Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools Board of Education (Feb. 24, 2026)

By Masha Mackey, Kansas City Documenter

These notes were produced through Kansas City Documenters, which trains and pays community members to take fact-checked notes at public meetings, strengthening transparency and accountability in local government.

Summary

• The board reviewed proposed English language arts curriculum materials for middle and high school, discussing cost, implementation, teacher training and parent engagement.
• District staff presented the “Portrait of a Graduate” framework that outlines key skills students should develop, with board discussion focused on implementation and measurement.
• Human Resources reported improved staff retention and ongoing recruitment efforts.

Notes

• Meeting Attendance
  • Randy Lopez, president (remote for part of meeting)
  • Wanda Brownlee Paige, vice president  
  • Robert Milan Jr.  
  • Pamela Penn-Hicks
  • Joycelyn Strickland-Egans
  • Valdenia Winn

• Call to order, roll call and approval of agenda.

• Black History Month recognition included a performance by the Wyandotte High School Jazz Ensemble.

• Employee and Student of the Month recognitions were presented.
  • Katherine Gatschet, early childhood teacher, was recognized for giving up planning time to support a student experiencing significant life changes.
  • Deborah Harvey, Head Start administrative assistant, was recognized for districtwide support and community-building efforts.
  • Kaden Ramsey was recognized as Early Childhood Student of the Month, Xena Smith received Elementary Student of the Month, Lilian Ling was named Middle School Student of the Month and Alexis Zamora Reyes was honored with High School Student of the Month. 

• Community comment included an invitation to a March 17 public schools advocacy event in Topeka.

• New Business: Secondary English Language Arts Materials
  • District staff presented proposed secondary English language arts curriculum materials for middle and high school classrooms. The materials would serve as the district’s primary instructional resource if approved.
  • The curriculum was presented for information only. 
  • Board discussion focused on:
    • Cost of materials (about $1.1 million).
    • Remaining curriculum budget and anticipated additional purchases.
    • Pilot results and student survey data.
    • Teacher learning curve and need for professional development.
    • Low family survey participation (29 responses reported).
  • Board members requested:
    • Clearer data explanations.
    • Information about other districts using the materials.
    • Improved family outreach strategies.
    • Clearer measurement of outcomes tied to district goals.
  • No vote was taken.

• Board Report: Portrait of a Graduate
  • District staff presented the finalized Portrait of a Graduate framework, the result of a two-year process involving students, educators, administrators and community members. 
  • The framework outlines the key skills and attributes the district wants students to develop by the time they graduate, including:
    • Collaboration
    • Critical thinking
    • Communication
    • Self-direction
    • Cultural competency
    • Digital literacy
  • Discussion included:
    • How skills will be integrated into the curriculum.
    • Professional development for staff.
    • Development of tools to monitor implementation.
    • Communicating expectations to families.
  • The board asked for clearer measurement plans and accountability methods.

• Human Resources Report
  • District Human Resources staff presented an update on staffing trends, recruitment efforts and retention data for the 2025-26 school year.
  • Staff reported improved retention rates for certified, classified and administrative staff compared to recent years, with administrator retention approaching 89%.
  • Recruitment efforts include university partnerships, career fairs and targeted outreach with community organizations.
  • Substitute staffing partnership reported an 83% average daily fill rate.
  • Board questions focused on:
    • Mentorship programs.
    • Recruitment success data.
    • Reporting on diversity initiatives.
  • HR discussed future steps including virtual career fairs and system improvements.

• Budget Discussion
  • Board members reviewed the timeline for upcoming district budget planning and discussed how future meetings will focus on setting priorities for the next fiscal year.
  • Discussion included:
    • Tax levy considerations.
    • State funding.
    • Scheduling additional budget work sessions.
  • The board emphasized the need for clearer budget priorities and shared goals moving forward.

• The consent agenda was approved.

• The Kansas City, Kansas Public Library holiday calendar was approved.

• The meeting ended by moving into executive session.

Observations & Follow-Up Questions

• Parent engagement strategies were discussed as an ongoing challenge. How will the district improve parent participation in curriculum planning?
• Board members frequently requested clearer data and implementation details. What tools will be used to measure the success of the Portrait of a Graduate framework?
• How will upcoming budget decisions impact staffing or programs?

Read more about this meeting and see all Kansas City Documenters notes here.