Sedgwick County creates District 5 Collaboration Board, appoints 17 members including city and school leaders

The Sedgwick County Board of County Commissioners voted to create a District 5 Collaboration Board and appointed 17 members representing cities, school districts, townships and improvement districts to a two‑year pilot intended to increase intergovernmental coordination.

Justin Wagner, county counselor, explained the package includes city and school superintendents and representatives from improvement districts and townships. Commissioner Howell said the goal is to bring together officials who “represent organizational viewpoint[s]” and to focus on shared problems such as public safety, roads and bus procurement. Howell described the board as “an experiment” that will hold five meetings this year and six next year, with the first public meeting set for March 10 in Derby.

The board’s roster includes nominees from Wichita, Derby and Mulvane, multiple superintendents (including Wichita Public Schools and Derby), three improvement‑district representatives and three citizens at large recommended by Commissioner Howell. Commissioners emphasized the board is not intended to supplant existing bodies but to provide a forum for coordination on issues that cross municipal and township boundaries.

Commissioners moved and unanimously approved the resolutions. The county clerk administered oaths for members present. The board will meet publicly (no public comment time is scheduled for the first meeting) and will report outcomes to the Board of County Commissioners.