Jennifer Seymour

The meeting included several recognitions of student and team achievements. Consent agenda items covered financial reports, warrants, personnel reports, donations, student and staff handbooks, a food service management contract, an SRO agreement, a beverage provider contract, scholarship recipients, asset disposal, and instructional materials. Other key topics included a proposed housing incentive district, a district budget update, a partnership for a Parents as Teachers program, and the approval of a five-year agreement for a district communication platform. The board also held executive sessions to discuss district negotiating positions.

The 'Portrait of a Graduate' for Andover Public Schools serves as a strategic framework to guide education and define the characteristics of an ideal graduate. It focuses on five key areas: Academic preparation, collaboration and communication, innovative thinking, integrity and character, and resilience. The plan aims to equip students with both academic knowledge and essential life skills, aligning with the Kansas Can School Redesign Project's principles and incorporating initiatives like the Andover CAPS program for career exploration, ultimately empowering students for success in a changing world. The framework is supported by a revised mission statement and tagline, 'Explore. Engage. Empower.'

The board discussed organizational appointments, governance and operating procedures, and the selection of a construction manager at risk for bond projects. The board also reviewed the Kansas Education Systems Accreditation process, the implementation of a weighted grade system and new graduation honors, and capital outlay planning for school and athletic projects. Additionally, the board approved a guaranteed maximum price for a playground renovation and reviewed the transition of an online enrollment platform.

The board reviewed and discussed various operational and strategic topics, including the selection and implementation phase of elementary literacy instructional materials, the adoption of board governance and operating procedures, and the review of the capital outlay plan for projects and purchases. Additionally, the board considered district calendar proposals, received presentations on the master facilities plan, and approved district goals for the upcoming academic year. Important actions included authorizing a bond election for May 2017, reviewing executive summaries of data dashboards, and passing a resolution to extend current board member terms to align with state-mandated election changes.

The meeting included a workshop for the Board of Education and a motion to enter into an executive session.