Olathe Parents Petition Kansas State Department of Education to Review School Closures
Parents in Olathe, Kansas, have submitted a petition with over 7,800 signatures to the Kansas State Department of Education, urging a review of the Olathe school board's 7-0 decision to close six schools. The group, known as '6,100 Voices,' exceeded the state-mandated requirement of 6,115 signatures needed to trigger such a review. The petition was delivered on a Friday to the Landon State Office Building in Topeka, following an event at Black Bob Elementary, one of the schools slated for closure. Brian Shields, an Olathe parent, stated that the group engaged in door-to-door canvassing and gathered signatures outside voting locations since the school board's vote on October 1. Karen Bush, a parent volunteer, highlighted the collective effort of parents in making a difference. The Olathe Public Schools district has acknowledged the review process, noting that it could potentially return the matter to the school board, and confirmed its continued work on new school boundaries by January 2027.
