Goddard, Kansas, May 15, 2026, 03:09 (CDT)
- Goddard Public Schools said it was unaware that a parent volunteer who joined a Clark Davidson Elementary field trip appeared on the Kansas sex offender registry.
- Amanda White, a parent, plans to sit down with district officials on June 2. She’s also urging lawmakers to revisit the matter.
- Last month, the Kansas House did not pass a proposal aimed at barring some sex offenders from school grounds and events.
Goddard Public Schools is facing renewed calls to strengthen its volunteer vetting process after it acknowledged that a registered Kansas sex offender acted as a parent chaperone during a recent Clark Davidson Elementary field trip. Amanda White, who has two children at the school, said she’s set to meet with district officials on June 2 to talk through possible next steps.
This dispute hits now because just weeks back, Kansas lawmakers couldn’t get a school-property ban for certain sex offenders across the finish line. Instead, school districts are left handling the issue on their own—local rules, local checks. On April 9, the House roll call showed lawmakers rejected the HB 2164 conference report, 40-83. The bill would have blocked those offenders from school grounds and events.
No crime from the trip has been reported. According to the district, officials weren’t aware of the person’s registry status ahead of or during the event. Still, the district said it’s reviewing how volunteers are screened and considering extra safety steps.
White told KWCH that Clark Davidson principal Allison Ebert acknowledged systems should have caught registered offenders during sign-up. “Obviously, that measure failed,” White said. She added she’d asked the district to inform the other child’s parents—whose kid was chaperoned by the volunteer—and to let her know if the volunteer planned to come to field day. According to White, neither request was fulfilled. Kwch
White isn’t stopping with the school. She said she’s planning to bring it up at a public forum for legislators in south-central Kansas, set for Wichita’s Advanced Learning Library. Lawmakers and Goddard Superintendent Justin Henry are expected there. For White, it’s about the bigger picture—she argues nobody broke any laws, but stresses, “the point is that there aren’t any laws.” Kwch
The Kansas Legislature brief outlined that the proposed measure targeted registered sex offenders who committed their offense at 18 or older against victims under 16. The bill’s definition of “school activity” covered field trips, dances, athletic events, plus any other school-sponsored function. Violations would trigger felony charges. Kansas Legislature
The focus of Kansas’ offender registration law is on registration, reporting, and notification. One provision directs the state education department to give schools yearly updates about Kansas Bureau of Investigation registry tools for finding offenders near campuses. Local police are also allowed to assist schools in navigating the registry.
Kansas lawmakers have a few examples from other states to consider. According to legislative researchers, Missouri blocks certain offenders from coming within 500 feet of a school when minors are on site, unless a parent or guardian exception applies. Wyoming’s rules are tighter—they keep registered adult sex offenders off school grounds during any children’s activity. In Florida, access is possible, but only if a probation or parole officer signs off.
Still, writing a wider Kansas law won’t be simple. According to the Legislature’s bill brief, a school-board rep flagged issues with meeting other K-12 mandates. Opponents also cautioned that the proposal might isolate offenders, push up recidivism, and spark expensive constitutional fights.
White said her aim is for Goddard to establish a district policy, regardless of what happens at the state level. “At the end of the day my goal is to make change,” she said. The district’s review faces a key moment on June 2, when it’s set to decide if talk will translate into a formal rule. Kwch
