Month: July 2022

Final audit findings and recommendations were presented at Tuesday night’s meeting of the Kansas City, Kansas, Board of Education.

Dr. Anna Stubblefield, superintendent, presented the findings to the Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools board.

One of the studies, an “environmental scan,” was done by the University of Kansas and recommended some changes in alignment and focus, building culture, with attention to human resources and special education.

The KU findings included positives, but also pointed out issues with district focus, integration of initiatives and clarity of roles and responsibilities. Also, a lack of familiarity regarding strategic direction and organization and climate quandaries were noted.

Also there was a need for more comprehensive and cohesive communication strategy, better data to support measurable targets and ongoing feedback, according to the findings. Special education services needed to be strengthened, and areas targeted for review.

Performance measures need room to grow, but the district also needs to be careful when making comparisons, one of the recommendations stated.

Another audit, according to Dr. Stubblefield, led to a Kansas Association of School Boards audit.

The KASB human resources study made recommendations involving various aspects of human resources, including extensive work needed with the employee information database, sub-finding system and application systems.

Other KASB recommendations included support for securing substitute staff, adjusting internal transfer policies, consistent expectations on documenting of references, reviewing interview procedures to ensure consistent processes are used between buildings, establishing a systemwide process to reduce competition between hiring managers, developing a common communication expectation when an offer is extended, developing consistent training and support in employee evaluation and improvement process, and establishing clear pathways for initial training of staff and ongoing development.

Another audit, from Burns-Van Fleet, contained recommendations to reorganize departments, develop an onboarding system, move payroll functions to the business department, maintain professional development in one area, respond to communications promptly, streamline internal communications, review salary schedules for fairness, obtain and assemble exit data, not re-employ terminated persons, leaders should understand education and school law, better understanding of the negotiated agreement and a clearer system to implement board decisions.

“Children come first and achievement comes first,” Dr. Valdenia Winn, a board member, said. If it takes a hard decision from the board, the board needs to do it and not sit on its hands, she added.

Dr. Stubblefield said there are plans to hold meetings with departments to work toward meeting recommendations. She also showed organizational charts and introduced several new district officials who are heading departments.

At the request of board member Rachel Russell, Dr. Stubblefield said she could post a survey that would allow parents and district patrons to express their thoughts on the studies. Also, the parents and patrons could contact board members with specific questions.

The details of the studies and environmental scans will be placed on the district’s website, Dr. Stubblefield said.

“The public realizes this is not the first audit that has been conducted,” Dr. Valdenia Winn, a board member, said.

One was conducted three years ago, but the majority of board did not like it and no action was taken, she said.

She asked the board to set aside time to consider the recommendations that would require a change in policy.

“The public needs to know we will not just sit on these audits,” Dr. Winn said.

It is past time for the board to receive audits, she added. She encouraged people who were interested to read the audits and hold the district’s feet to the fire to do what is best for the children.

“Children come first and achievement comes first,” Dr. Winn said. If it takes a hard decision from the board, the board needs to do it and not sit on its hands, she added.

COVID policy not adopted

In other action, the school board voted not to adopt Option 2 of a COVID-19 policy, that would have continued some district policies about COVID-19.

The policy that was voted down would have followed KDHE, CDC and local Health Department guidelines on community levels to determine masking guidelines. It would have used a testing program that would allow students and staff to continue in-person learning. Masking would have been based on the most conservative level of COVID determined by the state and CDC.

Instead, Tiffany Lewis, the district’s director of health services, will return to a future board meeting with a proposed COVID-19 policy that adapts one that is recommended by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

Currently, the district is without any COVID policy because the policies that were formerly in place expired at the end of the school year, according to officials. However, there are some Health Department guidelines in place.

The vote was 4-3 against option 2. Voting against it were Yolanda Clark, Maxine Drew, Randy Lopez and Janey Humphries. Voting in favor of it were Wanda Brownlee Paige, Rachel Russell and Dr. Winn.
Clark said she preferred to discuss a “customized” Option 2 to be presented at a future meeting.

“I just want us to keep everyone safe,” board member Paige said. COVID-19 numbers are now going up and many employees are concerned about remaining safe, she added.

Wyandotte County recently was again placed in the “red” zone for high community spread of COVID, according to a recent Unified Government Health Department news release.

Board president re-elected

In other action, the board president, Randy Lopez, was re-elected at Tuesday night’s meeting. Clark was re-elected vice president.

The board took two votes. On the first vote, to consider Paige as the president, the “no” votes were Clark, Drew, Humphries and Lopez, with those voting “yes” including Paige, Russell and Dr. Winn.

On the subsequent vote to consider Lopez as president, those voting “yes included Clark, Drew, Humphries, Lopez and Russell, with Paige and Dr. Winn voting “no.”

The environmental scan report has been posted at https://kckps.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/KCKPSEnvironmentalScan22.pdf.

The KASB human resources report has been posted at https://kckps.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/USD-500-HR-Study-Report.pdf.