District board meeting recap Jan. 14

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