Shawnee Mission approves girls high school flag-football program; board hears $116,000 startup estimate

The Shawnee Mission School Board authorized purchases and supplemental contracts to launch girls high school flag football for the 2026-27 school year after a staff presentation outlined logistics, equipment needs and estimated costs.

Athletic director Mr. Glazer told the board the activities association approved the program April 23 and that the district aims to run a fall season (mid-August start, mid-October postseason window), with varsity and junior-varsity levels. The on-field format is seven-on-seven; Glazer said one school could see roughly 50 participants and emphasized organizers do not intend to cut students unless necessary for reasonable playing time.

On costs, Glazer presented the district's estimate for startup and first-year expenses: coaching supplements (placed at compensation group eight, roughly equal to head tennis coach equivalents) totaling about $37,000, transportation estimated at $7,500 (using district buses at highest-cost assumptions), officials paid at roughly $50 per official per game and an estimated uniform capital outlay of about $52,000 (an upfront cost that could be amortized across years). Glazer summarized the slide estimates as a first-year total of roughly $116,000 and recurring annual costs near $55,000. He said officials, uniform and equipment costs could fluctuate by scheduling and participation.

During board discussion members raised logistics questions about facility sharing and lights at some middle-school fields, the fate of the prior gymnastics program (equipment had been auctioned), and whether middle schools would be included in future program expansions. Board members and staff repeatedly described the coming season as a learning year that could be refined in subsequent years.

In the action item that followed (7.9), administration recommended authorizing purchases and supplemental coaching contracts. The board approved the authorization (voice vote, motion carries 6). The agenda memo included a dollar figure that is garbled in the transcript; administration clarified in discussion that the presentation-level estimate for startup and first-year recurring costs was roughly $116,000.

What's next: staff said they will proceed with uniform procurement, supplemental contracts and scheduling, and the program will begin practices in mid-August if implementation proceeds as planned.