Challenge encourages employer-supported volunteering

Kansas employers are invited to register for the inaugural Give Back Kansas Challenge and encourage employees to participate in community volunteering. The eight-week challenge will run from April 1 through May 31, 2019, with registration closing March 22 at bit.ly/givebackks.

Olathe USD 233 has two schools taking part in Kansans Can School Redesign

There was a point a few months ago when sixth-grade math teacher Andrea Bowne wasn’t sure about the Kansans Can School Redesign Project. 

The school where Bowne teaches – Santa Fe Trail Middle School in Olathe – was in its first quarter of implementing school redesign. Staff members had spent countless hours in the 2017-2018 school year researching what they wanted their school redesign to look like, visiting with community members and parents, and discussing with other educators how to implement it. Bowne had been in on the process. It took a lot of work. There were tears, disagreements and so many varying opinions. Some of the school’s teachers left. 

The Kansas State Board of Education during its February meeting approved recommendations from the School Mental Health Advisory Council and instructed the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) to take necessary action to put each recommendation into place.

The next regular Kansas State Board of Education meeting is Feb. 12-13, 2019, in Topeka.