[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6341332,"mediaKeyId","2257107-fa22adfed5b5041e2c760b14bfc0fa8b","parentId",2257107,"title","Board approves special‑education hires and two general‑fund positions after debate over coop dissolution and costs","audioSeconds",841,"startMs",2087000,"endMs",2928000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2257107-fa22adfed5b5041e2c760b14bfc0fa8b&start=2087&end=2928","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2257107-fa22adfed5b5041e2c760b14bfc0fa8b/thumbnail_2087000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6341332/Kansas/Board-approves-specialeducation-hires-and-two-generalfund-positions-after-debate-over-coop-dissolution-and-costs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6341332-c2875ecc7c3f0c8d947ad3ba7b1cde45/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150514&Signature=LvHUbfCYR0udrj0l-LeKLjZUQmvHDxc-Xx5TzSCtPAwnkq7eMScGsPDIHHC8hg7aRg~0oZ9cVJfYEWoHAzcWmuFmRxNyeBDplpdE7nFJUenWJ1hvXkLviiOTAAeJaXE87Pu1-Cv9FUHdUkdiisc8z9BQy5baUjO1xsJPuHOymp299l~1cf~4zd1ukmMWLGkho9~htzS-V7ZaTi3m~NVFIrFflcRA29n~Xt5eAXYJ2hFky6NISDGAofQF7TFy7Mixyyo3QpdSOaFF8zq-wffGTs6yMX7sbTZt8DE47J5~-QaH64vE7OSTWf9~qXln9V-E5hdmzx9YEvmpRZ9YHUkbzQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Piper USD ","date","2025-02-01T00:00:00Z","article","The Piper School District Board approved a package of special‑education positions and a small set of general‑fund hires after discussion about budget impacts and the potential dissolution of a regional cooperative.

At the meeting staff presented a ranked list of anticipated openings compiled in December from building and district administrators. The first page of the packet covered positions to be funded from federal sources (EANS and other special‑education funding); staff estimated the federal‑funded positions would carry an anticipated cost of about $550,000. The list of staff roles discussed included a director of student services, an MIS/Medicaid specialist, an additional high‑school special‑education SLC teacher, a special‑education social worker (previously staffed by the cooperative), converting a 0.5 speech pathologist to 1.0 FTE, a part‑time job coach for the 18–21 program, a Compass paraeducator at an elementary building, a 0.5 music therapist and a 0.25 physical therapist (both proposed to be job‑shared with a neighboring district), and others.

Board members discussed the possible dissolution of the cooperative that currently provides some positions and services; staff said the district is hopeful the State Board of Education will consider the cooperative dissolution at its March agenda. The district said that if the cooperative dissolves the district would absorb some roles and that posted positions would not receive offers until the dissolution was finalized.

On the general‑fund side, staff presented a separate list with an estimated cost of about $575,000 that included an elementary \"feature‑ready\" coordinator (currently funded by grant funds and held by Jessica Asbury), a high‑school English language arts teacher (to relieve an existing teacher to allow expansion of broadcast/video classes), an IT technician, a Piper Education Foundation (PEF) executive director (a district employee cost‑shared 50% by PEF), in‑school suspension and building‑aid support positions for the middle and high school, and a district lead nurse.

After discussion and expressions of caution from at least one board member who said they \"didn't feel comfortable yet voting today,\" the board approved a motion to hire the special‑education positions presented along with the elementary feature‑ready coordinator and a high‑school ELA teacher. The motion passed 7–0. Board members and staff clarified that positions would be posted or otherwise advertised as appropriate and that no offers would be made on cooperative‑provided positions until the district had final confirmation of the cooperative's status.

Why it matters: the approved positions address special‑education staffing needs and classroom‑level capacity; several of the roles respond to services previously provided by a cooperative and, if the cooperative dissolves, will move in‑house to the district.

Clarifying details: staff said the federal portion of the staffing list (related to special education) was estimated at roughly $550,000. The general‑fund positions under consideration were projected to total about $575,000; those figures include salary, benefits, FICA and Medicare costs, staff said. The district also said it was exploring job‑share arrangements with a neighboring district for two therapy positions to avoid full‑time hires.

Ending: staff will post approved positions and return with updates; the district plans to monitor the cooperative dissolution process and adjust hiring timelines and offers according to the state's guidance and final decisions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Piper USD 203 Regular Board Meeting February 2025 ","oneSentenceSummary","The Piper School District Board approved a package of special‑education positions and a small set of general‑fund hires after discussion about budget impacts and the potential dissolution of a regional cooperative.","taxTitle","Piper-Kansas City, School Boards, Kansas","taxId",51092,"location","Kansas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6341337,"Auditors report unmodified cash‑basis opinion for Piper USD FY24; federal awards in compliance, some carryover adjustments noted",505,741000,1246000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2257107-fa22adfed5b5041e2c760b14bfc0fa8b&start=741&end=1246","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2257107-fa22adfed5b5041e2c760b14bfc0fa8b/thumbnail_741000.jpg","/articles/6341337/Kansas/Auditors-report-unmodified-cashbasis-opinion-for-Piper-USD-FY24-federal-awards-in-compliance-some-carryover-adjustments-noted","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6341337-1d49921d6e364cb6bd7c2a8a7ed58633/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150514&Signature=QW~PHowp5iYZkXIJkGVHC4mHGqKqeR0SA1IWLm3Ea9tT5r~u0Bo5P~qH3Emo90FUkmLj9IWNT4xApXL5TiWSPD35AGdq3DYn4GAb~Q7Yo-nIciDnOYA1vxDo3FtTU7Q3e~qu91OeKhLcjHJDqrE22oIsZp9yS1XmHUXR7Eir2qTafSwx1yclKvc3PN1BXjJJrGHtP-rQHE0662VcSIZBT25w9n~5773aq0ZNcqv4HV1zF9zlbWDlWbNiMeTFSuKpBjE6bQLDuGOdT1bH0Gy2ESTd8Lyl4sr44~Jaa9Mf7uCqwShQAbWqAANlkQYNCqcokPXdjybXtYJIY9KLlkEMew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tim Vanwar, the district's external auditor, told the Piper School District Board that the district's fiscal year 2024 financial statement — reported under the state's cash/budget basis KMAG format — received an unmodified opinion and that federal awards tested this year were in compliance.

Vanwar, of SS&C CPAs, told the board the audit covers receipts and expenditures by fund and reconciles cash balances. \"After we did all of our testing, the receipts and disbursements by fund were materially correct,\" he said. He also reported that federal awards testing for ESSER funds produced a clean opinion: \"we were in compliance in all material material respects, with the, with those federal funds.\"

The audit team reported fewer and less‑significant audit adjustments than in the prior year and said district reconciliations tied to fund balances were improved. Auditors identified carryover items, including adjustments to the schedule of expenditures of federal awards and recommended formal approval workflows for journal entries; district staff told the board those controls have since been implemented.

Why it matters: an unmodified opinion on the district's KMAG financial statements means the auditors found no material misstatement on the cash‑basis statements they examined; an unmodified federal‑awards opinion confirms the district met compliance requirements for the federal programs reviewed. The board voted to accept the district's financial reporting at the meeting (vote 7–0).

Details: Vanwar explained that under the KMAG (cash/budget) reporting format districts in Kansas often show an additional adverse paragraph relative to GAAP simply because they are not reporting under GAAP — a standard disclosure for districts that choose state reporting. He also warned the board of an upcoming change to federal single‑audit thresholds: if federal funding falls below $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2026, some districts may no longer require the uniform guidance audit; the auditor estimated the district had approximately $500,000 in federal funding for the year under review.

Board action and next steps: the board accepted the financial reporting and the supplemental building‑level bank reconciliations and activity reports (motion to accept financial reporting passed 7–0). District staff said they will continue implementing recommended reconciliations and journal‑entry approval workflows and expect the remaining schedule fixes to be clean for next year's audit.

Ending: The audit presentation is scheduled to be filed as part of the district record; staff said they will return with ongoing monthly bank reconciliation updates and with next year's audit as available.","Auditor Tim Vanwar of SS&C CPAs told the Piper School District Board the district received an unmodified (clean) opinion on its FY24 cash‑basis financial statement and an unmodified opinion on federal awards testing (ESSER funds), while noting a smaller set of carryover audit adjustments and implementation of remediation steps.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6341328,"Votes at a glance: Piper School District Board (selected actions)",1350,84000,1434000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2257107-fa22adfed5b5041e2c760b14bfc0fa8b&start=84&end=1434","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2257107-fa22adfed5b5041e2c760b14bfc0fa8b/thumbnail_84000.jpg","/articles/6341328/Kansas/Votes-at-a-glance-Piper-School-District-Board-selected-actions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6341328-cda355b9b235c4560f4f0f9748fdc986/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150514&Signature=cCJqEaj4Zoze8i4gYDUQfiR8RWEQ4HqTvF3UvPAm-IbithgY4LpvIgbJbNZI51iaHldPE4NoswBzFGzNqpeV1m8FSoUYTw0CoE8PgTk1D5vyYsZGDkwXwm6JyfKTvffT4JDM3mDRf0kG-RGmHYeUg~3m3oQPXDfFAq3BBe2TXARpGnKvnRYyebqeZ4DWqrGYmYLN3mgDbORWbrYCIekLwbNXDwWnO-w4AMBe2S~aUAS~SoLpusChxZH~Ej9ma1mGGfBvuCWmA6Ic5-pTbQ9iVHoNnAS9tPfAJyeEDOh11WZedBDydMwTGqnRfFHAZr1zPBgR3JPBD-Idxo5axtDdHQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its meeting the Piper School District Board recorded the following formal actions (motions are summarized from the transcript). Where the motion text was not fully specified in the record, the item is annotated as \"not specified.\" Vote tallies are reported verbatim from the meeting record.

• Approve agenda/minutes as presented — Motion passed 6–1. (Transcript wording: \"Make a motion to prove the engine as presented.\")

• Accept consent agenda — Motion passed 7–0.

• Accept financial reporting (district and building bank reconciliations, activity accounts) — Motion passed 7–0.

• Approve recommended KASB (Kansas Association of School Boards) changes to board policies as presented — Motion passed 7–0.

• Approve proposed revisions to board policy IFCB (field trips) as presented — Motion passed 7–0.

• Approve proposed revisions to board policy JBC (residency/enrollment process) as presented — Motion passed 7–0.

• Approve the special‑education positions presented (federally funded positions) along with the elementary feature‑ready coordinator and a high‑school ELA teacher — Motion passed 7–0.

• Approve a three‑tiered inclement weather/closure plan (Plan A: closure; Plan B: limited operations/12‑month staff options; Plan C: two‑hour delay) — Motion passed 7–0.

• Extend executive session (personnel discussion) for 15 minutes — Motion passed 7–0.

Following executive session (personnel matters) the board returned and took these actions:

• Approve coordinator contract for the 2025–26 school year — Motion passed (recorded as 6–0).

• Approve director/building administrator contract for the 2025–26 school year — Motion passed 7–0.

• Approve superintendent contract as discussed — Motion passed 7–0.

• Motion to adjourn — Passed (unanimous; tally reported by roll call).

Notes: motions were usually moved and seconded on the record but individual mover/second names were not always captured in the transcript. Where questions or extended debate occurred (for example, on staffing), the transcript records specific board concerns and staff clarifications that informed the votes.","A compact list of motions and outcomes taken during the Piper School District Board meeting, including policy approvals, financial reporting acceptance, staffing authorizations, the three‑tiered inclement weather plan, and executive‑session‑related contract approvals.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves special‑education hires and two general‑fund positions after debate over coop dissolution and costs

Auditors report unmodified cash‑basis opinion for Piper USD FY24; federal awards in compliance, some carryover adjustments noted

Votes at a glance: Piper School District Board (selected actions)