Olathe school board increases student fees, sets enrollment capacity for 2026-27
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- Olathe board set 2,400+ open‑enrollment seats for 2026-27 after unanimous vote.
- Board approved bond sale plans to issue $389 million for district capital projects.
- Board raised instructional, program, transportation and meal fees.
The Olathe Public Schools Board of Education approved a collection of student fee increases Thursday and set how many out-of-district students each school can accept based on capacity.
The district decided that for the 2026-27 school year, it can accept just over 2,400 seats as part of state-required open enrollment next school year, after a unanimous vote.
Beginning in the 2024-25 school year, Kansas began requiring districts to decide on the number of non-resident students who can enroll in the district. Districts must set capacity limits, publish available seats by June 1, and accept transfer students, prioritizing siblings and military families if capacity is limited.
Board members also voted to approve bond resolutions approved by voters last month. Their approval means district staff can now work to sell and issue the $389 million in bonds for projects across the district, which will take place over the next two to three years.
Fee increase approval
Each year in April, district staff propose adjustments in student fees, if necessary, according to John Hutchison, Olathe Schools Chief Financial Officer.
Fee increases were approved by the board Thursday for instructional materials, which fund textbooks and workbooks; peer program fees in early childhood education, which fund SPED instructors for students; transportation service fees; and meal prices.
The instructional materials fee increased $5, early childhood education peer program fees increased $50 and transportation service fees increased $25.
In addition, student lunch increased $0.25, student breakfast increased $0.15 and milk and juice increased $0.05.
The fee increases for next school year passed in a 5-1 vote with board member Robert Kuhn the lone “no” vote.
Board members Will Babbit and Claire Reagan asked Hutchinson questions during the meeting about weighing fee increases and affordability for families at registration.
Depending on each family’s situation, certain fees like the transportation fee can be waived, Hutchinson said.
“We try to keep pace with inflation and do a nominal increase in that fee each year,” Hutchinson said at the board meeting.
“If you qualify for free and reduced lunch, (instructional materials fee) can be reduced by 50%,” Hutchinson said. “If you still… can’t afford it, we can work out plans on an individual basis.”
Board Vice President Julie Steele said at the meeting that there may be confusion about why student fees will increase soon after voters approved $389 million in bonds last month to support the district.
Hutchinson stressed that fee increases are separate from bond funds, because bonds cannot pay for operational costs the fees cover, like books and meals.
Under state law, bond money can only pay for brick-and-mortar projects.
“We are very thankful that our community passed the bond, and maybe it looked like, ‘we did that and now you’re asking us to pay higher fees,’ (but) they’re totally separate,” Steele said.
Tech upgrades, building renovations approved
The board also unanimously approved major contracts, bids and purchases in its action agenda Thursday.
Among the approvals, the district will use funds from its 2022 bond to replace Apple devices for students and staff as part of a replacement cycle for aging technology.
Media centers at Olathe East High School and Olathe Northwest High School will be updated this year, also using funds from the 2022 bond to supply new furniture, fixtures and equipment.
The board approved various construction proposals and bids under the 2022 bond for aging facility projects at buildings across the district. The projects include carpet and flooring replacement, painting and plumbing work.
Repairs and improvements of tennis courts and tracks at Olathe North High School and Summit Trail Middle School were approved by the board.
The board also unanimously passed a hefty consent agenda with 26 items, marking bulk approvals of student trips, facility upgrades, curriculum renewals and other work tied to the district’s ongoing 2022 bond.
