KSD Board of Education Meeting Recap: Oct. 21, 2026

The Kearney School District Board of Education met Wednesday, Oct. 21, with student scientific research, gifted education and long-range facilities planning among the evening's highlights. Board members also reviewed several matters related to student services, district operations and policies.

Kearney Junior High Students Showcase Scientific Research

Kearney Junior High students demonstrated the power of curiosity, scientific investigation and perseverance during this month's School Spotlight presentation.

KJH Principal John Goodin introduced teacher Rachel Cerra and three students from her eighth-grade Science Research classes, which allow students to explore scientific questions in considerable depth through independent research and experimentation.

The students shared three impressive projects:

• Molly Hoyle investigated how electricity and the movement of ions through a salt bridge affect the pH of salt solutions, combining her growing interest in chemistry with lessons in patience and perseverance.
• Kaylyn Watson researched how age affects a person's ability to distinguish between images of dangerous drugs and candy, examining differences in responses between teenagers and adults.
• Olivia Lugo explored how different construction materials affect the stability of seawalls, drawing on her longstanding interest in natural disasters and ways to limit their damage.

Ms. Cerra explained that these projects involve far more than conducting experiments. Students spend months developing research questions, reviewing scientific literature, collecting and analyzing data, and preparing research papers that can reach 30 to 40 pages. They also present their findings to judges at the Greater Kansas City Science and Engineering Fair. The students described how their work helped them develop skills in time management, scientific writing, problem-solving and communicating complex ideas.

Board members praised the students' accomplishments and the opportunity for them to pursue scientific questions inspired by their own interests.

Gifted Education Program Evaluation

The Board received an evaluation of KSD's Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program from Director of Special Services Hannah Paulk.

The program serves students in grades 2-9 who demonstrate advanced academic abilities and benefit from specialized instruction, enrichment and opportunities for deeper learning.

Approximately 5.9% of students in those grades have been identified as gifted, consistent with guidance from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. About 4.55% are currently receiving GATE services.

The evaluation highlighted several program improvements, including:

• Expanded opportunities for advanced learning through a full-year GATE elective at Kearney Junior High, replacing the previous seminar format.
• Hands-on enrichment experiences, including an elementary career showcase and a STEM and robotics field trip to IDEA Space KC.
• Improved communication with families and greater collaboration between gifted education teachers and general education classrooms.
• Bringing cognitive assessments in-house through KSD's educational diagnostician, improving efficiency and reducing reliance on contracted services.

An important goal for 2026-2027 is to expand opportunities for identifying students who may benefit from gifted education.
Beginning with winter NWEA assessments, students in grades 2-5 who perform at or above the 95th percentile in English language arts or mathematics will be considered for additional gifted screening.

This approach will supplement KSD's existing identification process and provide another opportunity to recognize students whose advanced academic abilities may not have been identified through earlier screening.

Long-Range Facilities Planning Update

Representatives from Hollis + Miller Architects provided an update on KSD's Long-Range Facility Planning process, including the public engagement efforts conducted this fall through the Great Schools = Great Community initiative.

The planning process combines professional facility assessments, district data and community feedback to help identify and prioritize capital improvements across KSD's schools.

Public engagement has included meetings at school buildings and community locations, a telephone survey of 300 residents, online surveys for families, staff and community members, and discussions with students and employees.

The presentation organized potential projects into four broad categories:

• Safety and security: Improvements to exterior and classroom doors, building access controls, security cameras and related systems.
• Deferred maintenance: Roof replacements, heating and cooling systems, electrical and plumbing upgrades, restrooms and parking lots.
• Facility upgrades: Classroom improvements, technology, collaborative learning spaces, kitchen and cafeteria improvements, and other instructional needs.
• Athletics and play spaces: Gymnasium renovations, playground enhancements, athletic field improvements and track resurfacing.

The presentation also explored preliminary cost estimates associated with a potential $22 million bond package. These estimates are part of the planning process and do not represent a final list of proposed projects.

The next phase will involve KSD's Long-Range Planning Committee, which will review facility assessments and community feedback, evaluate priorities and help develop recommendations for the Board's consideration. The goal is to develop a responsible, long-term approach to maintaining and improving KSD facilities while reflecting the needs and priorities of students, staff and the broader community.

Additional information about this initiative is available at ksdr1.net/greatschools.

Additional Board Business

The Board's action agenda also included several items related to student and employee services, district facilities and compliance with state law.

Student Behavioral Support: Board members considered an agreement with Summit Behavioral Services to provide additional classroom and behavioral support at Hawthorne Elementary for the remainder of the school year.

Employee Wellness: The Board reviewed an extension of KSD's Lifestyle Medicine Coaching Program through Aware Health. The program provides eligible employees and covered members with individualized coaching focused on nutrition, exercise, sleep, stress management and other areas of wellness.

Long-Range Planning Services: The Board considered a $32,640 amendment to its agreement with Hollis + Miller Architects for work associated with September's Great Schools = Great Community engagement events and additional presentations of the findings.

Board Policy Updates: The Board considered revisions to its nondiscrimination policy to comply with new Missouri laws addressing antisemitic discrimination and harassment and adding ethnicity and marital status to the list of characteristics protected by law.

Looking Ahead

KSD will continue providing updates on long-range facility planning as community feedback is reviewed and potential project priorities are refined.

The next regular Kearney School District Board of Education meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 18.

Community members can review Board agendas, meeting documents and policies through KSD's Board Information website and watch recordings of Board meetings on the district's YouTube channel.