The following is a summary of the Jan. 14 SMSD Board of Education meeting.

• Adoption of agenda; approval of minutes from Dec. 17 regular meeting

• Report by Superintendent Michael Fulton
  • Roesland Elementary was named a 2018 National ESEA Distinguished School
  • The Rotary Club inducted Andre Carnegie as a Paul Harris Fellow for his work at SM North
  • Three SMSD elementary schools were named Apple Distinguished Schools
  • Johnson County Community College recognized SMSD for their continued partnership
  • SMSD Animation and Game Design students placed 2nd at the Kansas City area Hackathon contest
  • The Overland Park Chamber of Commerce recognized six Johnson County area superintendents for their ‘Zero Reasons Why’ suicide prevention campaign
  • United Community Services honored SMSD Project Home
  • Sante Fe Trail Elementary teacher Andrea Miller earned the KCTV5 Read to Achieve Award
  • Chief Communications Officer David Smith read SMSD’s school board recognition month proclamation
  • The Baptist Trinity Lutheran Legacy Foundation made an $18,750 donation to SMSD for vision screening equipment
  • Director of Family and Student Services John McKinney discussed findings regarding the achievement gap between different groups of students
  • Superintendent Fulton showed an introduction to strategic planning video

• Reports from Board Members
  • Laura Guy talked about the clothing closet run by the SMAC PTA
  • Heather Ousley said the SMEF Excellence in Education grant deadline is approaching
  • Deb Zila said the KASB advocacy day in Topeka is approaching soon and that the professional services committee is in the process of writing a job description for hiring internal legal counsel

• Chief of Student Services Ed Streich gave a presentation about student success, which included quantitative measures on attendance, discipline and participation within SMSD schools

• The board reviewed definitions for committees and advisory boards

• Approval of consent agenda items

• Approval of action items, including renovations at SM West and a revised order of priority for the consideration of transfer students

• Comments from Board
  • Patty Mach encouraged people to become MVP volunteers within the district and mentioned the mental health seminar happening at SM North on Jan. 15
  • Heather Ousley thanked Dr. Fulton for working on the changes to the transfer policy
  • Deb Zila thanked those who plowed the snow so students would be able to get to school
  • Sara Goodburn said she is on the board of the Baptist Trinity Lutheran Legacy Foundation and that she is pleased they are able to donate back to school districts
  • Mary Sinclair invited parents to attend the signature programs open house at the CAA Jan. 15
  • Brad Stratton thanked his fellow board members in honor of school board recognition month

• The board dismissed to executive session to discuss litigation and personnel issues