Derby Board reviews FY25-26 budget timetable, approves consent items and personnel updates; resident files open-records request alleging conflict of interest

A Derby resident raised a potential conflict of interest and filed a Kansas Open Records Act request while the Derby Board of Education reviewed its proposed fiscal year 2025–26 budget and approved routine consent items and personnel-policy updates during a July 21 board meeting.

Jason Morawski, who identified himself as a Derby resident, told the board he wanted records related to payments to Orion Education and Training and said he was making a formal Kansas Open Records Act request. "Pursuant to the Kansas Open Records Act, KSA 45 20 15, I am requesting access to the following public records," Morawski said, reading a written request he had placed in the board packet and asking for copies of payments from Jan. 1, 2024, to the present and a written explanation if any portion is denied.

The request followed Morawski's statement that he believed a board member, Tanya Giacobucci, had a potential conflict because her employer, Orion, provides professional development that he said was funded by the district under programs currently under federal review. Morawski named four board members in his description of a prior vote; the board did not take any immediate action on his allegation at the meeting.

Pam Kelly, the district's director of finance, presented the board with an overview of the proposed FY25-26 budget and timetable. Kelly said the district's total budget is $154,752,309, that state aid increased 4.4%, and she reported figures for state aid and the district's local option budget (LOB). Kelly told the board the proposed mill levy is 57.491 — a decrease of 0.144 mills — and that the Derby Recreation Commission's levy is still pending; she said an updated budget reflecting the DRC's numbers will be returned to the board on Aug. 4. Publication of the notice to exceed the revenue-neutral rate and the FY25-26 budget is scheduled for Aug. 13 in the Derby Informer and the hearings are set for 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 8.

On procedural business the board approved the consent agenda, including an amended Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office agreement for school resource officers at Cooper and Oakmont and several personnel and contract items. The board also voted to change committee membership language to allow one to three members for most committees (with a few exceptions to be returned at the next meeting), approved policy updates to BBC (board committees) and IB (school site councils), and adopted changes to job descriptions and their evaluation instruments — including a reporting-line update for the director of teaching and learning and removal of McKinney-Vento language from the director of special services job description.

All recorded motions taken during the meeting passed unanimously by voice vote (5–0). The board also scheduled two workshops for the year and discussed possible topics for the Sept. 29 session, including e-learning, alternative learning, the Panther Learning Center, high-dose tutoring and the RISE program.

The board went into a brief executive session to discuss matters related to school security and then adjourned.

Votes at a glance

• Approve consent agenda (donation for Grama Fit at Derby High School; Sedgwick County SRO agreement amendment for 2025–26; VOCO Vision contract for special services; Kansas unclaimed properties; certified and classified personnel reports) — Motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved 5–0.

• Change committee membership language to 1–3 members (except specified committees to be returned at next meeting) — Motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved 5–0.

• Approve board policy updates (BBC, IB) — Motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved 5–0.

• Approve job description updates (Director of Teaching and Learning reporting line; Director of Special Services removing McKinney-Vento) — Motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved 5–0.

• Approve new/updated evaluation instruments for the affected director positions and assistant superintendent title change — Motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved 5–0.

• Motion to enter executive session for school security matters (15 minutes, plus a 10-minute break) — Motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved 5–0.