Notes from May 29th Meeting as posted on USD 500 Website

Board of Education Highlights for Tuesday, May 29 The Board of Education renewed several Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) and/or contracts with the following organizations for the upcoming school year:

• A MOU was approved with the University of Kansas Medical Center, the University of Kansas Family Medicine Foundation and Communities Creating Opportunities for the BullDoc Clinic located at Wyandotte High School. The BullDoc clinic was established to provide all Wyandotte students, including those without health insurance, school-based primary care services and mental healthcare. Among the services provided by the school-based health center are physicals, mental health care, acute illness visits, and wellness checks.
• A MOU was approved with PACES Inc. to provide behavior consultation services the schools districtwide. The program also provides services to Wyandot Academy students through the placement of a school-based therapist creating opportunity for student who otherwise would not be able to engage in mental health services due to various barriers. As you may recall, the state legislature appropriated funds for the Mental Health Intervention Program for six participating pilot districts. Our school district is entering into the agreement with PACES as the local community mental health center and will act as the fiscal agent for the program.
• A MOU was approved for ThrYve (Together Helping Reduce Youth Violence), an initiative of the University of Kansas Medical Center and the Center for Community and Health Development to provide school and community-based violence prevention services.
• A contract was approved between Parents as Teachers and Children’s Mercy West Clinic to provide early childhood well-check and screening services to students. This collaboration allows the school district to reach more children before the age of three years who are termed at-risk entering kindergarten unprepared.

The board also voted to name the new building for Northwest Middle School as Carl B. Bruce Middle School. The board made the decision after hearing the survey results regarding the renaming of Northwest Middle School and information about the significance of each name being considered for the school. Two names, out of about 10 iterations of names, were placed on the survey for consideration. Those names: Northwest Middle School and Carl B. Bruce Middle School. The committee working on this project consisted of school district staff, leadership and staff from Northwest, parents and community members. 
The board approved the selection of McCown Gordon as the construction manager at-risk for the New Central Kitchen Facility.  The new kitchen will be located at 5640 State Ave. The facility will be used for cooking, distributing food districtwide and a learning environment for students involved in the culinary arts program.  
The board approved the insurance renewal package, which is a 3% increase or $37,313, for all insurances, including property, crime, general liability, professional liability, automobile, excess workers’ compensation, errors and omissions, fine arts, boiler and machinery and underground storage tanks.  The board also agreed to obtain more information about an Active Shooter Policy.
The following are a few of the updates provided about the bond projects (Visit bond.kckps.org):

• Arrowhead Middle School – remodeling is underway for new teacher spaces
• Welborn Elementary School - students participated in a beam signing event.
• Wyandotte High School – more than half way completed with all of the plumbing work
• Stony Point North – reworking the nurse’s office as well as pouring concrete for the roof
• JC Harmon –working on the Academy spaces
• Washington High School – completing Academy Spaces in the next weeks
• Coronado Middle School – students participated in a beam signing event for the new Gloria Willis Middle School
• Grant – a groundbreaking ceremony was recently held to usher in the beginning of work at the school

The board heard a report on recruitment efforts in the school district, including where those efforts were focused and outcomes. A report on the district’s partnership with Prep-KC was also a part of the board meeting.
District staff should look for a Listening Tour to be held in June for employees to share opportunities with the board.
To view the meeting in its entirety, click May 29. 
To view information pertaining to the budgetary development decisions impacting the 2018-19 Budget: view the May 24 Special Meeting and the May 14 Special Meeting.