Special Ed services overview on tap for school board meeting

During their regular monthly meeting in January, members of the Olathe Board of Education will hear a presentation on the district’s special education services. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 5 in the Education Center, 14160 Black Bob Road, Olathe.

The presentation by Director of Special Services Lanie Fasulo and Assistant Superintendent of General Administration Erin Dugan will cover student enrollment, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act categories, staffing, and funding in special services. District programs are provided for students from early childhood through post-secondary.

School board gets update on Olathe West High School

From the Olathe School District

The Olathe Board of Education met Dec. 1 to hear three in-depth presentations, one of them being an update on the status of Olathe West High School. The district’s fifth high school will open in August 2017 at 2200 W. Santa Fe Street.

Assistant Superintendent of General Administration Erin Dugan, Executive Director of General Administration/Secondary Programs Jim McMullen, and Director of Secondary Certified Personnel Steve Massey provided board members with the latest information on enrollment, staffing, athletics and activities, 21st Century Academies, and planned professional development for Olathe West.

Olathe School Board meeting preview

Members of the Olathe Board of Education will receive a detailed report of high school student learning data when they meet at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 3 in the Education Center, 14160 Black Bob Road, Olathe. The regular monthly meeting will feature a presentation by administrators on graduation and attendance rates, scholarships, National Merit Scholars, etc.

A second presentation scheduled will provide an overview of the wide variety of district construction projects that took place this summer.

School board approves budget

At a special meeting of the Olathe Board of Education on Thursday, the board approved the 2015-16 budget, following a public budget hearing at 7 p.m.

The budget includes a slight decrease of the overall mill levy from 67.868 in 2014-15 to 67.768 in 2015-16. The budget passed by a 6-0 vote.

The complete agenda and supporting documents are available at http://www.boarddocs.com/ks/olathe/Board.nsf/Public.

School board meeting results

A $244.8 million bond issue approved by district voters in summer 2013 continues to have great impact on Olathe schools and students. Board of Education members listened to a presentation about summer construction and safety and security projects during their meeting on April 2.

Chief Financial and Operations Officer John Hutchison and Assistant Superintendent Erin Dugan described the wide scope of these projects planned for summer, as well as those bond projects that have been completed. Bond 2013 had four threads: Growth, Safety and Security, Technology and Aging Facilities.

Hutchison shared that in the Growth category of bond funds, the district has purchased land for a sixth high school and is currently constructing a fifth high school, located near Santa Fe and Hedge Lane, which will open in 2017.