Shawnee Mission Public Schools officials told the district facilities committee they are preparing a recommended list of facility projects for the Board of Education on March 23 as part of early work to determine whether a bond referendum is feasible.

District staff said the recommendations will be built from a strategic‑plan action team process that includes a comprehensive audit of the 10 oldest elementary schools and input from multiple action teams to align facility investments with the district’s instructional goals and operational needs. Staff emphasized they are not presuming board or community support for a bond but want to be prepared if support materializes.

According to staff, action team 6.11 has audited buildings for structural condition (building envelope and major mechanical systems), maintainability (for example, availability of replacement parts), instructional adequacy and campus safety (layout, parking and drive lanes). The audit list includes Belinder, Broken Arrow, Brookridge, East Antioch, McCullough, Mill Creek, Rising Star, Rose Hill, Santa Fe Trail and one other elementary school identified by staff as among the district’s oldest.

Staff described the categories they expect to consider for a bond: athletic‑field turf replacements and bleacher systems, technology upgrades, major mechanical replacements (HVAC and cooling towers), intercom and fire alarm system replacement, roofing, concrete and asphalt repairs, and aesthetic improvements such as flooring and ceiling work. Secondary (middle and high) schools will be evaluated per building, with allocations for renovation and additions as appropriate.

A key timetable item is the March 23 board meeting, which staff described as the first public statement about a potential bond and a date when the board will receive the building‑needs assessment and related recommendations. If the board approves, staff said they would seek permission to continue feasibility work — including possible RFPs to retain architects and construction managers — but stressed that March 23 does not presume the board’s approval to place a bond before voters.

Capital projects in the 2026 plan include an expansion and returfing of West High School’s combo field to add a baseball component. The district contracted Mammoth Sports for design; the project is in permitting with Overland Park and staff expect it to be available for the spring sports season in March 2026. Moving the West baseball field back onto campus, staff said, also would free up Broadmoor campus land for future district use and aligns the school’s facilities with other high schools.

Roofing and mechanical projects were highlighted for 2026. Staff reported a $2.2 million budget for roofing work, some of which is rollover from prior capital funds, with a permanent roof planned to replace a temporary roof at Horizons High School and an overlay planned at Indian Hills. Major mechanical work between bonds will be funded from capital outlay; staff said approximately $1 million is available for equipment replacement in summer 2026 and identified the Horizons cooling tower as a near‑term priority.

Committee members pressed staff for details after staff recounted a persistent adhesive odor and off‑gassing problem discovered during a recent roofing installation at Horizons. Staff said the manufacturer’s adhesive did not cure as expected and that air‑quality testing by Children’s Mercy detected volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Because the adhesive did not flash off, staff described extensive remediation that included installing a temporary roof, relocating students and staff to other sites for portions of the school year, and ongoing discussions with legal counsel and vendors about costs and remedies.

Facilities staff also described an investigation into repeated HVAC issues at several schools. The district is monitoring incoming power quality for fluctuations and exploring whether surge‑limiting equipment could address equipment that is sensitive to voltage variance. Staff said they are prioritizing end‑of‑life equipment and the highest‑need units when funds are limited.

The committee received an update on the district’s 2021 bond authorization. Finance staff reported that bond proceeds, premiums and interest have generated about $153.3 million through Oct. 31, with roughly $27.6 million not yet encumbered and available for projects (approximately $4.7 million currently encumbered and other amounts tied to specific punch lists and design phases). Staff said that if early education center bids come in below estimates, remaining funds could be redirected to HVAC or aesthetic work.

On operating funds, finance staff reported a drop in the district’s September headcount of about 250 students and a full‑time‑equivalent (FTE) decrease of 294. That reduction, staff said, lowers expected general state aid by about $1.8 million and reduces total spending authority including local option budget (LOB) revenues by about $2.4 million for the current year. Staff explained that under current law state funding calculations use either the current‑ or prior‑year data in the most favorable manner, and noted the legislature is considering broader changes to the school finance formula after 2027.

Staff reiterated the district’s building‑needs assessment and budget process: building principals are collecting input from site councils, PTAs and leadership teams; results feed executive leadership prioritization and the district’s draft budget, which will be presented to the board in April and May.

Committee members received an update on state work to revise the school finance formula. Staff who serve on the state funding task force described extensive technical analysis comparing other states’ approaches, multiple spreadsheet “runs” for every district, and the likelihood that any legislative action would occur in the 2027 session; the task force’s membership includes lawmakers, superintendents and KSDE fiscal staff.

Finally, staff addressed federal funding questions. The district said it is cooperating with an Office for Civil Rights inquiry and that, to date, staff have not seen a precedent in which OCR’s work led to an immediate withholding of federal funds; nonetheless, staff said they are monitoring the situation and noted uncertainty about federal‑funding timing and possible impacts.

The committee closed with a schedule note for the next meeting and brief appreciation for facilities staff who supported schools during relocations and repairs.