July School Board Reports — Week 3

Nine local school boards met last week.

Kansas

Blue Valley School District

Highlights:

• Reorganization
• Revising two district policies, “Behavior and Discipline” and “Civility of Students”

Bonner Springs/Edwardsville

Highlight: Reorganization

Gardner Edgerton

Highlights:

• Reorganization
• Overseeing projects funded by $72 million in school bond sales approved by voters earlier this year.

Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools

Highlights:

• Reorganization
• An update on the status of the Schools for Fair Funding lawsuit. The district is a plaintiff in the case, which alleges that the level of public school funding in Kansas is unconstitutional, because it does not provide students with adequate education. Superintendent Cynthia Lane testified in this case last month.
• Reviewing proposed budget for the 2012-13 school year. The board will hold a public budget hearing next month on Tuesday, Aug. 14. According to the superintendent’s memo regarding her budget proposal:

For the past eight years the Board of Education has been faced with making difficult decisions due to reductions in the Base State Aid per Pupil, exceeding $60 million. For the coming school year, there has been an increase in the BSAPP by $58, thus the Board has been fortunate not to focus on reductions. This increase, although positive must and will offset any potential decline in assessed valuation and unfunded state aid that appears likely. 

Olathe Public Schools

Highlights:

• Reorganization
• Reviewing a proposed budget for the 2012-13 school year.
• Announcing a Community Budget Workshop, to take place Thursday, July 26, at 6 p.m. in the Education Center
• Approving public notice of a budget and tax levy hearing to take place Thursday, Aug. 2, at 7 p.m. in the Education Center
• Announcing plans to hear public comments regarding a proposed Children’s Internet Protection Act policy to comply with new federal requirements. Community members may comment during the board meeting on Thursday, Aug. 2.

Missouri

Grandview School District

Highlight: Reviewing proposed district policy changes

Hickman Mills School District

Highlights:

• Reviewing Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) agreement for 2012-13 academic year
• Consideration of Common Core Standards professional development for building administrators
• Receiving report regarding metal detector log sheets and police activity

Liberty School District

Highlights:

• Considering approval of a long list of proposed policy changes ranging from “Prohibition Against Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation” to “Animals on District Property” and “Visitors to District Property/Events”
• Receiving report on property tax assessment showing a $600,000 increase in collections.
• Tax rate hearing set for Monday, Aug. 20, at 7 p.m.

Platte County School District

Highlights:

• Hearing report of utility use per building
• Reviewing a resolution authorizing the sale of school bonds

Raymore-Peculiar School District

Highlights: Setting the date for a tax levy hearing

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