A few years ago, several Belinder parents were growing concerned with the evolving school funding situation. They wanted to understand what was going on and to be able to participate in the process rather than just responding to decisions after they were made. They began meeting regularly with their area representatives in the Kansas House and Senate and Shawnee Mission School Board. As the school funding situation worsened, the group also became aware of a second issue–lack of parent engagement.

The parents rolled out a campaign at Belinder, called Game On Belinder, and worked to expand the reach of the group to include parents from other schools within the Shawnee Mission School District. Currently the group has about 20 members, including parents with children at about 25 SMSD schools.Game On is actively working to expand its reach into the northern and western parts of the district and to solidify its base in the east.

• -Educating parents and convincing them to participate in the political process on behalf of their children.
• -Working to educate legislators on issues impacting public education funding.
• -Holding legislators accountable for their votes.
• -Countering the arguments of public school funding opponents, and thinking of alternative sources of funding.