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Olathe Public Schools

Their Future is Our Future

Olathe Public Schools Their Future is Our Future

Letter from the Superintendent

Olathe community,

What an incredible start to the school year! We opened a new building for the Santa Fe Trail Middle School community and welcomed back our nearly 29,000 students with a renewed focus on engaged learning in the classroom. We want to take a moment to thank our students, families and staff members for navigating the change with the personal electronic device policy. It has been an amazing month.

Below you will get to see photos from the first month of school, the SFT grand opening celebration, and a music educator in our district who was honored at a Barry Manilow concert. So cool! Read the rest of the newsletter to learn about the return of Community Conversation events, why regular school attendance matters, an update on the 2022 Bond and how you can be a hero for kids in Olathe.


Thank you for your support of the Olathe Public Schools.

Your very proud superintendent,
Dr. Brent Yeager

Santa Fe Trail Middle School Grand Opening Celebration is a Success

On Aug. 28, Santa Fe Trail Middle School hosted a grand opening celebration where the community was invited to tour the new building. At the beginning of the ceremony, Principal J.J. Libal, Superintendent Dr. Brent Yeager, former SFT principal and current president of the Board of Education Dr. Stacey Yurkovich, and SFT eighth grader Gabby Walker reflected on the past, present and future of this beloved community.

“We can’t thank the community enough for their continued support of the Olathe Public Schools,” Dr. Yurkovich reflected. “Because of that support through the approval of the 2022 Bond, we can celebrate the opening of this beautiful facility and the opportunities it will provide the SFT community.”

After the formal ceremony, community members were invited to enjoy food trucks, outdoor games and tours of the new building led by students. The tours included stops to see how the legacy was preserved while modernizing the building to meet student needs. When visitors, staff, and students walk into the new building, they will see memorabilia from the past in the display cases honoring former students, athletes, coaches, and performers. Finally, they will see modernization reflected in the grade-level classroom pods and the library's flexible learning spaces that can be rearranged for more collaborative learning experiences.


We’d like to thank our community for their support of the 2022 Bond and its projects!

Olathe Public Schools Named No. 7 Best Employer in Kansas

Olathe Public Schools was named the No. 7 “Best-In-State Employer” in the state of Kansas by Forbes! We are the highest-ranked K-12 school district on the list and the only school district in the top 10!


"We are so proud that Forbes once again recognizes what we already know – Olathe Public Schools is the best place to work,” Superintendent Dr. Brent Yeager said. “We have the best team of staff members, and we are so thankful for our students, families and community for their support of our staff and our schools. Congratulations to the entire community for this honor!”

Olathe Music Educator Honored at Barry Manilow Concert

Earlier this week, Jeff Smikahl, Olathe Public Schools music educator, was named a Manilow Music Teacher! He received a $10,000 check from the Barry Manilow Music Project, which aims to empower school music programs. Before the show, Smikahl had the opportunity to meet Manilow and talk about their shared love for music. During the concert, he was celebrated by the whole audience!

Smikahl said, "This award is not about me but about the excellent students, parents, staff, and administration who have come together to make things happen!"


Congratulations and thank you for all the work that you do for our students, Jeff!

First Month of School Fun

We had an amazing first month of school and that is because of our students, staff, families and community members. Thank you for your support as we have officially started the 2024-25 school year. Check out our district's Facebook page for more fun photos from the first day of school.

You’re Invited to a Community Conversation

Olathe families, community members, students and staff are invited to join members of the Board of Education and superintendent for Community Conversations starting in September. These informal events are designed to encourage two-way dialogue between the Board of Education and community members about the topics that are top-of-mind in the district. There is no set agenda, but rather, participants will have an opportunity to engage in conversation regarding a variety of topics. Various dates and times have been selected for community members to choose a time that works best for them.


All community conversations will be held in the Board of Education room (14160 S. Black Bob Rd., Olathe). Four Community Conversations are planned for the 2024-25 school year, including:


  • September 24, 2024 – 9-10:30 a.m.
  • November 19, 2024 – 5-6:30 p.m.
  • February 20, 2025 – 9-10:30 a.m.
  • April 24, 2025 – 5-6:30 p.m.


Those planning to attend are asked to RSVP in advance. If you intend to join the Tuesday, Sept. 24 Community Conversation, please submit an RSVP at this link by Friday, Sept. 19.

Attendance Matters

Regular school attendance is vital to your child’s educational success. Each day in the classroom provides opportunities for learning, growth, and social development that are difficult to replicate outside of the school environment. Consistent attendance helps students stay on track with their studies, build positive relationships with peers and teachers, and develop essential skills for future success. Let’s work together to ensure that every day counts for our students. Your support in prioritizing attendance is greatly appreciated!

Bond 2022 Projects Update – Thank You!

We want to thank our community for voting YES in 2022 on the bond issue. Because of your support, we were able to finish several projects over the summer and there is continued progress happening every single day in our district.


Work continues in the new Career and Technical Education Center with exterior walls and footings finished. Santa Fe Trail Middle School’s new building is finished, and abatement continues in the old building. Construction documents for the high school media center renovations and middle school auditorium renovations are 95% complete. Bidding and construction on these projects will begin later this year. Read the monthly updates on our website at www.olatheschools.org/bond2022.

Drive a Bus:

Pay for drivers starts at $21.63 with up to a $2,000 sign on bonus. No CDL? No problem! DS Bus Lines provides paid on-site training to earn your CDL.


Being a bus driver provides flexible hours with both school year and summer opportunities available. Coaches and sponsors — did you know you can drive your students to their event and make extra $$$? That's right!


Apply today at https://bit.ly/DriveforOlathe. Learn more at https://dsbuslines.com/.

Before and After-School Care:
JCPRD is hiring for their Before-School Program. Spend time with your kids and make $16 per hour this fall.


If you work in the Before-School Program as a morning teacher, your school-age child can attend the Before-School Program with you for FREE. Apply today - https://bit.ly/JCPRDisHiring!

Contact Olathe Public Schools

Olathe Public Schools
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