School Board Agenda & Packet Summary – Olathe Public Schools – July 9, 2026

Meeting Information

• Public Body: Olathe Public Schools
• Organization Type: school-district
• Government Body: school-boards
• Meeting Title: Regular Meeting 5:45 p.m. - Jul 09 2026
• Meeting Date: 2026-07-09
• City: Olathe
• County: Johnson
• State: kansas
• Meeting Source URL: https://olatheschools.community.diligentoneplatform.com/Portal/MeetingInformation.aspx?Org=Cal&id=490
• Meeting Listing URL: https://olatheschools.community.diligentoneplatform.com/Portal/MeetingTypeList.aspx
• Public Body Website: https://www.olatheschools.org/discover-olathe/board-of-education
• Meeting Video URL: https://youtube.com/live/98QRok-wygI?feature=share
• Video Channel URL: https://www.youtube.com/@OlathePublicSchools233/streams

What Community Members Should Know

The July 9, 2026 organizational meeting launches the Olathe Public Schools Board of Education's 2026-2027 year. Along with routine annual appointments and statutory resolutions, the board is scheduled to make several decisions that will directly affect students, classrooms, school safety, technology, facilities, and district operations.

One of the meeting's most significant themes is implementation of new Kansas laws affecting schools. The board will review a new student Personal Electronic Communication Device policy, purchase districtwide cell phone storage solutions, update responsible use policies governing technology and generative AI, and consider new communication tools that comply with restrictions on teacher-student messaging. These actions are intended to prepare the district before the 2026-2027 school year begins.

Another major focus is curriculum modernization. Multiple middle school curriculum standards are presented for approval, including Smart Start, Future Ready, Foundations for Success, revised leadership courses, and updated physical education standards. District staff state these courses align with Kansas Department of Education academic and social-emotional learning standards while emphasizing career readiness, literacy, leadership, and student wellness.

Facilities and capital improvements continue to advance through voter-approved bond programs. The board will consider construction change orders, surveying services for two replacement elementary schools, technology and security improvements, and written updates on both the 2022 and 2026 bond programs. Safety improvements at Olathe West High School, including ballistic window film, upgraded cameras, access control, and door sounders, are also scheduled for action.

Major Discussion and Action Items

Student Cell Phone Policy and New State Requirements

The board will receive a presentation on a proposed Student Personal Electronic Communications Device Policy responding to new Kansas legislation governing student devices in schools. Related agenda items include purchasing secure classroom storage systems so students can store phones throughout the school day as required by law. The proposal reflects a significant operational change affecting every K-12 building beginning in the 2026-2027 school year.

District Technology, AI, and Responsible Use Policies

Updated Student and Staff Responsible Use Policies expand protections for personally identifiable information, prohibit sharing sensitive data with unauthorized tools, clarify approved staff-student communication methods, and establish expectations for generative AI use and academic integrity. Together with endpoint security purchases, these changes represent a broader district cybersecurity and digital governance initiative.

Comprehensive Middle School Curriculum Revisions

The board is asked to approve multiple curriculum revisions affecting nearly every middle school student. These include:

• Grade 6 Smart Start.
• Grade 7 Future Ready.
• Grade 8 Foundations for Success.
• Revised leadership electives.
• Updated physical education standards and new PE electives.

District staff explain that these courses integrate academic standards with social-emotional learning, career exploration, literacy, leadership development, and college and career readiness. The work was developed by large committees of teachers, counselors, instructional coaches, and curriculum specialists from across the district.

School Safety and Security Improvements

Several proposals continue implementation of district safety initiatives. Planned improvements include:

• Ballistic window film at Olathe West High School.
• Replacement exterior cameras.
• Door access upgrades.
• Exterior door sounders.
• New endpoint cybersecurity protection.
• Cell phone storage systems supporting compliance with state law.

Staff indicate these projects complement the district's layered safety strategy and are funded through bond proceeds and, for some projects, the Kansas Safe and Secure School Grant.

Bond Projects and Facilities Planning

The board will consider a construction change order exceeding $20,000 for electrical work supporting middle school auditorium audiovisual renovations. Staff request approval of approximately $34,556.78 in additional electrical work that had been anticipated within overall project budgets.

The board will also consider surveying services for two new consolidated elementary schools authorized by the 2026 bond issue. These schools will replace four aging elementary buildings and begin detailed site planning during summer 2026.

Head Start Oversight

Following a federal monitoring review conducted in February 2026, the district requests approval of a corrective action plan addressing an identified compliance issue within the Head Start program. The district indicates the corrective actions satisfy Administration for Children and Families requirements while continuing operation under the federal Head Start grant.

Annual Organizational and Governance Actions

The organizational meeting includes appointment of the board clerk, deputy clerk, treasurer, annual district designations, financial institutions, official newspapers, board representatives, statutory resolutions governing records, petty cash, activity funds, surplus property, advance payments, and establishment of the board's regular meeting calendar for 2026-2027.

Financial Matters

The packet contains routine monthly financial reports, investment reports, accounts payable, and June 30 financial statements for board approval.

Among significant financial actions:

• Approval of annual financial institutions eligible to receive district investment bids for idle funds.
• Authorization of advance payment procedures for recurring expenses such as utilities, travel, officials, postage, VISA invoices, and student activities.
• Annual petty cash and student activity fund resolutions.
• Continued use of U.S. Bank as working bank and other designated financial advisors and depositories.
• Approval of a $34,556.78 electrical change order supporting middle school auditorium audiovisual improvements funded through the 2022 bond program.
• Capital purchases for cybersecurity, student device storage, software renewals, instructional technology, and safety improvements.
• Survey services supporting replacement elementary schools funded through the 2026 bond issue.
• Head Start corrective actions supported through the federal Head Start grant.
• Innovative Assessment Solutions future reimbursement through state Title XI funding is identified in a future action item.

Policies, Ordinances, Resolutions, and Governance

The board will consider numerous governance actions required by Kansas statutes, including appointment of officers, annual financial resolutions, document destruction authorization, surplus property disposal, petty cash authorization, activity fund establishment, and annual meeting schedules.

Policy updates include:

• New student personal communication device policy.
• Updated Responsible Use Policies for students and staff.
• Board policy revisions including adoption of Policy GCRGF, retirement of Policy GCRGB, and future consideration of additional board policies including JTC related to student communication devices.

These actions establish operating authority and policy direction for the upcoming school year.

Reports, Presentations, and Informational Updates

Major presentations include the proposed student personal electronic communication device policy.

Written informational reports include:

• Learning Services monthly update summarizing instructional initiatives aligned with the district strategic framework.
• Status reports on projects funded through the 2022 and 2026 voter-approved bond issues.
• Financial reports covering investments, capital outlay expenditures, and district finances.
• Head Start monitoring findings and corrective action documentation.

Personnel, Appointments, and Organizational Matters

The consent agenda includes routine human resources recommendations involving employment, resignations, leaves of absence, and staffing actions.

The board is scheduled to:

• Appoint Barbara Behm as Board Clerk.
• Appoint Keri Meyer as Deputy Clerk.
• Appoint Cassy Osborn as Treasurer.
• Make annual appointments for statutory hearing officers, compliance coordinators, attendance officers, Head Start officials, KPERS representative, and other required district positions.
• Select board representatives for the Head Start Policy Council and the Olathe Public Schools Foundation Board.

Projects, Facilities, Infrastructure, and Operations

Facilities planning remains a major priority.

Projects include:

• Electrical upgrades supporting middle school auditorium modernization.
• Surveying work for two replacement elementary schools.
• Continued implementation of the 2022 and 2026 bond programs.
• Ballistic window protection at Olathe West High School.
• Camera replacements and access control improvements.
• Districtwide cybersecurity improvements.
• Cell phone storage deployment before the start of school.
• Continued modernization of technology infrastructure supporting instructional and operational needs.

Public Hearings and Opportunities for Community Input

The agenda includes a public comment period during the regular meeting.

Community members also have opportunities to observe board discussion regarding:

• Student device policies.
• Curriculum standards.
• Bond-funded construction projects.
• School safety improvements.
• Technology policies.

Future board meetings established during this meeting will provide additional opportunities for public participation throughout the school year.

Community Impact

Students will experience the most visible changes through revised middle school curriculum, new cell phone procedures, updated technology expectations, expanded safety measures, and continued investment in instructional resources.

Families will see implementation of statewide cell phone requirements, revised communication practices, continued construction funded by voter-approved bonds, and expanded career readiness programming.

Employees will operate under updated responsible use policies, enhanced cybersecurity protections, revised communication requirements, and ongoing technology improvements.

Taxpayers will see continued implementation of previously approved bond investments focused on facilities modernization, safety, technology, and replacement of aging schools rather than introduction of entirely new capital programs.

Questions Community Members May Want to Ask

• How will the district consistently enforce the new student cell phone policy across all schools?
• What training will students, families, and staff receive before implementation?
• How will the new middle school curriculum changes be evaluated for effectiveness?
• What measurable outcomes are expected from the Future Ready and Smart Start courses?
• How will bond-funded safety improvements be prioritized across district buildings?
• Why was the electrical work omitted from the original auditorium renovation scope?
• What lessons were learned from the federal Head Start monitoring review?
• How will updated AI guidance affect classroom instruction and homework?
• What long-term savings are expected from the new endpoint security approach?
• What timeline is anticipated for construction of the replacement elementary schools?

Important Dates, Deadlines, and Next Steps

• July 9, 2026: Organizational meeting and action on policies, curriculum, safety, technology, and annual governance items.
• July 15-19, 2026: Proposed Olathe Northwest Robotics Team competition trip to Indianapolis.
• Summer 2026: Survey work for replacement elementary schools and ongoing bond construction.
• October 20-22, 2026: Proposed Design Academy educational trip to New York.
• August 6, 2026: First regular board meeting of the adopted annual schedule.
• Regular meetings are generally scheduled for the first Thursday of each month at 5:45 p.m., with third Thursdays reserved for potential special meetings.
• July 8, 2027: Organizational meeting for the 2027-2028 board year.

Key Takeaways

• New Kansas laws drive significant changes to student cell phone management.
• Multiple new middle school courses and curriculum standards are scheduled for approval.
• District technology policies are being updated to address AI, privacy, and cybersecurity.
• School safety improvements remain a major bond-funded priority.
• Olathe West High School will receive additional security enhancements.
• Two replacement elementary schools continue moving through planning and design.
• Annual organizational appointments and statutory resolutions establish district operations for 2026-2027.
• Head Start corrective actions respond to a federal compliance review.
• Bond-funded facilities projects continue throughout the district.
• The board establishes its regular meeting calendar for the coming school year.

Official Sources

• Meeting source: https://olatheschools.community.diligentoneplatform.com/Portal/MeetingInformation.aspx?Org=Cal&id=490
• Meeting listing: https://olatheschools.community.diligentoneplatform.com/Portal/MeetingTypeList.aspx
• Public body website: https://www.olatheschools.org/discover-olathe/board-of-education
• Meeting video: https://youtube.com/live/98QRok-wygI?feature=share
• Video channel: https://www.youtube.com/@OlathePublicSchools233/streams

About the Public Body

• Name: Olathe Public Schools
• Organization type: school-district
• Government body: school-boards
• Location: Olathe, kansas
• County: Johnson
• Provider: diligent-community

Keywords

Olathe Public Schools, Board of Education, July 9 2026, Regular Meeting, Kansas, Johnson County, student cell phone policy, personal electronic communication devices, Responsible Use Policy, generative AI, Smart Start, Future Ready, Foundations for Success, leadership curriculum, physical education standards, Olathe West High School, ballistic window film, security cameras, access control, 2022 bond issue, 2026 bond issue, consolidated elementary schools, Head Start, PBIS, endpoint security, curriculum standards, board governance, technology, school safety