USD 231 Board Briefs (October 2022)
October 10, 2022
Grants and Donations (5.1)
USD 231 is proud of our partnerships with many stakeholders (students, parents, employees, churches, local vendors, etc.). Often, due to these partnerships, our students and employees are the recipients of generous donations.
This month, the Board of Education took time to recognize individuals, groups, and vendors for their support of our students, staff, and district. The complete list can be found in the picture on the right.
Item Pulled from the Consent Agenda - Active Shooter Intruder Response Training (7.1)
Mark Meyer, Director of Auxiliary Services, shared details related to the proposed Active Shooter training. After researching multiple vendors, it was recommended that training be provided by Strategos International. Training provided bridges the gap between responding law enforcement officers and school staff, administrators, and other personnel in school active shooter situations.
The training assists school staff in preventing, reporting, and protecting themselves and their students from an active shooter during the critical moments they are waiting for police to arrive. It also educates school staff about what to expect from officers once they are on site. The course is also designed to provide school resource officers with the necessary skills and mindset to engage properly and respond to an active threat. The course includes:
- An overview and historic examination of school shootings and lessons learned for schools and law enforcement.
- An in-depth analysis of lockdown procedures from threats inside and outside the building.
- What to do if lockdown fails.
- The 3 Out Response Model: Lock Out, Get Out, Take Out
- How to secure multiple types of doors with and without locks, including locking, layering, and reinforcing.
- Access control and visitor management.
The Board approved the proposal.
Panorama Surveys (8.1)
Melissa McIntire, Director of Student Services, presented information related to Panorama surveys. To address questions related to non-academic surveys, she shared that the student survey provides information pertaining to students’ experience with support from their school. The data allow students to provide feedback on what is working and what needs improvement. Through this survey, students provide their perception of their own social-emotional skills, including grit, self-management, and growth mindset. Lastly, the survey aligns to the Kansas State Department of Education's social-emotional character development standards.
A question that is asked frequently is, "How will the district use this data?"
Research tells us that conditions for teaching and learning are extremely important for students to achieve academic success. Those include areas that we use Panorama to measure; for example:
How connected students feel at school (sense of belonging);
Student’s ability to regulate their emotions (emotion regulation);
Student’s ability to persevere through challenges (grit and growth mindset);
Positive connections with teachers (teacher-student relationships);
How connected students feel to their peers (social awareness), and many more areas.
When educators have access to this type of information about how students feel at their school, they are better able to make informed decisions about what they should and could target in order to increase students' ability to achieve.
Enrollment - Official (Unofficial) Numbers (9.1)
This unofficial headcount clearly shows growth, especially in our preschool programs. The substantial jump in preschool numbers this year (plus 89) is good news and highlights our ability to provide early intervention services and support to our youngest students.
These data will be shared with our demographer, so they can utilize it to calculate updated five-year projections.
Committee on Committee's Update (9.2)
Board members Greg Chapman and Katie Williams shared information related to their committee's work on the revisions to the current Board Committees. The recommendations included creating or consolidating into the following committees - Facility & Construction, Educational Services, SPED Advisory, Finance, Legislative, Technology, Wellness & Safety, Community Outreach, and Policy Review.
Additionally, all committees should/will:
- Evening meetings for convenience and increased involvement (6:00 p.m. or later)
- We recommend "comp time" to staff as compensation for every hour served as a thank you for going above and beyond to offer their professional expertise to each committee.
- Committees to have mission statements
- Committees to have a living strategic plan
- Committees present updates and progress to the BOE on a rotating basis to have the opportunity to brag on all the fabulous work they do
- Members can zoom into meetings as needed (not preferred)
- The agenda made public prior to the meeting
- Building principals will nominate parents that have expressed an interest in participating or that principals believe would be a great representative for their building and families. The BOE will then choose three parents in each building to serve on the various committees.
- STUCO representatives will be included on relevant committees
- Committees will be comprised of 3 teachers, 3 patrons/parents, and 2 students, as well as district staff/administration
- BOE members on committees to observe, not as voting members.
- Structured in a manner that will allow a free flow of ideas, questions, and concerns
Click HERE to view the presentation slide deck.
The Board approved these recommended changes.
Transgender Guidelines (9.3)
Dr. Huff shared proposed guidelines regarding students who identify as transgender. Over the past three months, the Educational Services Department members have researched surrounding district's policies and legal precedents and consulted with USD 231's legal counsel.
The Board of Education discussed aspects of the proposal and reviewed feedback provided by employees. Additionally, Dr. Huff and board members have met multiple times with Gardner Edgerton High School students to discuss the proposed guidelines and gather input.
Board members will discuss this topic again during the regularly scheduled November meeting.
Click HERE to view the proposed guidelines.
Click HERE to view the proposed process for support measure requests.
KASB Recommended Policy Updates (9.4)
The Board of Education discussed recommended policy updates as provided by the Kansas Association of School Boards (KASB).
KASB 2022 Delegate Assembly for USD 231 (10.1)
The Board discussed sending a delegate to the KASB annual conference. The Board approved Board Member Tom Reddin as the USD 231 KASB Delegate who is entitled to one vote at the Delegate Assembly. The Board approved Board Member Greg Chapman as a backup delegate.
The assembly will be held both in person and virtual on Saturday, November 12, 2022, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. as part of the KASB Annual Convention held in Wichita, Kansas.
Book Review Committee Recommendation (10.2)
Heather Peeke, Director of Secondary Education, provided an overview of the Book Review Committee's process and recommendation related to the challenge of "The Absolute Diary of a Part Time Indian".
The committee consisted of two Board of Education members, Director of Secondary Education, GEHS Principal, Library Media Specialist, two members of the GEHS Language Arts Department, a parent of a GEHS student, and a GEHS student.
The Board approved the committee's recommendation to keep the book on the required reading list for 10th grade students.
- 6.1 - 6.8 - Approved Consent Agenda consisting of Minutes of the regular meeting held on September 12, 2022; 5-Year strategic plan consulting services; Financial Statements; Lease contract for Enterprise lease vehicles; Lease purchase agreement for 6 copiers; Holmes Murphy Commission Disclosure; and Claims.
- 7.1 - Approved Active Shooter Intruder Response Training.
- 9.2 - Approved recommended changes to all committee structures.
- 9.4 - Approved 21 policy updates (five brought back from the September 12 BOE Meeting and 16 for the October 10 BOE Meeting), as recommended by KASB.
- 10.1 - Approved Board Member Tom Reddin, as the USD 231 KASB Delegate who is entitled to one vote at the Delegate Assembly.
- 10.2 - Approved the Book Review Committee's recommendation to keep the book "the Absolute Diary of a Part Time Indian" on the required reading list for 10th-grade students at USD 231.
- 10.5 - Approved Personnel Report.
Tom Reddin
PRESIDENT
NOT PRESENT
Lana Sutton
VICE PRESIDENT
PRESENT
Greg Chapman
MEMBER
PRESENT
Russ Ellis
MEMBER
PRESENT
Jeff Miller
MEMBER
PRESENT
Nick Robinson
MEMBER
PRESENT
Monday, November 7, 2022 - 6:00 p.m.