Shawnee Mission officials cite lower chronic absenteeism, rising graduation rate and expanded mental-health supports

At a Shawnee Mission School District board workshop, district leaders reported measurable improvements in attendance and graduation and outlined expansion of student supports across the district.

Christy Ziegler, the district’s chief of student and family services, presented a dashboard showing a district chronic absenteeism rate of 17.7% for 2025 and a graduation rate of 89.7%, both improvements from the prior year. "My best and first answer is connection," Ziegler said when asked what most contributed to improved attendance, adding that staff and school leaders are focusing on early intervention and relationship‑building to reengage students.

The update described several programs that aim to reduce barriers to students staying in school. Officials said 389 students were identified for McKinney‑Vento homeless‑services support last year and Project HOME served about 300 individuals and families facing housing instability, enabling students to remain enrolled and connected to teachers and peers. Ziegler and team highlighted roughly 64,354 contacts logged through social workers and counselors and said about 1,600 students received school‑based academic tutoring during the last year.

Mental‑health supports were a focal point. District leaders said 86 staff members have been trained in Youth Mental Health First Aid with grant support, that alternatives to suspension for nicotine‑related offenses are being developed, and that student‑led groups are forming to address vaping together with state and county health partners. Rob Shackleford, director of student and family services, described a district 'flight team'—a crisis response group of more than 50 counselors, social workers, school psychologists and administrators—created in January 2025 to provide immediate emotional support and coordinate services during emergent incidents.

Student voice featured in the presentation. Two student interns from the Youth Equity Stewards (YES) program—Miley Chung of Shawnee Mission West and Orfeh/Orifay O'neigh of Shawnee Mission North—described how YES expanded to more than 180 students and has been used to shape professional learning, student conferences and school‑level belonging work. "Through YES in my internship, I've had the opportunity to share my student perspective, build leadership skills, and collaborate with adults in meaningful ways," Miley said.

Board members asked how changes would translate into staffing and services. Superintendent Dr. Schumacher said the district has a recommendation to add five elementary counselors in the first year; leadership will review building needs, budget constraints and staffing timelines and bring a formal recommendation to the board in February.

The report also noted use of tobacco settlement funds to support tobacco‑treatment specialists in secondary schools (the district now has 22 trained specialists) and that 43 students have completed an alternative‑suspension tobacco education program.

The presentation concluded with board members thanking students and staff for the work; the district said it will include links to program details and the art showcase in the meeting recap.