The following is a summary of the Oct. 22 SMSD Board of Education meeting.

• Adoption of agenda; approval of minutes from Oct. 8 special meeting and Oct. 8 regular meeting

• Report by Superintendent Michael Fulton
  • SMSD’s average ACT scores are above the state and national average
  • Sunflower Elementary School just opened the new ‘Learnscape’ classroom
  • The New Golden Eagle Award for special education was granted to Tracy Livingston and Brandi Newry
  • The state of Kansas recognized 90 Shawnee Mission students with the Seal of Biliteracy
  • The SMEF held its annual fall breakfast
  • Dr. Fulton is beginning to work with parent and teacher advisory boards
  • November is the month for the ‘We care, I can’ food drive, which benefits the Johnson County Christmas Bureau
  • Maria McIntyre, Michael Fanning, Kim Hess and Ada Wallace were recognized as All Stars

• Reports from Board Members
  • Heather Ousley said the Shawnee Mission Education Foundation had a successful fall breakfast
  • Deb Zila said the KSB Board of Directors meeting is in a few weeks
  • Mary Sinclair will meet with the legislative group Nov. 3
  • The first meeting of the social media council, attended by Heather Ousley, was Oct. 22

• Brad Stratton read the SMSD Legislative Platform, which encourages more funding for public education to address academic and social needs

• Chief Financial Officer Russell Knapp gave a brief budget overview

• Public Comment Section
  • Laura Robertson, the parent of a Tomahawk Elementary student with special needs, thanked the district for installing an accessible playground at the elementary school
  • A Horizons sophomore spoke about her experiences with sexual and physical assault in SMSD schools and said that she’s attempted suicide and lost a friend to suicide
  • Tietgen’s father, Charles Tietgen, spoke about his daughter being attacked at school, and said that the United States Department of Justice is currently investigating SMSD

• Program Evaluation for Health Services
  • The board received an update on health services within the district, as well as the suggestion that school nurses be allowed to administer an opioid antagonist such as Narcan in the event of an overdose

• ACT Presentation
  • SMSD’s average ACT score is higher than at the state or national levels and has remained stable

• Approval of Consent Agenda Items

• The board approved an agreement with the Johnson County Board of Commissioners to support opioid antagonist protocol in the district. School nurses would be able to administer an opioid antagonist like Narcan in an overdose situation

• The board voted to approve a revision to Board Policy GARI: Staff Family, Medical and Servicemember Leave. The revision says that if both parents are employees of the district, they will both be allowed to take leave for the birth or adoption of a child

• The board approved the spending of $20,000 on two architectural and engineering firms to conduct assessments of middle and high school buildings

• Comments from Board