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Olathe parents are racing to file a petition for state review of six school closures

The Daily Overland Park teamFrom today’s edition · 1 min read · 4 sources

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If your child goes to one of the six Olathe schools set to close, a petition deadline is coming up fast. is collecting signatures to ask for a review by the Kansas State Board of Education of the school board's early-October vote. The board cited declining birth rates and rising housing costs.

The petition drive has passed the signatures it needs on paper

Source: KCTV

View as table
Value
Needed (5% of voters)6,115
Reported Nov. 26,322
New goal8,200

Kansas law calls for valid signatures from 5% of the district's registered voters. The group reported 6,322 signatures as of Monday and raised its goal to 8,200 to offset an estimated 20% error rate. KMBC reported Thursday the group was about 900 signatures short of its goal. Its own deadline is Nov. 10, and KSHB 41 says the petition is due Nov. 13.

  • Closing: Black Bob, Heritage, Scarborough, Tomahawk, Walnut Grove elementaries; Indian Trail Middle
  • State review could force a hearing and revote, not undo it
  • District community meetings on new boundaries: next week

The closure petition moves toward a state review

  1. Early Oct.Olathe school board votes to close six schools.
  2. Nov. 2Petition group reports 6,322 signatures and raises its goal to 8,200.
  3. Nov. 10Petition group's signature collection deadline.

Sources: KMBC, KCTV

Sources: KMBC, KCTV, Olathe Reporter, KSHB 41 Kansas City

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