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BV Schools podcast has great info

We highly recommend this recent podcast from Blue Valley Schools. Taking a walk? On your daily commute? Doing laundry? Take a listen! Search “BV Unmuted” wherever you get your podcasts. Link below to listen on your mobile device or laptop.


In this episode, BV Schools Superintendent Dr. Gillian Chapman is joined by Board members Jan Kessinger and Clay Norkey, along with Chief Financial Officer Jeremy McFadden, to discuss the district's 2026 Legislative priorities.


Like every year, BV BOE and administrators present legislators with positions that they want addressed during the current session.


BV Schools’ top priority for this year’s legislative session is fair and equitable funding - with an emphasis on Special Ed funding. The podcast also covers at-risk funding: BV has 5% of the at-risk students in the state, yet receives only 1% of the at-risk funds. The district has been pulling from reserve funds to cover the shortfall, but that’s not sustainable.


One key thing we learned from this podcast: in the state of Kansas, Blue Valley Schools ranks 257 out of 285 in per pupil state and fed funding! 


Each year, BV Schools’ General Education operating funds must be pulled from all students to fund legally-required SpEd services and critical at-risk needs. However, if SpEd was fully-funded (as required by state law) and appropriate at-risk funding was provided by KsLeg,  more funds would be available for the classroom - lowering class sizes and protecting specials offerings, as examples.


BV Schools’ ongoing need to transfer funds from Gen Ed to SpEd hurts all students - including students receiving SpEd services - because every BV student is negatively impacted when Gen Ed funding is reduced.


Recruitment and retention of highly qualified staff depends on being able to offer competitive salary and benefits. Blue Valley competes with neighboring JoCo districts and local private schools for teachers. 


Other legislative positions were also covered in the podcast.


We deeply appreciate the volunteer service of BV Board of Education members who devote time to working out these legislative positions, educating state legislators about them, and informing Blue Valley patrons about them. It’s unfortunate that some BV-area legislators continue to vote against the best interests of Blue Valley students and our community overall.


𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝘆𝗲𝘁? 𝗦𝗲𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗝𝗮𝗻. 𝟭𝟭 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸𝘀.







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