OPEN: Olathe Public Education Network

12/19/2023

Today we accepted the resignation of our founder - President & Executive Director, Nikki McDonald.

She was appointed to fill a vacancy in the Kansas House of Representatives. Our Board will post an update when her replacement is confirmed.

Congratulations, Nikki! We look forward to a staunch public school advocate representing a portion of our area in the Kansas Statehouse. Thank you for serving in this new & important role.

12/08/2023

We wish Mr. Connell well.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=661180352854850&id=100068886732758

Brian Connell, the embattled member of the Olathe school board, made a surprise announcement at Thursday’s board meeting that he is stepping down from his seat effective Jan. 7.

12/02/2023

Today is National Special Education Day, a commemoration of the nation's first federal special education law, through which public schools continue to provide special education and related services. We celebrate Kansas teachers and staff who empower and educate students served by The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

11/30/2023

👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

11/29/2023

We applaud the Olathe Public School District for hosting these regularly scheduled Community Conversations.

11/23/2023

Important message.

11/16/2023

We had the pleasure of attending a luncheon today put on by the KC Area Development Council with around 2,000 people from the civic and business community celebrating our region’s success. Clearly strong public schools drive strong local economies.

11/15/2023

Votes have been certified for the November 7th General Election. It is official- Will Babbit, Brad Boyd, Claire Reagan and Stacey Yurkovich will be sworn in to serve on the Olathe School Board in January of 2024.

11/15/2023

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/Loms3L4JdBhCdyAA/?mibextid=WC7FNe

Happy American Education Week! Whether you’re a parent, student, or a member of our community, it’s on all of us to make sure our public schools and education professionals have what they need to succeed. Sign our pledge and we'll send you an "I ❤️ Public Education" bumper sticker to show your pride: https://bit.ly/3MpaF5x

11/14/2023

Attention educators- Please take this opportunity to weigh in regarding the Kansas Teacher Retention Initiative. They want to hear from YOU. Thanks!

Olathe & Kansas Educators. Stop, take five minutes, and complete. This data is critical to educating students in the classroom. We are proud to partner with the district on this critical survey https://hubs.ly/Q023HYbt0

ONEA ARs please log into our ONEA TownSquare to find an important message from ONEA President Leigh Anne Rogers on a way to collaborate with your building administrator, bit.ly/ONEATownSqu

11/13/2023

“The Johnson County chapter of Moms for Liberty has denied there are any M4L-supported candidates in Johnson County, but has posted multiple Facebook posts publicizing Olathe conservative candidate Jennifer Gilmore’s campaign.

Newcomer Will Babbit, endorsed by the teachers union, won against Gilmore by 15,550 votes to 11,988 votes.

Gilmore, who ran unsuccessfully for the second time, had sued the district following her removal from a board meeting after disrupting the meeting. The district lost the lawsuit just ahead of the vote.

Conservative Olathe school board candidates Holly Palacio, Dan Adera-Odhiambo and Jesse Gillam also lost to moderate candidates.”

Kansas communities rejected multiple far-right candidates for school boards in what a national education group has characterized as a U.S.-wide trend of demanding “real solutions” on the local level.

11/11/2023

Olathe School District voters sent a resounding message at the polls making it clear that we have no appetite for extremism.

https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/moderates-win-the-day-in-johnson-county-school-board-elections?fbclid=IwAR26VKg4k0dvKyVMhWhLOCZLJ18zHFqbQzQprCJy1zjSa-VfxXxfwY9wZPY_aem_AefiGoXJGkmSqVbtyVnmscfnL5sTaz1noLJk-_0Gm1kP-U__p4WI09Si5o5xypbqV5c

In the past year, local school board races across the country have attracted a lot of attention. School curriculum and reading materials have become hot topics of debate.