Olathe Public Schools

Message from the Superintendent

Olathe families,

The second semester of the 2022-2023 school year is in full swing! January is one of my favorite months of the year because it is a much-needed fresh start after a restful break. Another reason why I love January is that we get to celebrate your seven Olathe Public Schools Board of Education members.

I am grateful for our Board of Education for all they do every day to support our vision of preparing students for their future. Thank you to Board President Shannon Wickliffe, Vice-President Brad Boyd and members Joe Beveridge, Brian Connell, LeEtta Felter, Robert Kuhn and Julie Steele.

A few things to note with this edition of the Insider –

We are so proud of Westview Elementary School students, staff, families and community partners for their outstanding achievement you will read about below! These educators go above and beyond daily to ensure our students are learning and growing through collaboration and individualization with specific outcome goals.
Thank you to the more than 6,000 family members who took the school start and end time survey last month! We appreciate your feedback and look forward to next steps to help provide more consistent service for our bus riders and expanded opportunities for all of our students.
Please consider joining the Olathe Public Schools team or just spreading the word that WE ARE HIRING for several different job positions not only for the immediate school year, but also for next school year. We know you want your students to be surrounded by the best possible educators and we do too! Help us out by sharing this with your friends and family on social media, email, snail mail, message in a bottle, etc.

As we move full steam ahead, I want to take a moment and thank you as well as our students and staff for helping us kick off the new year in such a strong way.

Sincerely,

Dr. Brent Yeager

Westview Elementary Named One of the Top 100 Title I Schools Nationwide

The National Association of Elementary and Secondary Education Act State Program Administrators named Westview Elementary School a National ESEA Distinguished School. Westview Elementary School is one of up to 100 schools throughout the country to be nationally recognized for exceptional student achievement in 2022.

The National ESEA Distinguished Schools Program publicly recognizes qualifying federally funded schools for the outstanding academic achievements of their students. It highlights the efforts of schools across the country making significant improvements for their students.

Westview Elementary School is being recognized in category 2, which celebrates the school’s ability to close the achievement gap between student groups, as determined by each state.

Congratulations to the Westview Elementary School students, staff and families on this incredible achievement!

January is Board of Education Appreciation Month

January is Board of Education Appreciation Month. Get to know our Board of Education members by visiting our website at https://bit.ly/3W0UgGa to read a short bio and watch a video interview. Throughout January, the district will be posting snippets of our Board members' videos on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The Olathe Public Schools are served by seven board members representing area positions in three districts plus one at-large position: https://bit.ly/3XeJmhd. The president for 2022-23 is Shannon Wickliffe and the vice president is Brad Boyd. The board meets monthly at 5:45 p.m. in the Education Center, 14160 S. Black Bob Road, Olathe. Upcoming meetings are Feb. 2, March 2, April 6, May 4, and June 1. Learn more about the Olathe Public Schools Board of Education.

Optimizing School Start/End Time Survey Results

Prior to winter break the district sent a survey out to all families seeking input regarding a potential shift in school start/end times at all levels beginning in the 2023-24 school year as a possible solution to help address transportation issues impacting Olathe Public Schools.

Locally and nationally, school districts are facing a bus driver shortage and Olathe Public Schools is not immune to this challenge. One possible solution for this challenge is to adjust our start/end times at all levels to allow current drivers to complete additional routes in a more timely manner by utilizing what is known as a three-tier bus system.

The survey sought input on family members’ current modes of transportation and involvement in school activities/programs, their level of support in exploring different start/end times, and an opportunity to share questions and concerns. We received more than 6,000 responses to the survey, with more than 63% of responses indicating support for looking at a change to school times and 26% indicating they were neutral.

Based on this data, district administration is currently in the process of forming a committee to further study possible start/end time options to form a recommendation to bring to the Board of Education this spring. A four-day school week is not currently under consideration. The committee will include both staff members and parent representatives from all levels and feeder patterns.

For more information regarding transportation services, including the latest three-tiered busing system, visit www.olatheschools.org/transportation.

Community Conversations with Olathe's Superintendent and Board of Education

Olathe families, community members, students and staff are invited to join the superintendent and members of the Board of Education for an upcoming Community Conversation.

These informal events are designed to encourage two-way dialogue between the Board of Education and community members about the topics that are top-of-mind in the district. There is no set agenda, but rather, participants will have an opportunity to engage in conversation regarding a variety of topics.

All community conversations will be held in the Olathe Instructional Resource Center (14090 S. Black Bob Rd). Four Community Conversations are planned for the 2022-23 school year, with two completed during the first semester. These events include both morning and evening sessions to help accommodate a variety of schedules:

Feb. 21, 2023 from 9-10:30 a.m.
April 24, 2023 from 5-6:30 p.m.

Those planning to attend are asked to RSVP in advance. If you intend to join the Feb. 21 Community Conversation, please submit an RSVP at this link by Friday, Feb. 17.

We Need Your Help! Apply to Work in Olathe Public Schools

Want to make a difference in a rewarding career? Need a flexible schedule? Great benefits? Join the Olathe Public Schools! The district is currently hiring in a variety of teaching and non-teaching career opportunities for part-time or year-round employment.

Visit our job openings website to learn more about all open positions or attend the one of two events hosted by the Olathe Public Schools Human Resources division.

Olathe Public Schools Job Fair – Wednesday, Feb. 8

4-7 p.m. at Olathe North High School, 600 E. Prairie Street, Olathe

Olathe Public Schools Spring Educator Interview Night – Feb. 23

4:30-8 p.m. at Olathe South High School, 1640 E.151st Street, Olathe
Register for the event by going to our online job opportunities site and clicking APPLY in the upper right corner for the level you want to teach. Registration for this event closes Feb. 6.

Screen Sanity

You’re invited! Join us for a Screen Sanity presentation at Santa Fe Trail Middle School on Wednesday, Jan. 25 from 6-7:30 p.m.

Digital parenthood is filled with difficult decisions and unanswered questions. Uncomfortable conversations and moments of growth. We get it. Raising kids in this digital age is hard. But it's even harder to do it alone. That's why Olathe Public Schools is bringing you Screen Sanity, a highly acclaimed program designed to help parents unpack today's hottest screen time topics, and get you the tips and tricks you need to raise happy, healthy kids in an increasingly digital world. All Olathe Public Schools parents/guardians of elementary or middle school students are invited to attend one of the sessions.

This 60-minute workshop will offer expert-guided content about digital health. Includes a roadmap for introducing your kids to a smartphone and social media, and time for parents to interact about challenges they are facing — no matter what age or stage your kid is at in the process. The content is designed for adults only, but will give you practical ways you can talk to your kids about this topic. Spanish interpreters will be available to assist families. For interpretation services for other languages such as sign language, please contact your school.

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