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Shawnee Mission board approves 2026 legislative platform, emphasizing federal role for education
Summary
Board voted 7-0 to approve the district's 2026 legislative platform after second-read edits; platform includes language supporting a strong federal role for public education and highlights special education funding concerns raised by board members.
The Shawnee Mission School District Board of Education voted unanimously to approve the district's 2026 legislative platform after staff presented second-read edits and recommended language clarifications.
Superintendent Dr. Schumacher summarized edits from the previous meeting and said the first- and second-read edits were color-coded in the presented document. David Stuart said the platform was revised to explicitly allow the district to act quickly in response to federal developments and to highlight support for a strong federal role: "SMSD supports policies that maintain a strong federal role in public education," Stuart said, adding that the Department of Education distributes funds and enforces civil rights protections that are central to district work.
Board members discussed priorities to emphasize in advocacy, including the importance of special education funding; one board member asked the district to be particularly aggressive on that front in upcoming legislative efforts. Following a recommendation for approval and a motion, the board voted to adopt the 2026 legislative platform with the second-read edits; the motion passed 7-0.
Next steps: district staff will proceed with the adopted platform and act on federal-level developments as needed; board members suggested consideration next year of a local policy agenda addressing housing affordability and infrastructure that affects students and staff.
