Schedule & Agendas

Unofficial summary of the Board of Education meeting held June 2, 2025. Meeting minutes will be approved by the Board at its next regularly scheduled meeting.

Agenda/Consent Agenda

The Board approved the Agenda and Consent Agenda.

Professional Negotiated Agreement for 2025-2026

Jeff Wieland, Mill Valley High School teacher and De Soto Teacher's Association (DTA) Lead Negotiator, shared that DTA has already started the ratification vote for the teacher's association on Friday and expected to have a positive result on June 13th when the vote closes.  He also talked about the positive negotiations process and thanked board members for their support.

Alvie Cater summarized the proposed compensation package in the tentative agreement. The package, not including health insurance, is an estimated increase of 4.38%. Individual increases will vary dependent on the employee's placement on the salary schedule.  For supplemental positions and related salary schedule, the increase includes salary enhancements of 3%.   The entire compensation package, including items such as column movement, taxes, and health insurance, is a total estimated increase of 6.03%.   Starting teacher salary will also increase from $49,628 to $50,757.

Mr. Cater also said the administration recommends that employees not covered by the PNA receive an increase similar of approximately 4.38%.   He also highlighted recommendations to increase pay for paraprofessionals.

The Board approved the Negotiated Agreement for 2025-2026 and the compensation recommendation for employees not covered by the PNA.

DISCUSSION ITEM

Overview of FastBridge Academic Data

Adelyn Soellner, Chief of Academics, gave a presentation about FastBridge Assessment data in the context of the Kansas Education Systems Accreditation (KESA) process, as well as the district’s strategic plan.  Building Leadership Teams (BLTs) recently had an opportunity to review FastBridge data, alongside other assessment data, during the annual Leadership Summit.  FastBridge trends show that while our students are, on average, meeting proficiency targets, more work can be done with regards to helping students make growth from the fall testing period to spring. This will be a focus of conversation with Building Leadership Teams and teachers. 

Next Meeting

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Education will be Monday, July 7, 2025, at 6:00 p.m., at the Board of Education / Administrative Office.

 

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Unofficial summary of the Board of Education meeting held May 5, 2025. More information about specific items is available in the published agenda.

ACTION ITEMS:

Agenda/Consent Agenda
The Board approved the Agenda and Consent Agenda with the following changes:

• Removal of check numbers 242501175 - 1177 from Consent Agenda item “B. Approve payment of bills and transfer of funds” for approval separately.

Flint Development request for Reinvestment Housing Incentive District (RHID) through City of De Soto
Alvie Cater, Deputy Chief of Staff & Communications, summarized a written report submitted to the Board of Education regarding the establishment of a Reinvestment Housing Incentive District (RHID) for a proposed residential development known as Flint Meadows.   The RHID was approved by the City Council of De Soto on April 17.   Kansas statutes provide authority to Boards of Education to block the use of Reinvestment Housing Incentive Districts, if a Board determines that such incentives will have an adverse impact on the school district.   Mr. Cater shared that the City, working with the developer, placed restrictions and limits on the proposed tax incentive.   The RHID incentive would be 75% over a period of 15 years to help reimburse costs for infrastructure and road improvements.   With a cap on the incentive and other limits, the incentive would reduce to 50% for later phases of construction, and the developer believes it will reach the cap sooner than the 15-year request.  

Steve Harder with Flint Development answered questions about the timeline for construction.  He shared that if the RHID comes to fruition, Flint would begin moving dirt by the end of May, with new homes available for purchase by this time next year. 

With the limits and restrictions placed on the RHID incentive, administration recommended that the Board not take action to block the RHID. The Board accepted the administration's recommendation and did not take action on this agenda item.

DISCUSSION ITEM:

Kansas Education Systems Accreditation (KESA) Update

Adelyn Soellner, Chief of Academics, provided the Board a district update on the KESA timeline provided by the Kansas State Department of Education as it relates to accreditation determination areas in Compliance, School Improvement and Outcomes.  Each accreditation determination area has standards to meet, a measure to evaluate a school system’s performance and supports to assist systems in meeting the standards.  She shared details and the district’s position in meeting the accreditation determination areas.

Next Meeting

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Education will be Monday, June 2, 2025, at 6:00 p.m., at the Board of Education / Administrative Office.

 

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Unofficial summary of the Board of Education meeting held April 7, 2025. More information about specific items is available in the published agenda.

ACTION ITEMS:

Agenda/Consent Agenda
The Board approved the Agenda and Consent Agenda with the following changes:

·         Addition of an Executive Session for Non-Elected Personnel following Patron Input on the agenda.

·         Removal of check numbers 242501029 - 1030 from Consent Agenda item “B. Approve payment of bills and transfer of funds” for approval separately.

Determining Capacity for the Enrollment of Nonresident Students
Alvie Cater shared background on the Kansas Open Enrollment Law that went into effect with the 2024-25 school year.   He said that Kansas statute requires the district to present recommendations to the Board as to how many seats would be available for nonresident student enrollment in the 2025-26 school year.  This must be posted on the district's website on or before June 1.  He talked about numerous variables related to enrollment projections and staffing patterns that were given consideration. He also shared a new requirement the Kansas Legislature enacted for 2025 which changed the application window from June 1 - 30 to January 1 - June 15.   

Board members were presented with a table showing enrollment projections for 2025-2026 broken down by building, and a table showing available seats for nonresident students in 2025-2026, broken down by building and grade level.   It was determined there are a total of 138 seats available in grades K - 7 and 9 - 12.

The Board approved the student enrollment projections and the number of seats available for the enrollment of nonresident students as presented for the 2025-2025 school year.

DISCUSSION ITEM:

Legislative Update

Superintendent Gibson shared a Kansas legislative timeline for the current session, noting that the Veto session will be on April 10th.   He then reviewed HB 2102 - Permitting the advance enrollment of military students whose parent or person acting as parent will be stationed in this state prior to physical residency. This bill was signed into law, effective July 1, 2025.  He also reviewed bills awaiting action by Governor Kelly that may have an impact on USD 232 including Senate Sub HB 2228, Senate Sub HB 2382 (SB275), HB 2022 (HB 2007),  and SB 125 (HB 2007). SB 125 (HB 2007) is the bill making and concerning supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2025 and appropriations for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 for the Kansas State Department of Education and various state agencies.   Superintendent Gibson shared a spreadsheet showing Special Education funding in USD 232 from a Historical Perspective.   

Next Meeting

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Education will be Monday, May 5, 2025, at 6:00 p.m., at the Board of Education / Administrative Office.

 

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Unofficial summary of the Board of Education meeting held March 3, 2025. More information about specific items is available in the published agenda.

ACTION ITEMS:

Agenda/Consent Agenda

The Board approved the Agenda and Consent Agenda with the following change:

• Removal of check numbers 242500881 - 882 from Consent Agenda item “B. Approve payment of bills and transfer of funds” for approval separately.

Amplify CKLA Elementary English Language Arts (ELA) Resource Adoption

Dr. Joe Kelly, Director of Curriculum, was joined by Cheyenne Zwahlen, Building Coordinator at Mize Elementary, Maygan Howard, Building Coordinator at Horizon Elementary, and Mindy Leas, 2nd Grade Teacher at Clear Creek Elementary, to give the Board an overview of the process the district utilized to arrive at a recommendation for a new Elementary English Language Arts (ELA) Resource Adoption.  The district used a multi-year approach to identify a resource that began in 2019.  The staff summarized the goal of the 38-member committee (consisting of classroom teachers, reading specialists, principals, building coordinators, special education teachers and district Instructional specialists) assembled for this adoption, the ELA adoption process and timeline, results in choice of resource, and details on the recommended resource Amplify CKLA.

The Board approved the Amplify CKLA Elementary English Language Arts Resource that will be used over the next seven years.

School year calendar for 2024-25 and emergency closure days

Alvie Cater asked the board to consider adjusting the current school year calendar, specifically making a change to Monday, April 21st, which is currently a scheduled day off, by reclaiming this day as a regular school day for all students and staff. He said this school year calendar was planned with six emergency closure days and as of March 3rd seven have been used.  The district is still slightly above the required minimum number of hours for student contact time; however, there is not enough reserve time built into the calendar that would allow the district to respond to another unforeseen circumstance. Mr. Cater noted that by reclaiming this day it would give the district additional instructional time with students and a little over 1.5 days in reserve.   

In addition to this request, Mr. Cater asked the Board to authorize the superintendent to take additional action, if necessary, to respond to unforeseen circumstances between now and the end of the current school year.  He noted that on the official 2024-25 school year calendar that was adopted by the board, at the very bottom, it says that April 21st and May 23rd are identified as potential make-up days, if needed.    

The Board approved amending the 2024-25 school year calendar by changing Monday, April 21, to a regular school day.   The Board further authorized the Superintendent of Schools to make any additional adjustments to the current school year calendar as may be necessary to respond to unforeseen circumstances.

Countryside building and resolution of intent to dispose of said building 

Alvie Cater said the administration believes it may be in the best interest of the district to dispose of Countryside (a former school building) at some point in the future.   The 72-year old building had been used for storage.   Mr. Cater said there is not a specific timeframe to dispose of the building, and there is not a formal offer to acquire it; but, before the Board of Education can do anything with the building it must go through the process known as First Right of Refusal with the Kansas Legislature, as required by a new law.  He said the Board is asked to adopt a Resolution of its intent to dispose of the building.   

There are two parcels owned by the district which are connected.  This resolution only pertains to Parcel 1 that has the physical building located on it.  Mr. Cater said that once the Board adopts this Resolution, within 30 days the district will send written notice to the House of Representatives and the Senate. Because the legislature is currently in session, it will have 45 days to decide if the state wants to exercise its right to purchase the building by passing a concurrent resolution.   If the legislature takes no action the process is completed and the Board of Education will be free to make the best decision regarding the property in the future.

The Board adopted a Resolution of the Board’s intent to dispose of the building known as Countryside and to submit written notice to the Kansas Legislature within 30 days as prescribed by law.      

DISCUSSION ITEM:

Legislative Update

Superintendent Gibson shared a Kansas legislative timeline for the current session.   He then reviewed the status of a number of bills introduced during this session that could have an impact on schools in Kansas.

Next Meeting

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Education will be Monday, April 7, 2025, at 6:00 p.m., at the Board of Education / Administrative Office.

 

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Unofficial summary of the Board of Education meeting held February 3, 2025. More information about specific items is available in the published agenda.

ACTION ITEMS:

Agenda/Consent Agenda
The Board approved the Agenda and Consent Agenda.

Fiscal Year 2024 Audit

Julie Stucky, Director of Finance, said that Varney & Associates completed the district’s audit in November, did not find anything significant, and gave clean opinions on internal control and compliance. It is a clean audit.  There were no statutory violations.   The Board approved the audit.   

 DISCUSSION ITEMS:

 Student Enrollment Analysis and Projections

Representatives from RSP, Rob Schwarz and Lucy Crum, provided an updated student enrollment analysis and projections to the Board.   They shared enrollment and demographics data, growth and development trends within the district, student enrollment projections for five and ten years, along with next steps for consideration.  Board members were given an opportunity to ask questions.    

Flint Meadows residential project in De Soto 

Steve Harder, Flint Development, and Joe Oakes, Polsinelli Law Firm, shared information about the proposed Flint Meadows East residential project in De Soto and the request for incentives with the creation of a Reinvestment Housing Incentive District (RHID).  This project is on 78 acres across from the Panasonic Energy plant.  It will bring approximately 226 single-family homes and 110 townhomes, to be developed over multiple phases. Flint Development plans to petition the City of De Soto to establish a 15-year RHID to capture 75% of the incremental increases in real property taxes; used to reimburse the cost for construction of access roads and interior residential infrastructure.

Countryside property owned by school district

Alvie Cater shared history on two parcels of property the district owns south of K-10, adjacent to Lexington Avenue and 103rd Street, north of Panasonic Energy and east of Clearview Village.   Parcel 1 is 9.52 acres and contains the building known as Countryside, which was constructed in 1953 by the federal government as East Sunflower Grade School.   Parcel 2 is 10.5 acres with no buildings.    In 1952 Parcel 1 was deeded to Common School District No. 31.  In 1960 Parcel 2 was deeded to Common School District No. 31.   Following unification of school districts at the state level, ownership of both parcels was transferred to USD 232.  Mr. Cater said that H Sub for Senate Bill 113, that was passed during the 2023 legislative session, details a new procedure required for the Board of Education prior to the sale of a district building, ultimately giving the state the right of first refusal to purchase said building.   He gave the board details on steps that would need to be taken in the event the Board determines – in the future – to sell the Countryside building. The new requirements only apply to Parcel 1.

Next Meeting

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Education will be Monday, March 3, 2025, at 6:00 p.m., at the Board of Education / Administrative Office.

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Unofficial summary of the Board of Education meeting held January 7, 2025. More information about specific items is available in the published agenda.

ACTION ITEMS:

Agenda/Consent Agenda
The Board approved the Agenda and Consent Agenda with the following change:

• Removal of check numbers 242500652 - 653 from Consent Agenda item “B. Approve payment of bills and transfer of funds” for approval separately.

Agreement with City of De Soto for Student Public Art Display

The Board approved an agreement with the City of De Soto for a public art display to be designed, engineered and constructed by students at Cedar Trails Exploration Center.   Mill Valley High School Junior Zachary Chang shared a Design Brief with details on the project, project highlights and a timeline.  He also shared three design concepts.   The De Soto Arts Council will be responsible for choosing the design to be constructed.  

BOE Organizational Items

K.S.A. 72-1133 requires boards of education to elect the board president and vice president at the first meeting on or after the second Monday in January of each year or at a later meeting date during the calendar year if so determined by the board at that first meeting.  With the adoption of a Resolution to Establish Election of School Board Officers, the Board will elect its school board president and vice-president at its first meeting of the Board of Education in July 2025.   The Board also approved a regular meeting schedule for February 2025 through January 2026 and board member representation on district committees.

Legislative Priorities 

The Board approved legislative priorities (with a focus on school funding, school safety and supports and governance) for 2025 that were presented in draft form by Dr. Cory Gibson, Superintendent.  These are topics that may come before the legislature that could have a direct or indirect impact on public schools.  The purpose of legislative priorities is for the board to communicate with legislators about issues that are of particular interest to the district.

 

Next Meeting

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Education will be Monday, February 3, 2025, at 6:00 p.m., at the Board of Education / Administrative Office.