Citizen Portal News Kansas

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4 weeks ago

Staff members say social workers are key to students' attendance and mental health Staff members told a meeting that social workers help students get to school, regulate emotions, and connect families to community resources; presenters said staffing in the district grew from 14 to 42 social workers over about 25 years.

Social workers have tripled in number over the past 25 years, becoming essential lifelines that enhance student attendance and mental health in schools.

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#KS #CitizenPortal #KansasSchools #StudentAttendance #MentalHealthSupport #CommunityResources

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1 month ago

Superintendent highlights volunteer food efforts, backpack meals and Lawrence’s FIFA World Cup role Superintendent Dr. Janice Kerswift outlined district partnerships that delivered more than a dozen pallets of snacks, assembled 185 grant-funded backpacks, noted a $15,000 donation split for sports nutrition, and announced Lawrence as a 2026 FIFA World Cup base-camp community with educational opportunities.

Lawrence Schools are stepping up with community partnerships, delivering snacks and meals to students while also celebrating their unique role as the 2026 FIFA World Cup base camp!

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#KS #CitizenPortal #KansasSchools #StudentSupport #CommunityPartnerships #EducationEquity

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1 month ago

Committee adds local health departments to fentanyl education bill, strikes duplicative grant section The committee amended House Bill 2489 to explicitly allow school districts to work with local health departments on fentanyl education and naloxone stocking, and accepted the Attorney General's recommendation to strike section 3 to avoid duplicative grant procedures; members raised outstanding funding questions and paused further work to gather fiscal details.

Kansas lawmakers are reshaping House Bill 2489 to enhance fentanyl education in schools, but funding uncertainties could stall progress.

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#KS #PublicHealth #CitizenPortal #EducationReform #KansasSchools #SubstanceAbuse

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1 month ago

Committee advances amended plan to phase down school mill levy while increasing residential exemption An amendment to House Bill 20-11 keeps the statewide school mill levy at 20 mills for one year, immediately raises the residential homestead exemption from $75,000 to $100,000, then gradually lowers the mill levy with a 3% growth cap; the Department of Revenue estimated multi-year reductions to the State School District Finance Fund (FY27–FY31).

Kansas is taking a bold step by amending House Bill 20-11 to phase down school tax rates while boosting residential exemptions—what does this mean for your wallet?

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#KS #CitizenPortal #KansasSchools #CommunitySupport #EducationFunding #TaxReform

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1 month ago

Appropriations committee approves series of provisos on water, higher ed, judiciary, child advocacy, ARPA and school safety The committee voted on numerous smaller provisos and budget adjustments: water office reappropriation language for three State Water Plan lines, EDIF adjustments and K‑State dairy facility funding (three‑party $5M/year for three years), judicial training expense limits, child advocacy prevention funding, KDHE/KDAD technical provisos, HERO Act pilot for first‑responder PTSD, ARPA allocations for BVLOS and K6 interoperable communications, and a Safe and Secure Schools grant restoration to K‑12; all motions passed by voice votes.

The House Appropriations Committee has just approved a game-changing budget package that impacts everything from water management to school safety and higher education funding!

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#KS #CitizenPortal #EducationReform #KansasSchools #PublicSafety #WaterManagement

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1 month ago

Kansas districts report fewer disruptions after limiting phones, curbing 1:1 take-home devices Several districts told the board their local rules — from strict phone bans to replacing 1:1 take-home Chromebooks with classroom carts — corresponded with fewer disciplinary incidents, more in-school engagement and higher library use, though officials emphasized local tailoring and supports for families.

Kansas schools are transforming student interactions by limiting personal devices, resulting in fewer disruptions and a surge in engagement—could this be the key to a better learning environment?

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#KS #CitizenPortal #KansasSchools #DevicePolicy #StudentEngagement

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1 month ago

Board presses KSDE on district cybersecurity funding after briefing on risks and vendor breaches KSDE staff outlined outreach to districts and use of the NIST cybersecurity framework; board members asked whether districts have dedicated cybersecurity funding after recent breaches and vendor incidents. KSDE said no statewide dedicated cybersecurity funding for districts is in place and emphasized low‑cost mitigations and vendor vetting.

Kansas school districts face an urgent need for robust cybersecurity measures as funding cuts raise concerns over their preparedness against breaches and vendor risks.

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#KS #CitizenPortal #KansasSchools #FundingChallenges #CybersecurityEducation #VendorVetting

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2 months ago

Shawnee Mission showcases expansion of 'real world learning' and student market‑value assets District leaders and students presented expanded real‑world learning programs across preK‑12, reporting that 86.9% of the class of 2025 earned market‑value assets and outlining plans for a senior capstone course and college‑credit expansion.

Shawnee Mission School District is revolutionizing education with real-world learning initiatives, achieving an impressive 86.9% of the class of 2025 earning market-value assets!

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#KS #KansasSchools #CitizenPortal #CareerReadiness #StudentSuccess #RealWorldLearning

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2 months ago

District lobbyist outlines major bills — special‑ed funding, lunch verification, cell‑phone ban among priorities District lobbyist Dr. Stuart Little told the Shawnee Mission board that an accelerated legislative session is prioritizing property‑tax relief, special‑education funding debates and several bills that could affect local school operations including a cell‑phone ban and a proposal to require verification for free‑lunch eligibility.

Kansas schools are bracing for major changes as legislative priorities shift rapidly, with everything from cell-phone bans to special-education funding on the line.

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#KS #KansasSchools #LegislativeAction #StudentPrivacy #EducationFunding #CitizenPortal

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2 months ago

Shawnee Mission board approves seven‑year student‑transportation contract with Zoom Services The Shawnee Mission School District board approved a 7‑year contract with Zoom Services Inc. to provide student transportation beginning Aug. 1, 2026. The district estimates about $18 million in initial annual costs and roughly $21 million annually on average over the contract term.

Shawnee Mission School District just approved a groundbreaking seven-year partnership with Zoom Services to revolutionize student transportation, focusing on safety, technology, and improved communication!

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#KS #EducationAccess #KansasSchools #SafetyReliability

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2 months ago

Senate Judiciary committee hears bill requiring fingerprint checks for school license applicants and employees A Senate Judiciary committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 246, which would require fingerprint-based state and national criminal history checks for teaching-license applicants and school-district employees, create a KDADS reimbursement fund, and clarify reporting duties for certain convictions; proponents urged the measure to close gaps in school background checks while members raised concerns about cost, scope, contractors, and rural turnaround times.

A proposed Kansas bill aims to tighten background checks for teaching license applicants and school employees, revealing shocking gaps that could affect student safety.

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#KS #EducationReform #KansasSchools #PublicSafety #CitizenPortal #CivicAccountability

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2 months ago

Kansas State Board approves Kansas School for the Deaf task-force recommendations The State Board voted unanimously to adopt six recommendations aimed at improving academics and staffing at the Kansas School for the Deaf, including a standing parent advisory council and teacher pipeline work, and asked KSDE staff to return with a fast 30‑day set of next steps.

The Kansas State Board of Education has unanimously approved a groundbreaking plan to enhance education at the Kansas School for the Deaf, focusing on urgent staffing needs and academic improvement.

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#KS #TeacherSupport #KansasSchools #EducationReform #CommunityEngagement

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2 months ago

Shawnee Mission officials cite lower chronic absenteeism, rising graduation rate and expanded mental-health supports District leaders told the board that chronic absenteeism fell to 17.7% and the graduation rate rose to 89.7% as programs including McKinney‑Vento supports, Project HOME and expanded mental‑health training aim to keep students enrolled; a recommendation on adding five elementary counselors will be presented in February.

Shawnee Mission School District is celebrating a significant drop in chronic absenteeism and a rise in graduation rates, thanks to innovative student support programs and a focus on mental health.

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#KS #EducationImprovement #KansasSchools #MentalHealth #StudentSupports

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3 months ago

Board authorizes $1.28M cybersecurity platform and $2.93M lighting upgrades The Shawnee Mission board authorized a $1,276,536.53 purchase of a Palo Alto network security platform (Cortex XSIAM) and approved a $2,928,158.10 contract with ROI Energy for district LED lighting upgrades (phase 2); both actions were funded from capital funds and approved by voice vote.

The Shawnee Mission School District is investing over $4 million in cutting-edge cybersecurity and energy-efficient lighting upgrades to enhance safety and learning environments!

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#KS #KansasSchools #EducationalEnvironments #CybersecurityInnovation #CitizenPortal

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3 months ago

Shawnee Mission board approves reorganized high-school pathways, adopts middle-school guide The Shawnee Mission School District board approved updated middle- and high-school program planning guides; the high-school update reorganizes electives into clearer pathways with a senior capstone course intended to guarantee a market-value asset by graduation and passed after debate 5–2–1.

The Shawnee Mission School District is transforming education with new career pathways and a senior capstone course aimed at ensuring every graduate leaves with a market-value asset!

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#KS #KansasSchools #EducationReform #StudentSuccess #CitizenPortal #CareerPathways

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3 months ago

KSDE pushes deeper school improvement: aligned "four fundamentals" and statewide school improvement days Deputy Commissioner Renee Nugent and KISA leaders outlined a shift from compliance to coherent school improvement centered on four fundamentals (structured literacy, standards alignment, balanced assessment, quality instruction) and reported early action-plan trends from school improvement days.

Kansas is transforming school improvement by prioritizing coherent, implementation-focused education strategies centered on four key fundamentals.

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#KS #KansasSchools #EducationReform #StandardsAlignment #QualityInstruction #CitizenPortal

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6 months ago

School Board Approves Siemens Contract and Discusses Community Engagement Plans Board approves Siemens contract while discussing Constitution Day, bond information, and suicide prevention efforts.

The Shawnee Heights Board of Education just made a game-changing decision to enhance local education, approving a major contract and unveiling exciting community engagement activities!

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#KS #EducationTransparency #CitizenPortal #CommunityEngagement #KansasSchools

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6 months ago

Performance Audit Reveals Security Shortcomings in Kansas School District Accounting Systems Audit finds inadequate access controls in accounting systems across evaluated school districts.

A recent audit revealed alarming security gaps in Kansas school district accounting systems, with none of the 20 districts meeting basic access control standards.

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#KS #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety #CyberSecurity #KansasSchools #EducationReform

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6 months ago

Kansas School for the Deaf negotiates salary increases and professional development changes Kansas School for the Deaf discusses salary hikes and professional development structure for teachers.

Big changes are coming for educators at the Kansas School for the Deaf, with proposed salary hikes and enhanced professional development on the horizon!

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#KS #ProfessionalDevelopment #CitizenPortal #TeacherCompensation #KansasSchools #EducationReform

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6 months ago

Residents Demand Transparency on Piper Property Tax Spending at Local Forum Piper residents urge council to avoid tax increases and demand accountability for spending.

Piper residents are raising their voices against soaring property taxes and demanding transparency in school funding, questioning how their hard-earned dollars are being spent.

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#KS #CitizenPortal #FiscalTransparency #PropertyTaxRelief #KansasSchools #CommunityAccountability

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6 months ago

Local Businesses Donate $19K in Supplies to Gardner Edgerton Schools Community donations support local elementary and high schools with essential supplies and treats.

Local businesses and generous individuals have come together to donate over $19,000 in supplies and support to Gardner Edgerton schools, transforming the educational landscape for students.

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#KS #CitizenPortal #CommunitySupport #KansasSchools #EducationResources #LocalGenerosity

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6 months ago

Nonprofit Leader Critiques Lawrence School District's Bathroom Policies Leader expresses frustration over Lawrence School District's handling of bathroom management issues.

A nonprofit leader's sharp critique of bathroom access policies in Lawrence schools has ignited a vital debate on student rights versus safety measures.

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#KS #CitizenPortal #FacilityManagement #KansasSchools #SafetySecurity #StudentAccess

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6 months ago

Bel Air Mayor Jim Benage addresses school violence concerns at community meeting Community members express deep concerns over rising school violence among teenagers.

Community members are sounding the alarm over rising school violence, urging for urgent action to protect our students and foster a safer environment.

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#KS #CitizenPortal #CommunitySupport #KansasSchools #YouthViolence #StudentSafety

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6 months ago

Parent Praises Coach Regier for Building Varsity Tennis Program Mark commends coach Regier for her efforts in developing the tennis program.

The Derby Kansas School Board meeting showcased a community united in praise for local educators, with parents like Mark shining a spotlight on Coach Regier's transformative impact on the varsity tennis program.

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#KS #CitizenPortal #CommunityEngagement #KansasSchools

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6 months ago

Retired Widow Advocates for Lower Property Taxes in Worshburn Rule District Resident urges school board to consider tax burden on families during budget discussions.

A retired widow's heartfelt plea at the Auburn-Washburn school board meeting highlights the growing alarm over rising property taxes and their impact on local families.

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#KS #CitizenPortal #CommunityEngagement #PropertyTaxRelief #KansasSchools #EducationFunding

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6 months ago

Stone Creek School Celebrates Staff Achievements and Community Engagement Successes Stone Creek highlights teacher contributions and student successes during recent staff recognition event.

The Derby Kansas School Board meeting revealed how community engagement and resilience are transforming education, even in the face of challenges like flooding.

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#KS #CitizenPortal #ResilienceInEducation #CommunityEngagement #KansasSchools #ParentalInvolvement

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6 months ago

District Highlights Summer Enrollment and Bully Prevention Efforts in Department Report Communications department shares summer enrollment updates and new bullying reporting resources.

The Derby Kansas School Board is rolling out exciting new initiatives for the school year, focusing on enrollment updates, bullying prevention, and enhanced communication for families.

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#KS #CitizenPortal #WebAccessibility #CommunityEngagement #KansasSchools #BullyingPrevention

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6 months ago

Wichita Public Schools reports significant growth in AP course enrollment and college credits Wichita Public Schools sees increases in AP enrollment and college credit attainment among students.

Wichita Public Schools is celebrating a remarkable surge in AP course enrollment and college credit attainment, proving that students are ready to tackle academic challenges like never before!

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#KS #CitizenPortal #CollegeReadiness #KansasSchools #AcademicAchievement

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6 months ago

School Board Discusses Enhanced Safety Measures Following Recent Incident at Blue Valley Middle Board members advocate for proactive safety measures amid rising concerns about school shootings.

The Blue Valley Board of Education is taking a stand for student safety, exploring innovative security measures after a shocking firearm incident at a local middle school.

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#KS #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety #CommunityEngagement #KansasSchools #EducationReform

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6 months ago

Local Official Advocates Responsible Gun Ownership Amid Rising School Safety Costs Official stresses the impact of safety budgets on education funding in Johnson County.

The Blue Valley Board of Education is grappling with the tough reality of balancing student safety and the rising costs that threaten essential educational programs.

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#KS #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety #GunOwnershipResponsibility #KansasSchools #EducationFunding