Legislative Update

School Funding Ruled Constitutional
Kansas public schools are finally constitutionally funded, according to the Kansas Supreme Court. This spring lawmakers voted to add $90 million in funding for public schools to account for inflation and the Supreme Court ruled that is enough to consider our schools adequately funded. Shawnee Mission schools are expected to receive $9.8 million in new funding added recently. Thank you to all four of our Trailwood area legislators - Rep. Stephanie Clayton, Rep. Jan Kessinger, Sen. Barbara Bollier and Sen. John Skubal - for supporting the increase in funding.

Every Year Is An Election Year
Did you know that every year is an election year? In odd-numbered years we always have local government officials to elect, including members of our Shawnee Mission Board of Education. This year, most Trailwood families will vote for two positions. All Shawnee Mission families will vote for the at-large position currently held by Brad Stratton, who is running unopposed. Those families living in the South Area will vote for to replace Deb Zila, who is retiring. There are two candidates running: Brian Brown, a parent at Brookridge Elementary and Indian Woods Middle School, and Jessica Hembree, a parent at Trailwood. PTA does not endorse candidates but encourages everyone to register to vote and to vote with PTA priorities in mind by Oct. 15 and to vote on Nov. 5.  

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News Links

• Local lawmakers, advocacy groups react as Supreme Court deems K-12 funding
  ​constitutional
• Brian Brown files to run for SM South seat on Shawnee Mission board of education
• https://shawneemissionpost.com/2019/06/03/jessica-hembree-enters-race-for-sm-south-seat-on-board-of-education-setting-up-contested-election-79796
• Jessica Hembree enters race for SM South seat on board of education, setting up contested election

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