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Olathe outlines PBIS expansion, mental‑health services and Taste of the Town funding
Summary
District staff reported progress on PBIS coaching and tiered supports, described mental‑health staffing and community partnerships, and promoted a fundraising event that supports in‑school mental‑health services.
Scott Fluke, Olathe Public Schools’ assistant director of mental‑health services, briefed the board on the district’s Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports program (PBIS) and how it connects to the district’s mental‑health services.
Fluke said PBIS coaching raises implementation fidelity: before coaching, about 35% of PBIS indicators were in place on average in participating schools; after one year of coaching, that rose to about 82%. He said about 34 schools have moved to targeted (tier‑2) interventions and the district plans to have every school implementing PBIS in August; coaches carry caseloads of roughly 11–12 schools.
Fluke described how schools use data from a system called SWIS to identify problem times and tailor interventions. He highlighted a targeted “check‑in/check‑out” intervention used last year with roughly 380 students and said the district recorded an 88 percent success rate for that intervention.
On mental‑health services, Fluke said the district employs six licensed mental‑health professionals who travel between schools, contracts with about 25 community providers to deliver on‑site therapy, and runs a free help clinic (weekly during the school year and expanded hours in summer). He said district funding and the Taste of the Town fundraiser support services for families who cannot afford care; Fluke told the board Taste of the Town raised “over $300,000” last year and the 2025 event is scheduled for March 29 at 6:30 p.m.
Board members asked how families can access services. Fluke recommended two entry points: the district health clinic and a student’s school counselor. Board member Missus Reagan praised the district for normalizing conversations about mental health, saying it “has been powerful” and noting her personal use of care as an example for students.
Fluke also noted practical technology and logistics changes connected with PBIS work — charging carts, classroom storage and staff training — and urged continued investment in data systems and tier‑2 practices, especially for secondary schools where mental‑health needs have risen.
The presentation was informational; the board did not take formal action.
