Significant Elementary School changes are being proposed for the Santa Fe Trail and East Antioch communities.
Shawnee Mission School District administrators have proposed retiring East Antioch Elementary in Fall 2031 as part of the district’s Strategy 6.1.26.1.2 Action Proposal. Under the plan, some East Antioch students would be reassigned to nearby schools, including a newly rebuilt Santa Fe Trail Elementary.
Children entering Kindergarten in Fall 2026 would be in 5th grade when these changes take effect. The proposal would eliminate East Antioch as an elementary school and significantly change the size and makeup of the Santa Fe Trail school community.
The Board of Education is expected to vote on the Strategy 6.1.26.1.2 Action Proposal at its October 26, 2026 meeting.
Click here to watch the full presentation from Dr. Stubblefield, comments from Dr. Schumacher and discussion of Board members, starting at about 1:45:03.
Upcoming Meetings
September 14, 2026, at 5:30 PM
SMDS Special Public Comment Meeting
Center for Academic Achievement
8200 W. 71st Street
Register to Speak About the Proposed EA/SFT Changes before 9/7. Space is limited. Contact Board Clerk Shelly Trenholm to submit a comment.
September 15, 2026, at 6:00 PM
Santa Fe Trail General PTA Meeting
Santa Fe Trail Elementary Library
7100 Lamar, Overland Park
First meeting of the school year. Come meet the PTA board, learn about upcoming school and PTA activities, and find ways to get involved and stay engaged.
September 22, 2026, at 6:00 PM
Santa Fe Trail Future Planning Meeting
Santa Fe Trail Elementary
7100 Lamar, Overland Park
SMSD will host a community conversation about how the district can best support the Santa Fe Trail community through the proposed changes.
October 26, 2026, at 6:00 PM
Board Consideration
Center for Academic Achievement
8200 W. 71st St., Overland Park
As outlined in the Boundary Process timeline, final Board consideration is expected to take place during the regular Board of Education meeting on October 26.
Document & Resource Links
Previous Updates & Timeline
August 24, 2026 — SMSD Board Meeting
Board Items Strategic Plan Action Team Report Dr. David Stubblefield, deputy superintendent, and Judd Remmers, director of facilities, presented a report from Strategic Plan Action Team 6.1.2. Dr. Stubblefield began the presentation by thanking the community for supporting the district’s facility efforts and the most recent bond passed in 2021. He shared that it was important for staff and families to hear the information first on Fri. Aug. 21 and for conversation and feedback to continue to take place. Dr. Schumacher took questions from Board members and said that administrators would prepare for more discussion at the next Board meeting on Sept. 14. He noted that the date for the Board to consider the recommendation from the boundary work group is Oct. 26.
Read the Full 8/24/26 Board Meeting Recap
Watch the Board presentation and discussion on YouTube — begins around 1:45:03
August 16, 2026 — Proposal Announced
Important Announcement About Santa Fe Trail Elementary School
On Monday, August 24, 2026, the Shawnee Mission Board of Education will hear a proposal with future impacts to Santa Fe Trail Elementary School. All Santa Fe Trail Elementary staff members were invited to hear this information at an optional meeting on Friday, August 21, 2026, and this message was shared with staff and families so everyone could be aware of the information that would be presented to the Board. The Recommendation Administrators will recommend to the Shawnee Mission Board of Education that East Antioch Elementary School be retired as a student attendance center, effective Fall 2031. Students currently attending East Antioch would be reassigned to nearby schools, including an anticipated newly rebuilt Santa Fe Trail Elementary School in Fall 2031. This means the first groups of students expected to be impacted by the boundary change and move to an anticipated newly rebuilt Santa Fe Trail Elementary School would be students who are in Kindergarten and first grade during the 2026–2027 school year.
Human Resources team members attended meetings with both East Antioch and Santa Fe Trail staff on August 21, 2026, to answer questions about how the retirement of East Antioch and movement of students to nearby schools could impact staffing for the 2031–2032 school year. Read the Full Announcement – Proposal to Retire East Antioch and Merge with Santa Fe Trail