Olathe School District

Kansas is one of the worst in the nation when it comes to drug-induced deaths for teens and young adults. Heidi Tomassi’s son is an overdose survivor and she’s sharing their story with Olathe kids in hopes it might change the approach to drug awareness.

Kansas City Public Schools invested millions in keeping students cool this year after districts grappled with record-high temperatures last fall.

Students in metro school districts owe thousands more dollars in school lunch debt as families continue to financially recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. In some districts, debt is even higher than last year.

Summer break can cut off vulnerable kids’ access to food, counseling and other resources they usually get at school. Schools around the metro are working with the community to make sure kids are supported until they return to class.

The group includes paraeducators, custodians, school nutrition workers, language aids and other members of the classified staff workforce at Olathe Public Schools who are paid an hourly wage. The effort comes as Olathe and other school districts work on improving staff retention.

Several school districts around Kansas City offer programs where students create fine dining experiences, cozy cafes and delectable desserts — and learn to thrive under pressure.

Nine children were shot on Wednesday near the end of the Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl rally. Schools are providing counseling services to help students cope with the emotional fallout.

The Kansas Attorney General cited the group Parents Defending Education in letters he's sent to districts, asking them to change policies that guide teachers and staff to support students by using their preferred names and pronouns at school.

Instead of making a Super Bowl bet, students at an Olathe elementary are exchanging friendship bracelets, a staple of Taylor Swift concerts, with an school in Santa Clara, California, the home of the 49ers.

With the Kansas City Chiefs set to play against the San Francisco 49ers, local officials and organizations are betting barbecue, tattoos and more on the game — even though sports betting is banned in Missouri and California.

Kansas health authorities identified about 450 close contacts of the infected student. More than 300 have been tested during clinics on October 12 and November 14.

Kansas City, Missouri, had several ballot questions to vote on — including a sales tax that could determine the future of the public bus system. Cities across Johnson and Wyandotte county also chose winners in local council, mayor, school board and other consequential races.