

The board did not take formal action on the allegations during the meeting. Board leadership responded to the public comment by saying there would be follow-up; no specific follow-up date was provided in the meeting transcript.

What this report does and does not say: The claims about a federal review and court records come from a public comment and were described by the speaker as information he provided to the board; the board did not adjudicate the claims during the meeting. The district announced an official appointment for the Native American program specialist earlier in the agenda.

","A member of the public told the Wichita Board that the newly appointed director of the district's Native American education program is linked to an ongoing review of prior NAPAC activity; the board said it will follow up.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6129958,"District reports record graduation rate, large gains in AP, concurrent and credential participation",1643,2431000,4074000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5741018-ce54f50b4a81cf5cea9dab1b0fc52195&start=2431&end=4074","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5741018-ce54f50b4a81cf5cea9dab1b0fc52195/thumbnail_2431000.jpg","/articles/6129958/Kansas/District-reports-record-graduation-rate-large-gains-in-AP-concurrent-and-credential-participation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6129958-140a2da41e85ca7fa4bf9014f1c67510/orig.mp4?Expires=1771101438&Signature=QGX6r7ysa1M3UZflr0YpRu-azoHDqVmiq9CEQbS-jr0h4FMihH4uZHTUfqsjiz4Z2B2jECRHFrTkYufDG-CkS6WjC7TWY5HnReyZyoCgXWkJ8vd~fCQq7nDlHnaEGynjjdu2Pep2yW--isSZ0jX1w7u3SvEW~vSqrCKmXtC2TxYGhc9s7YKrHTNpHKdMHgvdoM1gv5~sVN4sBqMzyuiSMlT0NuC5JzjxqSoz906Wc3gD20m9DNuml6WGEBpvMcbB~GbEK~XPp0R0fSYVwDGeMQVEYvSd0XaQxSxvqXsMCKXS0HyrSBLQH8-LCG5fBIQEyew-oHvVr8Tr9j0EAYhbew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District staff presented an academic update to the Wichita Board of Education on Sept. 8 that emphasized rising graduation rates and expanding college- and career-readiness opportunities, including dramatic increases in AP enrollment, concurrent and dual credit, industry credentials and work-readiness testing.

The nut of it: Administration said the district's on-time graduation rate for the class of 2024 is 84.3% (the highest in district history) while the state recorded 89.5% for the same class. Staff reported measurable gains for multiple student groups and described an array of postsecondary pathways intended to increase students' opportunities after high school.

Major findings presented by district staff included:
- Graduation and subgroup gains: The district's class of 2024 graduation rate was reported at 84.3%; staff noted historic highs for several subgroups (for example, students eligible for free lunch and students with disabilities showed substantial multi-year increases). The district's stated goal is to reach 85% overall.
- AP and AP exam outcomes: Over four years the district reported a 26.2% increase in unique students enrolled in AP courses and a 47.4% increase in total AP-course enrollments; AP-exam pass rates (score of 3 or higher) also rose and the number of exams scoring 3+ increased substantially.
- Concurrent and dual credit growth: Staff reported a 243.9% increase in students taking concurrent or dual-credit classes in three years and a 258.9% increase in college credit hours earned across the district in that time frame. The number of students earning nine or more college hours in a single year rose from about 80 to 305.
- WorkKeys and credentials: The district expanded use of the ACT WorkKeys workplace readiness assessment and reported large increases in test takers and students earning silver-or-better results. Industry-recognized credentials earned by students rose by roughly 96.5% over four years, staff said.

Presenters framed the increases as the result of intentional, system-level steps: the district created a dedicated ACT testing day for juniors, increased communication about postsecondary options, adopted a weighted GPA to encourage enrollment in higher-level courses, and expanded supports for concurrent/dual credit and career-technical education pathways.

Staff cautioned about interpreting state assessment scores across years: the state is changing cut scores and test designs, and staff said 2025 scores will function as a new baseline. They pointed to other measures (ACT, AP, college credit, credentials, graduation) as complementary indicators of student readiness.

Board members and administrators also discussed building-level conditions that affect instruction, including persistent air-conditioning problems raised by teachers and union representatives; staff said facilities work and building needs remain part of budget and operations planning.

What the board will get next: Staff said updates will return to the board as new state cut-score guidance becomes available (staff expected additional information in October or November) and that the district will continue to track multiple indicators rather than a single test score.

","Wichita staff presented an academic update showing the district's highest-ever graduation rate for the class of 2024, growth in AP and concurrent/dual-credit participation, large increases in college credit hours earned, and expanded credentialing and work-readiness testing.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Wichita Board adopts $1.01 billion budget, approves tax policy that exceeds revenue-neutral rate

Respiratory therapist urges Wichita schools to stock albuterol inhalers and spacers for emergencies

Public commentator alleges problems in Native American parent advisory group after new appointment; board acknowledges follow-up

District reports record graduation rate, large gains in AP, concurrent and credential participation