Olathe Public Schools

Olathe Community,

Happy summer! We hope our families and staff are enjoying a well-deserved break.

While summer is in full swing, our district team is already preparing for the 2026-27 school year. As you’ll read in this newsletter, we have much to celebrate, from outstanding student achievements in academics, activities and athletics to innovative learning experiences we wanted to share from the spring.

You’ll also find important updates on online registration, upcoming changes to our cell phone policy due to new state legislation, our updated bullying prevention plan and the ongoing Facility Alignment process. These efforts reflect our commitment to providing safe, supportive and engaging learning environments for all students.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support of Olathe Public Schools. Enjoy the rest of your summer, and we look forward to welcoming students back in August.

Your very proud superintendent,

Dr. Brent Yeager

To celebrate the World Cup, first grade students at Heatherstone Elementary School put their engineering skills to the test by designing soccer shin guards.

Students explored the materials used to make soccer balls to better understand the types of protection players need on the field. After testing their designs on stuffed animals, they collaborated to create life-size shin guard prototypes.

To read more about this project and other innovative learning experiences completed by Heatherstone first grade students, read the story written by KCUR: https://www.kcur.org/education/2026-05-20/kansas-city-olathe-school-world-cup-curriculum.

Olathe Public Schools student-athletes delivered an outstanding spring season, earning team and individual Class 6A state championships across swim and dive, track and field.

• The Olathe East High School girls’ swim and dive team celebrated two individual state champions. Senior Libby Barney captured the Class 6A title in the 200-yard freestyle, while Irene Gettya earned the state championship in 1-meter diving.
• On the track, the Olathe North High School boys’ and girls’ teams each claimed the Class 6A state championship, highlighting a dominant performance by the Eagles at the state meet.
• The Olathe North boys also earned a state title in the 4x100-meter relay, with Camron Porter, Akobi Bruce, Jackson Parker and Jayson Rush combining for a championship performance.
• The Olathe North girls secured multiple individual and relay championships, including titles in the 4x100-meter relay, 4x400-meter relay, 300-meter hurdles, long jump, javelin and pole vault. State champions included Kayden Maney, Sienna Wesley, Jasmine Simons, Kate Figgins, Avani Hocker Singh, Kayden Freemon, Kennedy Tobaben and Elena Ginie.
• Olathe West High School also celebrated two individual state champions. David Harper won the Class 6A boys’ high jump title, while Cade Zimmerman captured the boys’ javelin championship.
• Olathe East earned three state championships on the boys’ side of the competition. Ryan Hartz won the 400-meter dash, Nico Cabral claimed the 200-meter dash title, and the 4x400-meter relay team of Jack Anderson, Brice Schober, Nico Cabral and Ryan Hartz captured a state championship.
• Olathe South High School's Emani Clifton added another title for the district, earning the Class 6A girls’ shot put state championship.
  
  

Congratulations to all our student athletes, coaches and support staff on an exceptional season and for representing our district at the highest level of competition.

The Olathe Board of Education recognized several student achievements and honored two retirees during its June meeting.

Students from Olathe North High School earned first place at the Job Olympics, while additional students were recognized for outstanding performances at the ProStart, HOSA and SkillsUSA competitions. The board also celebrated top medalists from the Middle School Quest Olympics and recognized three state champions in speech and debate.

In addition, the board honored Dr. Tim Reves, chief academic officer, and Matt Johnson, director of athletics and activities, upon their retirement. Both were recognized for their years of service and contributions to Olathe Public Schools.

Beginning on July 7, online registration for the 2026-27 school year will open in ParentVUE. Parents will be able to access the link to Online Registration in the ParentVUE app or by visiting the ParentVUE website. There, they will be able to complete all the necessary registration documents for each of their children, including making sure contact and demographic information is up to date.

Parents will be able to pay student and school fees through TouchBase and apply payment toward meal accounts through SchoolCafé.

It's important to note that families new to the district, those who have not been to kindergarten enrollment, and any out-of-district residents approved to attend Olathe Public Schools through Open Enrollment will need to contact their child’s school beginning July 20 to set up an appointment to come into the building to register. More information will be sent to parents this summer about the Online Registration process.

For those who need assistance, you can contact your child’s school beginning July 20 to schedule an appointment to enroll, or join us at our Enrollment Support event on Tuesday, July 28 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Olathe North High School (600 E. Prairie Street, Olathe).

This spring, the Facility Alignment Task Force, made up of one staff member and one parent representative from each school, met three times review district finances, enrollment projections and building capacity data to help inform Olathe Public Schools’ school consolidation planning process.

At the June Board of Education Meeting, Deputy Superintendent Dr. Jim McMullen presented an overview of the Task Force’s work and recommendations. View the full presentation on the district’s YouTube Channel.

Survey results showed that 100 percent of participants believed the district needed to reduce its elementary footprint, with the largest groups recommending the closure of three or four elementary schools and at least one middle school. High schools are not expected to be affected by the alignment process based on enrollment projections.

Next Steps

A steering committee made up of task force members will meet four times this summer to further evaluate the recommendations and begin identifying schools that may be considered for consolidation. The steering committee met for the first time this week.

A recommendation on specific school closures will be made to the Board of Education at the September board meeting, with decisions around updated boundaries to follow. Please note, it is possible that your school could be impacted even if it is not identified for consolidation or closure. Buildings that do not close may have their boundaries adjusted to accommodate student populations from buildings that have been reduced.

Additional information will be shared this fall. Community members interested in following the process can learn more on the district website.

During the 2026 legislative session, the Kansas Legislature passed a new state cell phone law that prohibits the use of cell phones and personal electronic devices during the school day on school premises. Devices must be turned off and securely stored during the school day. District leaders are currently working on proposed updates to the district’s policy JTC – Personal Electronic Devices to ensure we are fully in compliance with the new law that goes into effect for the 2026-27 school year. As updates to the policy are finalized, more communication will be shared with students and families prior to the start of the school year.

We are excited to present our district’s new bullying plan, developed by a committee of 16 parents, administrators and teachers who met throughout the school year to review current practices, state requirements and emerging concerns facing students. Read more about our bullying plan on our website.

Key updates to the plan include:

• A new bullying definition aligned with guidance from the Kansas State Department of Education.

• Expanded guidance on identifying physical, verbal, relational and cyberbullying behaviors.

• An anonymous online reporting system that allows students, staff and families to report specific bullying concerns directly to school administrators.

• Enhanced prevention strategies focused on building positive relationships between students and trusted adults.

• More clear procedures for investigating reports and responding when bullying is identified.

• Updates to annual training and education for staff and students.

The updated plan also addresses cyberbullying, including harmful behavior conducted through social media, online gaming, electronic communication, rumor spreading and the sharing of compromising images.

Prevention remains one of the most important components of the plan. We will continue to focus on creating safe school environments, encouraging meaningful connections with trusted adults and helping students understand how to recognize and report bullying behaviors. As we approach the new school year, we ask for partnership with our parents in supporting these efforts at home by discouraging bullying behavior.

Olathe Public Schools’ Café 233 Food Services team is offering free lunch for children ages 1-18 this summer. The program runs Monday-Thursday from June 1 to July 23, with lunch available from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the following schools:

• Havencroft Elementary School (1700 E. Sheridan St., Olathe)
• Northview Elementary School (900 N. Woodland Rd., Olathe)
• Pioneer Trail Middle School (15100 W. 127th St., Olathe)
• Ridgeview Elementary School (1201 E. Elm St., Olathe)
• Santa Fe Trail Middle School (1100 N. Ridgeview Rd., Olathe)
  
  

There are no income guidelines or registration requirements to participate; however, meals must be eaten on site. Thank you to the Food Services team for all their hard work in offering this to the children in our community.

Questions, comments or suggestions? Email them to communications@olatheschools.org.

Website: www.olatheschools.org
Location: 14160 South Black Bob Road, Olathe, KS, USA
Phone: 913-780-7000
Facebook: facebook.com/olatheschools

Instagram: instagram.com/olatheschoolsks
X / Twitter: @olatheschools

YouTube: youtube.com/@OlathePublicSchools233