Shawnee schools report full accreditation, launch college-credit and mentoring initiatives

The Board of Education heard a broad update from Interim Superintendent Dr. Teresa Wilkerson at its Oct. 7 meeting, including a successful accreditation visit and multiple new student programs. "The District passed with flying colors," Wilkerson reported, referring to the district's accreditation review conducted Oct. 4.

Wilkerson said the district is finalizing plans to start its first ninth-grade Early College High School cohort in spring 2025 and scheduled a parent informational meeting for Oct. 22 at the SHS Media Center. She also described a new M.V.P. Initiative with Uplift Mentoring and the Athletics Department that will pair 35 varsity athletes as 1-to-1 mentors for incoming sixth-grade students.

The superintendent highlighted community events and partnerships: a Jim Thorpe Night mural ribbon-cutting sponsored by the Sac & Fox Nation and participation from Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Absentee Shawnee, Kickapoo Tribe and Seminole Nation; more than 850 participants took part in National Walk/Bike/Roll to School Day in cooperation with Pogo and local public safety agencies.

Wilkerson and staff also updated the board on transportation: "Shawnee has 4 electric buses now and we will be receiving 4 more electric buses," she said, and noted Transportation Director John Wiles has discussed possible community uses of bus power during outages. Bond and construction items reported as complete or in progress included band storage, new uniforms, tennis court resurfacing and upcoming SECC security vestibule construction.