Wyandotte PTSA urges district action on school culture, says students excluded from pep rally

At public comment during the Kansas City, Kansas Board of Education meeting on March 25, Chevette Dinkins, president of the Wyandotte High School PTSA, told trustees the school lacks student engagement and school culture and urged board follow-up.

Dinkins said the PTSA represents parents, educators, staff, alumni and community members and that the group formally requested a pep rally in January. She said a rally held recently came nearly three months after the request and that “the most critical stakeholders were missing, and that was the students.”

Dinkins told the board Wyandotte “has not hosted a pep rally in nearly a decade” and said students and staff had requested one previously. She told trustees the absence of consistent student activities indicates a disconnect between administration and students and urged the board to ensure students have the same extracurricular experiences available at other district high schools.

The district clerk and staff indicated that staff would follow up with people who signed up to speak. The superintendent’s office and building administration were asked to coordinate outreach to parents and students; the board said staff would share an update after that follow-up.

Why it matters: Student engagement and school culture are commonly cited by parents and advocates as factors that affect attendance, behavior and academic outcomes. The public comment asked for a clear response from the building and district and pressed the board to ensure that student voice and access to school traditions are part of principal‑level decision-making.

Ending: The board did not take formal action at the meeting on the request. Board staff said someone from the administrative team would contact those who signed up to speak and that the board would receive an update on next steps.