Board of Education

The following are highlights of the discussion and actions from the regular board meeting on September 10, 2026. For a more detailed account, please access the meeting agenda in Diligent. To download presentations, PDFs, and other documents, please visit the agenda in Diligent as well.

To view the live stream of the Board Meeting, please visit the "Live" page of our YouTube Channel. 

Consent Items 

All items on the consent agenda were approved without discussion. 

USD 491 District Spotlight

• JAG-K- Summer IT internship
  • Three students, Neo Allison, Adryck Correll, and Kash Coffin participated in a paid summer internship and work based learning where they worked with Cornerstone Integration. They learned about computers, coding, computer engineering, cybersecurity, and more. 
• Staff Introductions- New staff
  • ELC- Tasha Flaherty (SPED), Amy Mcallister (SPED), Ashley Harris (Pre-K Teacher)
  • EES- Sheridan Christy (3rd grade teacher), Annie Hackworth (1st grade teacher), EJ Padgett (Music teacher), Makenna Longacre (Technology teacher) 
  • EMS- Kyla Garvin (Science teacher), Brandon Lawrence (WEBS teacher)
  • EHS- Eliza Kastens (Science teacher), Shanda Hurla (Postsecondary success coordinator), Megan Cleveland (ELA teacher), Zechariah Heintzelman (Science teacher) 

Communications and Administrative Reports 

• Zack Daniel- City of Eudora Manager
  • Provided an update specifically on the fiscal year 2027 city budget review and the public safety sales tax. 
• Transportation
  • Successfully passed all required inspections for the year.
  • Introduced team-building and safety activities that make employee learning more engaging, including Candy Land, Minute to Win It, and other interactive games.
  • Organized team-building activities such as a paint night and pumpkin decorating contest.
  • Built two floats for the 2026 Eudora CPA parade: one featuring a school bus and another designed as a carnival float.
  • Established a Bus Rider of the Month recognition program in partnership with the schools, including prizes for selected students.
  • Attended the 2026 State Transportation Conference.
  • Began recognizing employees for milestone work anniversaries.

Superintendent Report

• Engagement survey timeline
  • Discussed potential changes to the questions and any additional questions that should be included. Also noted that the survey will be distributed in October.
• State Assessment Update
• USD 492 Facility discussion
  • Capital improvement projects to be reviewed by the Board of Education. Includes estimated cost/vendors/options for athletic field lighting (baseball and softball), scoreboard and entry sign package, and track resurfacing. 

Board Reports

• Eudora Schools Foundation 
  • Cardinal Promise Scholarship numbers for the fall were incredible. This semester there are 70 EHS students receiving $12,471 in scholarship support allowing them to complete 547 college credit hours. 
  • Reality U, financial literacy program, event is Sept. 16 for 8th/10th graders. 

• Special Education Interlocal Board Meeting
  • Discussed this year's interlocal agreement. Potential areas for review going forward include:
  • WEBS program funding: Revisit how districts share the cost of the WEBS program, as it's currently underfunded by two-thirds of what it's costing, excluding other program expenses.
  • Out-of-district placements: Review the costs associated with out-of-district placements and how those expenses are managed between the interlocal and individual districts.
  • They are hiring an HR Business Manager.
  • Noted that the state budget has been approved.
• City of Eudora Commission 
  • They’ve been busy with a lot of things but have continued discussions among the commission members about what certain projects might look like.

New Business

• Approved the resolution 26-12 authorizing USD 491 Eudora to make a local option budget percentage in an amount of 33% for the 26-27 school year. 
• Adopted the USD 491 26-27 budget as presented.

The following are highlights of the discussion and actions from the regular board meeting on August 13, 2026. For a more detailed account, please access the meeting agenda in Diligent. To download presentations, PDFs, and other documents, please visit the agenda in Diligent as well.

To view the live stream of the Board Meeting, please visit the "Live" page of our YouTube Channel. 

Consent Items 

All items on the consent agenda were approved without discussion. 

Communications and Administrative Reports 

• State Assessment Update
  • Heather Hundley provided an overview of state assessment results across the district and grade levels. She noted that this year there was a decrease in the percentage of students scoring at Level 4, with a greater percentage scoring at Level 3. The district is working to ensure staff have access to quality instructional resources and is continuing standards-alignment work in preparation for implementing ELA resources at the high school level. A comparison of 2025 and 2026 ELA scores was also reviewed. Math results showed an increase in the percentage of students scoring at Level 4, as well as an increase at Level 3. For more specific information and statistics related to the assessment results, refer to the Diligent agenda.
  • The DLT(District Leadership Team) met to review the 24-month targets and identify additions or clarifications needed.
    • An additional focus was added to improve consistency between the educator evaluation tool (McREL) and the walkthrough tool (LEBRA). The team worked to align the two systems and create a more cohesive approach to walkthroughs and evaluations.

 

• USD 491 Building Needs Assessment Report
  • The 24-month strategic focus will be incorporated into the Building Needs Assessment to better align identified needs with the district's strategic priorities.

 

• CHAMPPS Program Partnership
  • The CHAMPPS program is federally funded through the Jayhawk local agency for aging.
  • The district is exploring this partnership. The first step would be determining the level of interest in the program.

 

Board Reports

• Eudora Schools Foundation 
  • The annual Back-to-School Shopping event was held Monday August 10 and served more than 200 students. Students received dinner, hygiene items, clothing, vaccines, after-school snacks, access to community resource navigators, haircuts, and other services at no cost.
  • The Foundation will celebrate its 20th anniversary with a birthday celebration on Saturday August 15. 
  • Registration is open for the Foundation's annual golf tournament.

• Special Education Interlocal Board Meeting
  • The group reviewed the discontinuation of the RTAP grant and discussed other potential funding options.
  • The 2027 budget was reviewed.
  • The Interlocal continues to seek a school psychologist for EMS/EHS, elementary resource teachers for fourth and fifth grade, and an Early Childhood Special Education teacher.
  • There has been some turnover among front-office staff at the Interlocal.
• City of Eudora Commission 
  • The Commission voted to place a public safety sales tax on the November ballot.
  • They’re holding a hearing regarding a tax increment financing (TIF) district for development on the northeast side of Eudora.

New Business

• Approved the Artificial Intelligence District Guidelines as presented. 
  • A family guide was added as part of the district's AI guidelines. Teacher training is a required prerequisite and will focus on AI literacy. The district will share information with families to provide greater clarity and confidence regarding how AI is being used in schools. A framework for teachers was provided to clarify appropriate AI use and the intended outcomes. 
• Approved the 2026-2027 Preliminary Budget as presented. 

The following are highlights of the discussion and actions from the regular board meeting on July 30, 2026. For a more detailed account, please access the meeting agenda in Diligent. To download presentations, PDFs, and other documents, please visit the agenda in Diligent as well.

 

To view the live stream of the Board Meeting, please visit the "Live" page of our YouTube Channel. 

Consent Items 

All items on the consent agenda and the two-day waiver were approved.

New Business

Approved the following carriers and products for the 2026-2027 employee benefits package. Benefits enrollment will take place on August 12.

The following are highlights of the discussion and actions from the regular board meeting on July 21, 2026. For a more detailed account, please access the meeting agenda in Diligent. To download presentations, PDFs, and other documents, please visit the agenda in Diligent as well.

To view the live stream of the Board Meeting, please visit the "Live" page of our YouTube Channel. 

Consent Items 

All items on the consent agenda were approved without discussion. 

 

New Business

1. Approved to adopt the COLA resolution 26-10 as presented. 

2. Approved the recommendation to award returning classified staff members a 25 cent annual increase for additional years of service in addition to a 2% raise effective July 1, 2026 and a 2% increase to returning administrators and directors staff salaries effective July 1, 2026. 

3. Approved the ratified 2026-2027 negotiated agreement as presented.

The following are highlights of the discussion and actions from the regular board meeting on July 6, 2026. For a more detailed account, please access the meeting agenda in Diligent. To download presentations, PDFs, and other documents, please visit the agenda in Diligent as well.

To view the live stream of the Board Meeting, please visit the "Live" page of our YouTube Channel. 

Consent Items 

All items on the consent agenda were approved without discussion. 

Communications and Administrative Reports 

• City of Eudora- Zack Daniel
  • A public hearing will be held on July 27, at the city commission, to consider the establishment of a tax increment finance district to either deny or affirm the findings that the area is eligible for TIFF financing. 
• Administrative Reports- Amanda Brunkow, Human Resources
  • Presentation discussed the following; 
    • HR is currently working with the district's insurance broker to review health insurance renewal options. Final quotes are expected in mid-July, with the Benefits Committee reviewing plans later that month. Open enrollment preparations are underway, with the annual Benefits Fair scheduled before the start of the school year.
    • The HR department is focused on: Reviewing teacher transcripts for salary advancement, verifying licensure and compliance requirements, and completing year-end staff rollovers, leave balances, contracts, and required Vector trainings.
    • The district continues expanding professional development opportunities for classified staff following positive feedback from Dream Big training sessions. 
    • The spring pulse survey included 168 employee responses. 
      • Areas of improvement: Celebrating successes, access to resources and materials, and training to perform job responsibilities. 
      • Growth opportunities: Timely district communication, employee involvement in decision-making, and connection to work
    • HR shared results from exit surveys completed by departing employees. Primary reasons for leaving included: Compensation and benefits, returning to hometowns or relocating, and better employment opportunities. Positive feedback included: Feeling safe in the district, strong relationships with coworkers, and positive experiences working in Eudora Schools. Areas for continued focus: Competitive compensation and benefits, employee recognition, staff voice in decision-making, and support during organizational changes.
    • HR priorities for the coming year include: Expanding professional development opportunities, streamlining district work processes, improving onboarding for classified staff, strengthening communication between district and building leadership, and leveraging technology to improve efficiency.

 

• Superintendent Report 
  • Revenue Neutral Rate Discussion
    • The Board received an overview of the annual Revenue Neutral Rate process. Key points included: The district must notify the county of its intent to exceed the Revenue Neutral Rate by July 20. The Board will formally consider and vote on the Revenue Neutral Rate during a public hearing in September. Exceeding the Revenue Neutral Rate allows the district to maintain funding necessary for operations and negotiated obligations.
  • USD 491 Building Needs Assessment Report 
    • The superintendent reviewed the annual Building Needs Assessment required by state statute.
    • The district continues refining this report to better align with the Strategic Plan and annual district progress.
  • AI Policy Discussion- The Board reviewed the district's developing Artificial Intelligence implementation framework.
    • Teachers will complete AI literacy training before independently implementing AI with students. Training focuses on safe, ethical, and effective classroom use. (Provide a stipend for them to take it and when they’re done they provide the certificate to us; 8 hours of training, so if interested in using in the classroom, it's important that they take this “pre-requisite”) 
    • The framework establishes age-appropriate expectations:
      • PreK–2: Teacher modeling only; no independent student use.
      • Grades 3–5: Guided, supervised use of teacher-approved tools only, with every activity scaffolded and explained
      • Grades 6–8: Supervised, critical use- students evaluate outputs for accuracy and bias rather than accepting them at face value
      • Grades 9–12: Independent use as a thinking partner, with documentation, disclosure, and full accountability for the final product (familiarize students with AI getting them prepared for future college and careers) 
    • The framework identifies district-supported platforms such as MagicSchool, Canva AI features, NotebookLM, Google Gemini (with continued evaluation of safety features)
    • The district plans to provide: Parent education resources, AI guidance for families, and ongoing communication regarding classroom implementation.

Board Reports

• Eudora Schools Foundation 
  • Monica Dittmer is officially the Executive Director as of July 1. 
  • The Foundation's Birthday Party is scheduled for August 15.
  • Plans to continue the annual backpack and school supply distribution program before the start of school.
• Special Education Interlocal Board Meeting
  • Completed year-end business. Prepared for leadership transition. Reported that assessments are expected to follow a more typical schedule this year.
• Curriculum Coordinating Council Report 
  • Lots of professional development team meetings over the summer to prepare for the upcoming school year.
• City of Eudora Commission 
  • Continued progress on the housing development by the elementary school. Planning for pedestrian crossings near the elementary school. Construction remains on schedule for future phases.
• Board Reflection- The Board discussed the importance of maintaining strong board governance and effective leadership, noting that healthy school boards contribute to superintendent stability, staff morale, and positive outcomes for students. 

New Business Report

• Approved the implementation of the free breakfast program for all students at USD 491 effective for the 2026-2027 school year. 
  • Universal Free Breakfast - has been a great program and we’re up to 105,000 breakfast served. 
• Approved the adoption and purchase of the grades K-5 and 6-8 curriculum as presented. 
• Approved the June 2026 KASB Board Policy Update Recommendations as presented (includes cellphone policy and social media use for staff and will plan PD for that when school starts). 
• Approved a title-only change for Heather Hundley from Director of School Improvement to Assistant Superintendent of School Improvement effective immediately.