The USD 450 Scoop

Quarter 2 Newsletter

2023-24 School Year

In our Quarter 1 District Newsletter, we highlighted the impending research initiatives the district has undertaken to get a pulse on what we need to do to prepare for our future —specifically, the comprehensive enrollment/population study, facilities master plan, and a traffic engineering assistance program study. Since the dissemination of that newsletter, we are excited to share that two insightful presentations have been conducted, unveiling the findings of the enrollment/population study and the facilities master plan.

On November 6, 2023, RSP & Associates, a distinguished planning firm headquartered in Overland Park with a 20-year track record in collaborating with school districts, delivered a 5-year enrollment/population analysis to the Board of Education. Their presentation, organized into four distinct categories—Enrollment and Demographics, Housing and Development Trends, Projections, and Next Steps—provided valuable insights. Here, we present the key highlights gleaned from their informative session:

Enrollment and Demographics

• Over the next five years, RSP & Associates projects overall district stability.

• Anticipate modest growth at the elementary and middle school levels, counterbalanced by a slight decrease at the high school level due to the graduation of larger classes.
• Our elementary schools already face capacity challenges, highlighting the need for strategic planning to address our capacity limitations.
• Birth rates in SNCO are on a downward trend, influenced by Millennials delaying parenthood and having fewer children. This trend is offset by inward migration of new students and families into the district.
• It is estimated that USD 450 enrolls approximately 10% of students born within the district's boundaries.
• In the past two years, USD 450 has experienced a net gain in students, although it has stabilized in the most recent year.
• The district currently accommodates around 250-260 students residing outside its boundaries, reflecting its appeal beyond geographical limits. While the number of applications for Out of District students continues to increase (over 400), each year the district accepts fewer out of district students as we experience over-crowding in the elementary schools and reach program capacities in the secondary schools.

Housing and Development Trends

• Over the decade from 2011-2021, the Shawnee Heights area experienced consistent population growth.
• In the last two years, there has been a marginal decline in population within the Shawnee Heights area.
• Approximately 50-70 new housing units are developed annually, contributing to the area's residential expansion.
• For every 100 single-family units, USD 450 enrolls approximately 20 elementary students, with Shawnee Heights Elementary demonstrating the highest student yield rate.
• Among multi-family units, USD 450 enrolls approximately 21 elementary students for every 100 units, and Berryton Elementary demonstrates the highest student yield rate.
• Tecumseh South Elementary is a key area with significant potential for future unit development.

Enrollment Projections

• Anticipate a district-wide growth to approximately 3,600 students during the projected period.
• Expect a gradual rise in the elementary schools by the 27-28 academic year.
• Project a modest increase of students in the middle school by the 27-28 academic year.
• Note a slight decline of students in the high school by the 27-28 academic year as larger classes graduate.
• Current economic conditions of higher interest rates, materials bottlenecks and labor shortages have slowed housing growth. The district has significant potential to expand housing over the next ten years if these conditions improve and the local economy picks up (3,000 + Units).

Next Steps

• Monitor real-time live birth data regularly.
• Stay informed about the ongoing open-enrollment trend.
• Recognize that economic fluctuations can significantly influence the volume of units under construction. Stay vigilant to these changes.

Review RSP’s full Enrollment Analysis presentation.

On November 20, 2023, HTK delivered a comprehensive and insightful facilities master plan to the Board of Education. Their presentation carefully examined our existing school buildings and resources, factored in RSP's enrollment and population study, and considered the evolving education landscape. The purpose was to provide well-informed recommendations for potential additions to the district to enhance our ability to serve the community better. Dive into the details of their presentation by watching the video below.

Review HTK's Master Facilities Plan presentation.

The district administration and the board are currently reviewing the research to formulate a comprehensive plan outlining the necessary steps for our district's future preparedness. As this research is under consideration, challenges may arise in implementing essential changes, and support from our elected state leaders could prove beneficial in navigating these challenges effectively.

For several years, all the districts in SNCO have requested the assistance of our Legislature in two primary areas that cause us the most financial difficulties: Special Education Funding and Bond and Interests Aid.

The Federal government and the State of Kansas have underfunded Special Education since 2011. Special Education is to be funded at 92% of excess cost, but this year's funding levels are expected to be much lower, closer to 68% of excess costs. When districts don't receive adequate funding for special education, it forces districts to fund the difference from other operational funds. This underfunding cost our district well over $2 million last year and is anticipated to be over $3 million this year. This chronic underfunding of SPED forces districts to reduce expenditures in other areas and divert those funds to special education, resulting in fewer resources for other programs, supports, and suppressing salary and benefits for staff as we try to adequately staff the district. The Governor and state Board of Education have both proposed fully finding special education but those budget proposals and requests have not been acted upon by the legislature.

The Bond and Interest Aid is also a considerable concern and has an enormous impact on Shawnee Heights students, families and taxpayers. We already know that our elementary population has reached and in some cases exceeded our buildings capacity, and we will eventually need a bond issue to address those capacity limitations. A school bond election is a bond issue used by a public school district, typically to finance a building or other capital project too large for Capital Outlay funds. These measures are placed on the ballot by district school boards to be approved or defeated by the voting public.

For 25 years the state of Kansas was a great partner to every student and community taxpayer when it came to local bond issues. The School Finance Formula included funding aid by which the state equalized the tax burden on local communities when they passed a bond issue to add or improve school facilities. The Bond and Interest Aid formula was calculated based on land, tax revenue, and student population. Our district is primarily comprised of residential housing and farmland, producing less tax revenue for our community. For our bonds passed prior to 2015, USD 450 taxpayers paid 41% of the bonds, and the State paid 59%. This Bond and Interest Aid worked well for communities across our State. It created equity for students of Kansas by not allowing educational opportunities to depend on students' zip codes and tax base. State aid equalized district valuation (tax-base), so all students and communities had a relatively even playing field to address facility needs. This Bond and Interest Aid formula also injected fairness into the property tax code by offsetting the costs taxpayers in property-poor communities like Shawnee Heights paid to support a bond issue and their local schools and community.

In 2015, the Legislature broke the Bond and Interest Aid formula by including Ft. Leavenworth in the statewide calculations. This change cost the taxpayers in property-poor districts, such as USD 450, about 40% more on future bond projects because of the resulting reduction in state aid. Presently, under the still broken Bond and Interest Aid formula USD 450 taxpayers would pay 88% of a new bond, and the State would only pay 12%. This impairs our community and district's ability to appropriately address the growth of our community, alleviate over-crowding in our elementary schools, update and address growth in school programs across the district, and address the upkeep of our buildings (projects too large for Cap Outlay funds). For the past three years we have asked our local elected leaders to support fixing the Bond and Interest Aid formula and restore student and taxpayer equity into the Bond and Interest Aid formula. Thus far they have failed to address the inequity that now plagues students and taxpayers in communities with smaller tax bases such as ours. At its heart, State Bond and Interest Aid is a Property Tax relief program that provides student opportunity equity, taxpayer equity across the state, and serves as an economic engine for local economies and communities. As our legislators consider forms of property tax relief this legislative session, we hope they finally make restoring the Bond and Interest Aid a part of that conversation and action.

Each year, leadership from all five Shawnee County Public School Districts collaboratively creates the Shawnee County Legislative Positions document. These Legislative Positions were created with the belief that all Shawnee County students are our top priority, significant societal benefits are gained by supporting exemplary public education, and all Kansas students deserve an adequate and equitable public education. Our Board of Education approved this One United Voice on November 20, 2023, and it has been shared with our elected officials. Click on the image to view the entire document.

In a bittersweet moment for our school community, Mr. Hallacy, Superintendent of Shawnee Heights USD 450, announced his retirement at the end of the current school year. Mr. Hallacy has been a driving force behind the district's success for the past three years. His leadership, vision, and unwavering commitment to the students, teachers, and parents have elevated the educational experience for all. Under his guidance, the district has achieved numerous milestones, creating an environment conducive to learning, growth, and innovation, expanded our school safety and security programs, brought additional budget efficiencies, increased revenue streams and created a plan to pay off district debt early so capacity issues and building updates could be addressed sooner.

With Mr. Hallacy's impending departure, our Board of Education has enlisted the Kansas Association of School Boards' (KASB) expertise to search for Shawnee Heights' next leader. KASB, a trusted organization known for its commitment to excellence in education leadership, will lead the process of identifying and selecting the most qualified candidate to carry the torch forward.The involvement of KASB in the Superintendent search process ensures a thorough and thoughtful transition. KASB will be surveying parents and conducting focus groups to gather feedback on the qualities and skills our community feels are important in our next superintendent. We anticipate the Board will select our next superintendent by March.

As valued members of our school community, your input is crucial in shaping the future of USD 450 Shawnee Heights School District. KASB, in collaboration with our district, is conducting an online survey to gather your thoughts on the desired characteristics of a new superintendent. Please find the survey link below. It will only take approximately five minutes to complete, and your participation is greatly appreciated. The Survey will close on January 19, 2024.

Additionally, we are forming focus groups to determine the specific characteristics our district stakeholders want in a new superintendent. One of these focus groups will consist of community members and parents who do not currently hold an office position in a school organization, such as PTOs, DAC, etc. Your unique perspectives will contribute significantly to this group's discussions.

If you are interested in participating in this focus group, please email Tiffanie Kinsch at kinscht@usd450.net to extend your interest. The focus group will be held on January 25, 2024, from 4:10 pm to 4:50 pm. We are looking for 20 individuals to fill this focus group.

Thank you for your time and dedication to the success of USD 450 Shawnee Heights School District. Together, we can positively impact the future of our school community.

As we close out the first semester and enter the second, we want to express our sincere gratitude to our families for their support and flexibility during our bus driver shortage. Your understanding and cooperation have been instrumental in ensuring the continued transportation of our students to and from school, and we genuinely appreciate your commitment to the well-being of our school community.

If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a bus driver, please apply at https://bit.ly/USD450BusDriver or call 785-379-5820. We welcome applicants interested in various roles, including substitute drivers, regular route drivers, or those seeking a full-time position, where we have the flexibility to design a bus driver role with additional responsibilities throughout the day. Please pass this message along to anyone you think might be interested.

We are actively working to address the bus driver shortage and have implemented several short-term solutions and workarounds as we address the long-term solution of rebuilding our core drivers.

Some of the measures we have taken include:

1. Recruitment: We have conducted targeted recruitment campaigns to actively seek out individuals interested in joining our team as bus drivers. These efforts include job fairs, online advertisements, and partnerships with a local temp agency.

2. Training: We have invested in training programs to train interested drivers and help them obtain their CDL to become bus drivers for our district.

3. Employee Flexibility: Custodians and other staff members who can drive take on routes. We are also working with other staff members to obtain their CDL and training on driving a bus. We are providing compensation to these employees for the extra duties.

4. Creating Positions: We have and are willing to create hybrid positions to create full-time jobs for those interested in driving but desire a full-time position.

Once again, we extend our heartfelt thanks for your understanding and collaboration. Thank you for being an essential part of our school community.

We are delighted to announce that two outstanding educators from our district, Karen Stockwell-Withers, and Ben Eckelberry, have been selected as our Shawnee Heights Kansas Teachers of the Year Nominees!

Karen Stockwell-Withers is a Social Studies Teacher at Shawnee Heights Middle School. Her innovative teaching methods, unwavering support for her students, and ability to inspire and challenge young minds have been remarkable. Karen has consistently gone above and beyond to create a unique and engaging classroom environment.

Ben Eckelberry is a 1st Grade Teacher at Tecumseh North Elementary. His passion for teaching, loving demeanor, and dedication to the growth of his students have left an undeniable mark on our school community. Ben's ability to foster a love for learning in his students has been a source of inspiration for all of us.

Karen and Ben will be nominated for the Kansas Teacher of the Year! The Kansas Teacher of the Year Award recognizes and utilizes representatives of excellent teaching in the classrooms of Kansas. Its mission is to build and utilize a network of exemplary teachers who are leaders in the improvement of schools, student performance, and the teaching profession.

We are incredibly proud to have Karen and Ben represent us in the upcoming Kansas Teacher of the Year competition.

Three times a year, Shawnee Heights students take the FastBridge Screener, which is a nationally normed universal screener for reading and math. This assessment data is used to identify students that are demonstrating risk of having reading or math difficulties. Classroom teachers, specialists/interventionists, and special education teachers all work together to review the data of students to determine what targeted interventions, if any, are needed for each student.

What should families know about the reading screener?

Kindergarten through 12th grade students are required to take the screener three times a year. Starting this year (23-24), high school students can stop taking the screener early if they score:

• at the 40th percentile or above on the FastBridge assessment, or
• earn a 16 or above on the PreACT 8/9 Reading, or
• earn a 16 or above on the PreACT 10 Reading, or
• earn an 18 or above on the ACT Reading.

At the conclusion of the Fall 23 window, the following percentages of high school students have completed the requirement and no longer need to take the Reading Fastbridge Screener.

• 9th Grade - 67%
• 10th Grade - 75%
• 11th Grade - 74%
• 12th Grade - 79%

Throughout a student’s education, these screeners are used to check the ability of each student to identify letters, sounds, phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency, accuracy, vocabulary, and comprehension. Kindergarten and first grade students take the earlyReading assessment. Second through twelve grade students take aReading and AUTO Reading assessments to identify any potential risk areas in reading.

What should families know about the math screener?

Students from kindergarten through tenth grade are required to take the screener three times a year. Kindergarten and first grade students take the earlyMath assessment of early numeracy skills that measure accuracy and automaticity. Second through tenth grade students take aMath which measures broad math abilities and predicts overall math achievement in counting and cardinality; operations and algebraic thinking; number and operations in base ten; number and operations with fractions; measurement and data; and geometry.

How are students doing on the reading and math screeners?

Our students are showing a lot of improvement compared to the fall assessments last year. Some highlights in Reading include:

• In Fall 2022, six grades (2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 11th, and 12th) scored below the expected score compared to Fall 2023 in which two grades (2nd and 5th) scored below the expected score. This is a significant improvement. The 5th grade just missed the mark by 0.21 points.
• Without the incentive to “test out” of the screener, last year’s high schoolers had approximately 55% score at or above the 40th percentile. With the test out option, approximately 20% more students have completed the requirement.

Some highlights in Math include:

• In Fall 2022, two grades (2nd, and 3rd) scored below the expected score compared to Fall 2023 in which two grades (2nd and 4th) scored below the expected score. 2nd grade was less than 1 point away and 4th grade missed the mark by just 0.27 points.

When will students take the screeners again?

Each building schedules dates for each grade/teacher to give the screeners for reading and math.

• The winter window runs from 11/13/23 through 12/15/23.
• The spring window runs from 4/15/24 through 5/17/24.

Tim Hallacy, Superintendent

Matt Hirsch, Associate Superintendent

Board of Education

Rosa Cavazos - President

Erica Price - Vice President

Rocky Busenitz

Christina Flaming

Sarah Sanders

Lauren Tice Miller

Kristy VanMetre