I was out of the office for the majority of last week, as Makayla and I joined some of her family on a short summer vacation. We traveled east for over 600 miles until we reached our Airbnb in Frankfort, KY, the capital of the state. While we were there, we visited the Ark Encounter, explored railways, took a distillery tour, and had quality family time (pictures here).
Even though we left the state, we didn’t escape the heat while we were gone. It’s been a toasty July! So much so that on Sunday afternoon, KOFO reported that there was a heat index of 122 degrees at the Ottawa Municipal Airport. What makes that even more impressive is that this was the second-highest recorded temperature in the world for that day!
Fox 4 Shines a Spotlight on Ottawa
Because of our planned trip, we unfortunately missed the much-anticipated Fox 4 Zip Trip that took place last Friday morning. This visit had Fox 4 staff in town for half the day, as they broadcast live on what ended up being a rainy day in downtown Ottawa. The rain didn’t stop the community from getting loads of positive publicity! The news anchors highlighted local businesses, invited community leaders to speak, and showcased why our little community is a hidden gem (watch some footage from the day here).
This opportunity to host a Zip Trip wasn’t random, but was accomplished through the work of our local Ottawa Main Street Association. Sara Stauffer, Executive Director, applied in early 2025 with the hope that our community might be considered. When it was privately announced that Ottawa was chosen, Sara had just over a month to get prepared for the big day. This is no small feat―including several sessions with Fox 4 filming in town, working with public and private organizations, and gathering resources and personnel to make the entire event go off with a bang. It’s been a hectic summer for Sara and her board, but it was an opportunity that was seized and is already paying dividends. Businesses throughout town have shared that they are experiencing an increase in out-of-towners visiting after seeing the footage on the news. This is a big win for our entire community! Good work, OMSA, and all those who played a part in making Ottawa and Franklin County look so good.
Big Steps for Kansas Trails
Earlier this summer, Kansas Trails, Inc. was officially established as the first statewide nonprofit focused on supporting and connecting trail initiatives throughout Kansas (more info here). The idea started a few years ago during the pandemic, when a loose network of local leaders and trail supporters began meeting virtually to share ideas and challenges. Thanks to support from the Sunflower Foundation and a whole lot of grassroots momentum, that informal coalition has now grown into a full-fledged 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to serve as the trail hub for all things advocacy, route mapping, technical assistance, and statewide coordination.
This is exciting for Ottawa as we are home to the only intersection of two Kansas state trails (the Flint Hills Trail and the Prairie Spirit Trail), which makes us uniquely positioned to benefit from the visibility, resources, and connections Kansas Trails, Inc. is working to build. On that same note, it’s exciting to see our very own bike shop owner, Jeff Carroll, named to the organization’s statewide “Trails Congress,” helping represent our region and bring Ottawa's voice to the table. Whether you’re a hiker, cyclist, economic developer, or just someone who appreciates what trails do for community health and tourism, this is a great leap forward for trails in our state. You can learn more and view the interactive statewide trail map at kstrails.org.
Understanding the Future of School Funding in Kansas at Eggs and Issues
On Thursday morning, the Chamber’s Legislative Action Committee brought together local leaders, educators, and community advocates for a powerful and timely edition of Eggs & Issues (pictures here). AdventHealth Ottawa is always such a great host of this annual event by helping sponsor, providing the space, and feeding all of our attendees. With hot breakfast in hand and big questions on the table, attendees heard from Dr. Frank Harwood, Deputy Commissioner at the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE), on the complexities of school funding and what’s ahead for Kansas school districts.
He started the presentation by laying the groundwork for the KSDE and its role in education across the state. The KSDE plays an often misunderstood role in our public education system. Contrary to common belief, they do not create day-to-day curriculum or dictate how teachers instruct in the classroom. In Kansas, local school boards elected by the community oversee these local procedures. Ultimately, KSDE exists not to control what happens in each school, but to create the infrastructure and guardrails that allow districts to succeed. Instead, KSDE serves as a regulatory and support agency. They work under the guidance of the Kansas State Board of Education, which is constitutionally charged with the general supervision of public schools (State Board of Education here). However, that supervision does not include the state's education budget, as that is left up to our State legislators and the Governor. KSDE’s primary responsibilities include implementing state and federal education policies, managing the distribution of education funding, and ensuring compliance with legal and accreditation standards across all public school districts.
Dr. Harwood briefly touched on the impact the federal Department of Education has on his office―including the delay in some much-needed funding and the possibility of its dissolution. There was a pause on over $40 million in funding from the Fed that has now been delivered as of the beginning of this month (though school districts have yet to receive their allotment). His comments on outcomes regarding losing the Department of Education were that funding from the Fed for schools has existed well before the creation of the department. If it were to be abolished by Congress, processes would need to change, but he doesn’t believe that would eliminate the dollars that our school districts receive (though it could affect the amounts).
A big part of the conversation yesterday morning was Kansas’ current school funding model, which is set to expire on July 1, 2027. This model, which was adopted in 2017 following a series of court rulings that deemed prior formulas unconstitutional, was designed to address equity and adequacy across Kansas school districts. It introduced a base aid per pupil amount and various weightings to account for factors like bilingual education, low enrollment, and at-risk students. While this framework has guided education funding for nearly a decade, it was written to include a built-in sunset clause, requiring a new system to be in place by mid-2027. Dr. Harwood shared that the two overarching options around this sunset include amending the date so it doesn’t expire in 2027 or creating a new model. In 2024, the state legislature voted to create the Education Funding Task Force, which is charged with reviewing the current funding formula, studying alternative models from other states, and making recommendations for a new school finance system (more info on this task force here). With big decisions on the horizon, this group is working to ensure the next iteration of school funding (whatever that may look like) is equitable, sustainable, and responsive to the needs of Kansas students and communities.
Dr. Harwood ended with some Q&A, which entailed some questions directly relating to the future funding model discussed. He shared that the purpose of this task force is not to save money or make cuts, but rather to figure out whether the state of Kansas is doing the best it can at efficiently and equitably funding our schools. While focusing on processes rather than outcomes, as outcomes often have winners and losers. His charge to those in the room was that when possible avenues come to light from this task force, to engage with one's school district and see how it either positively/negatively affects them and their students. At that point, speaking with your local legislators about that impact is a way to play an active role in this process over the course of the next year. There are still plenty of unknowns at this point in time, but it’s important to stay level-headed, anxiety-free, and maintain open lines of communication about what’s to come. Thanks, Dr. Harwood, for the insightful morning discussion!
Join JieJie with BMO Chamber Coffee - "Bank At Work".
Ryland was unable to join us for this morning's Chamber Coffee, however he has entrusted me to relay the highlights from today's event, complete with cold brew (my personal favorite) and some valuable information available to our Chamber members! (Pictures Here). If you have attended any of our recent events, it is very likely you have connected with two (or more!) amazing individuals from BMO! We are eternally grateful for their commitment to our community and their active role on the Ambassador Committee. This morning, we were privileged to learn about their BMO Bank At Work program, a resource that can directly benefit you.
Bank at Work is a financial wellness partnership between BMO and participating organizations that provide access to community involvement, financial education, and personalized guidance for big life decisions - such as investing, building credit, planning retirement, and buying a home. As a proud partner of BMO, any Chamber member has access to these benefits for FREE! This no-cost program is designed to support employee financial health, while reducing workplace stress and increasing retention through financial education. One of these features are their easy-to-navigate BMO SmartProgress powered by EVERFI. This interactive wellness tool is designed through short lessons that are easy to understand and will equip you with the knowledge you need to achieve real financial progress and create a stable financial future. Get started with one of the custom learning playlists , or create your own personalized learning experience with their Roadmap to Financial Strength (Get Started Here).
We are so grateful for BMO's continued involvement in our community, and make sure to keep an eye out for them as they will be participating in 17 events between now and the end of September! Thank you for having us BMO, the cold brew was DELISH! And with that... back to you, Ryland!
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As I’m writing this, Makayla and I are currently sitting in Denver, Colorado, visiting Makayla’s brother while celebrating our third anniversary. Three years ago on Wednesday, Makayla and I said “I do”! Since then, we’ve lived in three different locations, traveled to thirteen other states and another half a dozen countries in the Caribbean, visited dozens of breweries, watched countless Sporting KC games, and made tons of memories together! As my professional proofreader, she’s corrected hundreds of mistakes on my weekly newsletters over the past couple of years (which I’m eternally grateful for). She is also my planner for just about everything in our personal lives (which is why we go on so many adventures on our weekends)―and we’re just getting started! Thankful for the blessed three years and excited for what’s to come.
Ryland Miller
President/CEO
Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce
ryland@ottawakansas.org
785-242-1000
