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Board adopts assessment review to guide budget, approves tentative 2027–28 calendar, textbooks and athletic handbook changes
Summary
Salina Public Schools approved an assessment review to inform budget priorities, a tentative 2027–28 calendar, textbook selections and minor athletic handbook language changes at its March 10 meeting; the assessment review highlights barriers such as chronic absenteeism, kindergarten readiness and social-emotional needs.
The Salina Public Schools Board of Education on March 10 approved an assessment review intended to guide the district’s budget priorities, and approved associated action items including a tentative 2027–28 school calendar, textbook selections and minor changes to the athletic handbook.
Dr. Shana Rechter presented the assessment review as part of the Kansas State Department of Education accreditation and school improvement process. Rechter identified student-level barriers (chronic absenteeism, lack of kindergarten readiness, social-emotional needs and increasing student substance use) and systemwide constraints (staffing and limited resources). She outlined three review questions the district used: identifying barriers to grade-level proficiency, budget actions to remove those barriers, and estimated timeframes to achieve proficiency if budget actions are implemented.
Proposed or continued actions described in the packet include committing resources to staff pay, continuing Visible Learning training with a more differentiated, building-level approach, investing in MTSS (multi-tiered system of supports) for tiered interventions, sustaining preschool classrooms (including an additional classroom at Cottonwood), and prioritizing universal transportation and accessible mental-health supports.
Superintendent Hogan explained that the tentative 2027–28 calendar follows a yearlong process of staff feedback and will be finalized next year; the board approved the tentative calendar. Laura Lyons presented the textbook selection process, describing teacher-led review teams, alignment to board criteria and inclusion of ELL and CTE reviewers; the board approved the textbooks as presented. The board also approved minor athletic handbook language changes clarifying principal discretion for discipline and consequence adjustments.
Each item was moved and approved by the board; recorded votes on the packaging of these action items were unanimous (7–0). The assessment review will inform upcoming budget proposals and requires further work by district staff to translate priorities into specific budget allocations and timelines.
Next steps listed in the meeting include staff follow-up on budget recommendations and continued implementation planning for professional learning and preschool expansion.
