Turner School District: Board Meeting (Aug. 4, 2026)

By Connye Griffin, Kansas City Documenter

See more about this meeting at Documenters.org

Summary

• The board approved boundary changes for elementary schools, to take effect in the 2027-28 school year.
• Superintendent Jason Dandoy spoke about reviewing  the building needs assessment according to state requirements before the budget is presented Sept. 1.
• All agenda items requiring board approval passed unanimously without board discussion.

Notes

Opening Items

• Wendi Bono, executive director of the Turner Recreation Commission (TRC), shared information about services, plans and projects where TRC and the district are partners. The district contributes funds and provides oversight.
  • Bono said TRC’s “pencil pouches” were ready for the Back to School Bash, where interested parties could also sign up for TRC’s sports programs.
  • TRC is developing a dance, tumbling and cheer academy. Plans are being considered to offer two or three classes a night on five or six nights a week for three months at a time, followed by advanced training. 
  • TRC also is preparing to submit a grant request to fund a playground.
  • Bono referenced progress on the marquee, which was approved as part of the consent agenda, and mentioned upcoming projects, including architectural plans for building exteriors and signage. 

Administrative Services

The board approved:

• The contract for auditing services detailing the responsibilities of Gordon CPA and the district.
• Changes to elementary school boundaries starting in the 2027-2028 school year. The change was based on a demographic analysis by a district consultant.
  • The rationale for the change is that:
    • Junction Elementary is operating well below capacity while Midland Trail and Turner elementaries are operating above 80% of capacity.
    • Increasing utilization of Junction Elementary will relieve enrollment pressure at Midland Trail and Turner and improve demographic balance between the buildings.
  • Dandoy said the community had reacted favorably to the boundary changes. District leaders met with parents to explain reasons for the changes and build support for the plan.
  • The leaders addressed concerns by telling parents the changes would not exclude them from the Turner district.
  • Children are being given the option of transitioning to the new school for the upcoming school year if they prefer to make the change now.
• Minor corrections for district policies.

Student Services

• The board approved:
  • A building-by-building needs assessment. Dandoy asked the board to approve the needs assessment before budget decisions to be made and presented to the board in September. State law requires that budgets take into account the status of each building according to state standards before apportioning funds.
  • Early graduation requests from four students.
    • Board member Joy Beery said each of the students provided goal-oriented reasons.

Superintendent’s Report

• Dandoy reviewed the calendar for the upcoming school year. Students return on Aug. 12.

Board Reports

• Beery asked about a parcel of land the district had considered buying. Dandoy said the purchase was unlikely due to unresolved questions about the property’s title. The district typically uses land purchases for homebuilding instruction in the building trades program and then sells them, Dandoy said.
• Jasmine Cervantes told the board of a celebration of life for a student who had died. She said she would send details about the place and time to other board members.
• Vice President Bryan Fishbaugh offered to serve as a substitute on any committee that the assigned board member could not attend.
• President Steve Russell asked the other board members to consider whether any member would like to attend the Consortium of State School Board Associations instead of the Kansas Association for School Boards for training, networking and education about school boards and board member responsibilities. Dandoy said he would provide the information to board members.

Observations & Follow-Up Questions

• How many, if any, families will transition immediately into the elementary schools to which their addresses assign them for the 2027-2028 school year?
• How will the needs assessment inform the budget process and decisions?

If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at documenters@thebeacon.media with “Correction Request” in the subject line. Learn more about Documenters on our website.