Olathe families with ties to seven school buildings will want to watch Thursday's Board of Education meeting, where members are set to vote on a resolution signaling the district no longer needs those properties.

The vote would cover five of the six schools the board voted 7-0 on Oct. 1 to close at the end of this school year: Indian Trail Middle School and Black Bob, Scarborough, Tomahawk and Walnut Grove elementary schools. It also includes Fairview and Ridgeview elementary schools, which are closing as part of the district's $389 million bond and consolidating into new buildings, according to the Olathe Reporter.

Heritage Elementary, the sixth school slated for closure, is not included. The Olathe Reporter noted the exclusion means Heritage may stay in the district for "future repurposing needs."

What the disposal vote triggers

Under Kansas law, the state Legislature gets first right of refusal on any school building a district wants to dispose of. Thursday's resolution would start that process.

The Legislature has 45 days to adopt a concurrent resolution stating its intent to acquire a building, according to the Kansas Legislative Research Department. When the Legislature is not in session, the Legislative Coordinating Council can deny the option within 45 days. If the council does not act, the Legislature may adopt a resolution within 45 days of its next regular session.

If the state declines to acquire the buildings or the statutory acquisition process expires, the district can sell the buildings through a broker. Deputy Superintendent Jim McMullen said in a past interview that the Legislature may take buildings to house a special education cooperative, but that mainly happens in western Kansas, the Olathe Reporter reported.

In coverage published in September, McMullen told KCTV5 the district does not want vacant properties lingering in neighborhoods. "We don't want to have empty buildings sitting there for years and years and years," McMullen said. "It's not fair to our community and those residents in those areas."

Turf fields at three high schools

The board also votes Thursday on converting grass practice fields at Olathe Northwest, East and North high schools to turf with markings for soccer, football and flag football. The conversions are funded through the bond measure voters approved earlier this year. A similar conversion at Olathe West was approved in September, and a proposal for Olathe South is still forthcoming, the Olathe Reporter reported.

Classroom audio gets a first look

One item on the agenda is not up for a vote Thursday. The board will get its first look at expanding classroom audio amplification equipment to seven additional schools after a pilot in three schools, one at each grade level.

A school board document said the district began exploring audio enhancement options in fall 2024. The district found that equipment improved student hearing during lessons and reduced strain on teachers, based on its review of two other districts.

A vote on the expansion is expected at a future meeting.

The board meets at 5:45 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, at the district education center, 14160 S. Black Bob Road.