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Shawnee Mission superintendent highlights new Tomahawk school, enrollment and restored federal funding
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Schumacher reported the district opened the school year with staggered start dates, celebrated the rebuilt Tomahawk Elementary financed by a 2021 $264 million bond, noted pre-K and kindergarten enrollment availability and said nearly $1 million in federal funding that had been frozen was unfrozen.
Dr. Schumacher, superintendent of the Shawnee Mission School District, told the board at its workshop Monday that the district welcomed students this week in staggered start dates and opened the newly rebuilt Tomahawk Elementary School, the fifth and final elementary rebuild financed by a $264,000,000 bond voters approved in 2021.
The superintendent said, “We are all so happy to have students back to school this week,” and described Tomahawk as having “flexible and open classrooms” and outdoor learning spaces. He said the district’s Jump Start to Learning kindergarten program is supported by Title I funding, a grant from the Hall Family Foundation and the Shawnee Mission Education Foundation.
The update matters to families and staff because it covers classroom capacity and early-childhood access. Dr. Schumacher told the board that kindergarten is full-day in every elementary school and pre-K is now offered in 21 of the district’s 34 elementary schools. He said there are still “limited classroom spots for 3 year olds” and that pre-K and kindergarten enrollment for the 2026 school year remains open.
Dr. Schumacher also reported on district communications and student achievement: he credited the communications team and noted David Smith, the district chief communications officer, was named a 2025 National School Communicator of the Year honoree. He highlighted recent national speech and debate results by Shawnee Mission students, including top finishes at national tournaments by competitors from Shawnee Mission East and South.
On funding, the superintendent said the district had faced a potential loss of “almost $1,000,000” in federal support earlier this summer but that the funds had since been unfrozen. He said the funding supports teacher recruitment and training, English-language learners, migrant students and social-emotional supports.
Board members offered brief remarks following the report, praising the real-world learning initiatives and the district’s professional development work. The session concluded with routine reminders that this meeting was a workshop and that some action items are generally reserved for the regular board meeting.
Looking ahead, the superintendent said the district will continue to implement the strategic plan adopted by the board in 2024 and will solicit volunteers for action teams supporting that plan.
