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Jan 15, 2025 | 
sentinelksmo.org | Patrick Richardson
Parents in much of the country have become accustomed to using an online platform called “PowerSchool” to keep up with their children’s grades, but that platform was recently the subject of a massive data breach, affecting the data of more than 50 million students across the country. Multiple districts across Kansas were affected, including Andover, Buhler, Haysville and Rosehill public schools.
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Jan 13, 2025 | 
sentinelksmo.org | Patrick Richardson
Late last year, the Colorado Springs, Colorado, Board of Education voted to end its collective bargaining agreement with the Colorado Springs Education Association — the union representing the district’s teachers. Colorado Public Radio reports that the seven-member body voted 6-1 not to renew the master agreement with CSEA. “With that move, D11 bowed out of the last remaining collective bargaining agreement in Colorado Springs districts.
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Jan 8, 2025 | 
readlion.com | Patrick Richardson |Jillian Schneider |Dave Trabert
(The Sentinel) – According to data from the Kansas Department of Education, school districts statewide increased total spending by about 4% in the 2023-24 school year, well over the 2.9% rate of inflation. However, the most important aspect of school spending – instruction – barely kept up with inflation. Districts averaged $18,324, and many spent over $20,000 per student. While a significant portion of the 111 high-spending districts have low enrollment, some do not.
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Jan 8, 2025 | 
sentinelksmo.org | Patrick Richardson
Earlier this year a federal court issued a temporary restraining order in a lawsuit challenging part of Kansas campaign finance laws defining a political action committee, or PAC. On January 6, 2025, United States District Judge Daniel D. Crabtree made it permanent.
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Jan 7, 2025 | 
readlion.com | Kim Jarrett |Patrick Richardson |Jon Styf
(The Center Square) – A majority of Tennesseans polled by the Beacon Center said they support Gov. Bill Lee’s expansion of school choice statewide. The poll of 1,200 registered voters shows 67% back the plan, including 73% of Republicans and 51% of Democrats. Just 13% said they oppose the extension and 20% are not sure. Sen. Jack Johnson, R-Franklin, and Rep. William Lamberth, R-Portland, filed the “Education Freedom Act of 2025” in November.
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Jan 7, 2025 | 
sentinelksmo.org | Patrick Richardson
According to data from the Kansas Department of Education, school districts statewide increased total spending by about 4% in the 2023-24 school year, well over the 2.9% rate of inflation. However, the most important aspect of school spending—instruction—barely kept up with inflation. Districts averaged $18,324, and many spent over $20,000 per student. While a significant portion of the 111 high-spending districts have low enrollment, some do not.
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Dec 9, 2024 | 
sentinelksmo.org | Patrick Richardson
Leadership elections for the next Kansas Legislature are complete, with Republicans growing their supermajority. There were few surprises with top leaders from both parties in both houses remaining largely unchanged, the Topeka Capital-Journal reports. Sen. Ty Masterson, (R-Andover), will remain senate president, and Rep Dan Hawkins, (R-Wichita), will retain his seat as Speaker of the House as well. On the Democrat side, Sen. Dina Sykes, (D-Lenexa) was reelected and Rep.
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Dec 5, 2024 | 
readlion.com | Patrick Richardson |David Hicks
(The Sentinel) – Members of boards of education in Kansas seeking legal advice related to their duties have a new, no-cost option thanks to School Boards for Academic Excellence, a national organization committed to restoring academic excellence. The initiative aims to provide state and local school board members in Kansas with free, accessible legal advice on various issues related to their roles and responsibilities.
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Dec 4, 2024 | 
sentinelksmo.org | Patrick Richardson
Members of boards of education in Kansas seeking legal advice related to their duties have a new, no-cost option thanks to School Boards for Academic Excellence, a national organization committed to restoring academic excellence. The initiative aims to provide state and local school board members in Kansas with free, accessible legal advice on various issues related to their roles and responsibilities.
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Nov 25, 2024 | 
sentinelksmo.org | Patrick Richardson
Homeowners with houses built on ground leased from the City of Council Grove, Kansas, around a city-owned lake, are being threatened with having their leases canceled unless they pay $25,000 and agree to the land being annexed. While the city owns the lake — which is a few miles outside the city limits — it remains part of Morris County and has not been annexed.
