Shawnee Mission West PTSA

05/07/2026

These kids need snacks!!! Live sign up link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0548A9A829A7F49-63972298-finals

04/10/2026

03/20/2026

If you believe that we should support our public schools and special education, please fill out this form and it will send a message to the representative for your area!!! 

Final budget negotiations between the House and Senate for the 2026 Kansas legislative session are beginning.Now is the time for Kansans to urge legislators to add a meaningful and necessary increase to special education funding. Getting our state legislators to fund their fair (and mandated) share....

03/16/2026

➡️ TAKE ACTION — Contact Governor Kelly ASAP

✅ Call (785) 368-8500; wait through the long recording where you think they are going to hang up and then choose "3" to leave a message

✅ Go to bit.ly/govhb2299 to share your opinion on the Governor’s website

We had hoped the House’s cell phone ban bill, that allowed for backpack and locker storage, would have prevailed. Unfortunately, the overly strict and burdensome Senate bill was passed and sent to the Governor. She could sign or veto the bill any day.

Kansas PTA & SMSD (in an email from Dr. Schumacher) urge parents/guardians who believe in the ability for local governments and school boards to make their own policy based on feedback from their community, to oppose HB 2299 from becoming law.

Kansas PTA advocates for a veto of HB 2299 asking that the legislature revisit the bill and work towards a common sense solution. Kansas PTA:

✅ Supports local control and the 240 school districts that have enacted cell phone policies that are working and best fit their communities.

❌ Opposes unfunded mandates. HB 2299 provides zero funding for storage equipment or the extra staffing needed to secure and manage thousands of devices.

Our neighboring states with cell phone bans that seem to be working successfully, allow for backpack and locker storage. States with cell phone laws across the nation have taken a variety of approaches. The approach currently being considered in Kansas is the most restrictive and burdensome.

03/05/2026

The legislature is keeping us on our toes...send an email to senators ASAP.

Find your state level senator (upper chamber) at openstates.org or use the easy email link at bit.ly/SMAC3-5-26Alert

Ask them to:
- Respect local control and the cell phone restriction policies SMSD has already implemented that allow for flexibility and adjustment as feedback is received from parents, teachers, and students.

- Oppose the unfunded mandate in the bill that is estimated to cost SMSD over $500,000 as districts must invest in storage equipment to keep phones securely stored and inaccessible to students.

KANSAS PTA Opposition
Kansas PTA stands opposed to the bill because of the importance of supporting local control for this and other issues where we see legislative overreach. Locally elected boards and administrators understand the needs and complexities of their districts best.

Kansas PTA supports districts implementing cell phone restrictions. The great majority of districts in Kansas have enacted cell phone restriction policies with input from teachers and parents. These local policies have community buy-in and allow for feedback and adjustments as districts learn what works well or what doesn't. Mandating strict requirements into state law doesn't allow for flexibility as circumstances arise within a district that may warrant a policy adjustment or an exception.

03/05/2026

It's time to email our Senators in Topeka!

The Senate is debating their budget bill that includes just a $5 million increase in SPED funding; nowhere near enough to cover the current shortfall in special education that SMSD and other districts are making up for by depleting general education funds.

Learn more and find an easy link for emailing your senators in Topeka in the email that was sent to PTA members here:

https://smac.givebacks.com/public/uploads/429f0d18-d6e5-4e7d-81e6-f1eaed0c7a2c

03/03/2026

Come hang out with us!!