Unified School District 234 424 South Main Fort Scott, KS 66701-2697 www.usd234.org 620-223-0800Fax 620-223-2760 DESTRY BROWN Superintendent Date:May 10, 2023 Submitted by Gina Shelton, Board Clerk, USD 234 Notice of GatheringSaturday, May 13, 2023 7:45 p.m.
Fort Scott High School Class of 2023 Graduation
Fort Scott High School
There may be a majority of USD 234 Board Members present at the Fort Scott High School, 1005 S Main, Fort Scott, Kansas, on Saturday, May 13, 2023. Even though a majority may be present, no school district business will be conducted.
Dominick Budy with his parents, Jeremy and Amy Budy. Submitted photo. Jeremy Budy is also the basketball coach.
Fort Scott Christian Heights senior Dominick Budy has committed to playing basketball at Fort Scott Community College for the 2023-2024 academic year.
Dominick has received numerous awards throughout his high school basketball career, including three years as MACC Conference MVP, and the MCSAA All-Tournament Team in 2023.
Dominick has scored more than 2000 points in his time at Fort Scott Christian Heights.
Dominick plans to pursue a degree in Sports Medicine, and is the son of Jeremy and Amy Budy of Fort Scott.
Dominick Budy with his team at Fort Scott Christian Heights school. Submitted photo.
Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, May 8, 2023, for their regular monthly meeting at the board office.
President Danny Brown opened the meeting.
The board approved the official agenda and the consent agenda as follows:
Board Minutes from the April 10, 2023, regular board meeting
Financials-Cash Flow Report
Check Register
Payroll – April 12, 2023 – $392,678.35 and April 20, 2023 – $1,583,397.57
Activity Fund accounts
Extended Trip Applications
Point of Interest:
FSHS Graduation 8:00 PM – May 13th – FSHS Stadium – board members be there at 7:45 p.m. at the FSHS Commons
Employee Luncheon & Recognition – May 17th – FSHS Commons – at 12:00 p.m.
Scott Kimble, Fort Scott High School Principal, along with Matt Glades, Teacher at Fort Scott High School, recognized the following Fort Scott High School students:
Caden Young: he has attained his CompTIA A+ Core 1 and Core 2 certifications. These are the industry standard for establishing a career in IT and is the preferred qualifying credential for technical support and IT operational roles. Caden has also obtained the CCNA—which stands for Cisco Certified Network Associate, which is an entry-level information technology (IT) certification issued by networking hardware company Cisco.
Langdon Giddens (in attendance): he has served as a paid intern with the USD 234 Technology Department since October. Langdon discussed what he had learned through the internship and his future plans.
Anna Laubenstein (in attendance): Adobe certified – Associate in Photoshop. Anna discussed her future plans, along with her achievements in the Skills USA competition.
Cole Harding: Adobe certified – Associate in Photoshop
Licensed Tiger Team Member – Superintendent Destry Brown recognized Amy Harper as the Licensed Tiger Team Member of the Month.
Harper is a Mathematics teacher at Fort Scott High School. Mrs. Harper was a Kansas Teacher of the Year nominee. She was recognized in Topeka for excellence in the profession and will travel around to other districts throughout Kansas next year periodically. Mrs. Harper has taught for the district for 14 years.
Board Members shared comments.
Superintendent Destry Brown provided an update to the board on the Energy projects taking place throughout the district. Later in the meeting, the board received a demonstration of the new crisis app, Emergent 3, that will replace the Crisis Go app.
Assistant Superintendent Dalaina Smith updated the board on preliminary end of year data; highlighting areas of growth in various grade levels that were above 10% and provided an assessment team update.
Gina Shelton, Finance Director, noted the June 1st filing deadline to run for school board, KDHE allocation of grant funds, closing down of the fiscal year, and noted an initial meeting with Enterprise Fleet management.
The board approved the following items:
Payment to Meridian Roofing in the amount of $50,598.00
Science textbook purchase from SAVVAS – $155.99, PASCO – $7,363.55, and McGraw Hill -$49,982.39 for grades 9-12
Clarification on science purchase for Fort Scott Middle School to cancel the prior month approved purchase and continue the current resource being used
Greenbush Education Service Center invoices for 2023-24 services
Greenbush Education Service Center Virtual Academy MOU and Assurances
Acceptance of school photography proposal from Josten’s JPix
Participation in the Bourbon County Neighborhood Revitalization Program
Allow the Superintendent and Finance Director to invest idle funds in short-term CDs with reporting to the board, but without prior board approval to capitalize on timing
Greenbush Participation & Hedging Authorization for 2023-24
Approval of Personnel Report (following)
The board went into an executive session for negotiation and personnel matters.
President Brown adjourned the meeting.
PERSONNEL REPORT – APPROVED EMPLOYMENT
May 8, 2023
RESIGNATIONS/TERMINATIONS/RETIREMENTS:
Billionis, Connie – Leave of Absence – Deputy Clerk
Cox, Jessica – Leave of Absence – Fort Scott High School Paraprofessional until May 17, 2023
Dunivan, Sarah – Leave of Absence for beginning of 2023-24 until September 17, 2023
Gordon, Karen – Resignation – Eugene Ware Counselor at the end of the 2022-23 school year
Homan, Tracy – Resignation – Fort Scott Middle School Building Testing Coordinator at the end of the 2022-23 school year
Jackman, Sara – Resignation – Fort Scott High School PDC Chair at the end of the 2022-23 school year
Webb, Megan – Resignation – Fort Scott Preschool Teacher at the end of the 2022-23 school year
Endicott, Debra – Retirement – Fort Scott Middle School Cook at the end of the 2022-23 school year
Wilbert, Tara – Resignation – Fort Scott Middle School 7th Grade ELA Teacher at the end of the 2022-23 school year
Wilson, Ramona – Retirement – Winfield Scott Kitchen Manager at the end of the 2022-23 school year
EMPLOYMENT/REASSIGNMENTS:
Recommendations for the 2023-24 school year:
Anderson, Mikiah – Transfer from Fort Scott Preschool Center Paraprofessional to Speech Paraprofessional
Black, Staci – Transfer from District Instructional Technology/Fort Scott Middle School Teacher to Fort Scott Middle School Technology Teacher
Blackburn, Brendon – Transfer from 6th Grade Science Teacher to 8th Grade Science Teacher
Couch, Kim – Transfer from Eugene Ware Elementary 3rd Grade to Interventionist
Herring, Jennifer – Transfer from Fort Scott High School Cook/2-hour Bus Driver to Transportation 4-hour bus, and 4-hour bus/car maintenance, increasing the existing position 1.5 hours
Homan, Tracy – Transfer from Fort Scott High School/Fort Scott Middle School Librarian/Testing Coordinator position to Fort Scott Middle School ELA Teacher
Hull, Megan – Transfer from Speech Paraprofessional to Fort Scott High School Paraprofessional
Nelson, Andrew – Transfer from Eugene Ware 4th Grade Teacher to Fort Scott Middle School 6th Grade Science Teacher
Russell, Deborah – Transfer from Fort Scott Middle School Teacher to Fort Scott High School Ag Teacher
Sharp, Francis – Transfer from Fort Scott High School Cook to Fort Scott Middle School Cook
Cavin, Brent – Fort Scott Middle School Head Boys Basketball Coach
Fields, Kelly – Fort Scott High School English Teacher
Hendricks, Caleb – Fort Scott Middle School Assistant Girls Basketball Coach
McKinsey, Rayanne – Winfield Scott 2nd Grade Teacher
Peterson, Emily – Fort Scott Preschool Center Teacher
Rogers, Jamie – Fort Scott Middle School Head Girls Basketball Coach
Setina, Ashlee – Fort Scott High School Family and Consumer Science Teacher
Weaver, Mark – Fort Scott High School Special Education Teacher
The Uniontown FFA Meat Evaluation Team was recently named as the State Runner-Up team at the Kansas FFA State Meat Evaluation contest held in Manhattan, Kansas on April 30th. With their 2nd place finish at the state competition, Uniontown FFA will represent Kansas FFA at the 2024 National Western Stock Show Meat Judging contest held in Denver, Colorado in January.
The team was led by Byron Fry, who ranked as the 2nd High Individual overall and Addisyn Hall who finished in 5th place individually. Brycen Stewart ended up in 14th and Corrynn Atkins ranked 21st. All four of Uniontown’s team members are Juniors at Uniontown High School and will have the opportunity to return to the state contest next year.
This Runner-up finish for Uniontown FFA continues an impressive run of state contest rankings for the chapter. Over the past seven years Uniontown has been named the Champion Team Overall two times (2018 and 2021) and the Runner-up team three times (2017, 2019, 2023) in the Meat Evaluation contest. Additionally the chapter was the State Champion team at the Livestock Judging event in 2016 and 2019, the State Ritual contest in 2021 and the Leadership Information contest in 2019.
The team is coached by Uniontown High School Ag Teacher and FFA Advisor Scott Sutton who has been at Uniontown since the 2016-2017 school year.
This year, we will be celebrating the 75th Anniversary of Fort Scott Christian Heights, and our 57th Annual Country Store and Auction! Nostalgic pictures and yearbooks will be on display for the day.
The day begins with registration (7:30) for our 5K and Fun Run/Walk (race begins at 8:00).
The Booths, Garage Sale rooms, and Bakery will be open from 9:00-3:00.
A fried-chicken dinner will be served from 4:00 until Auction time at 6:00.
The concession stand will run all day, and serve pulled pork sandwiches, hot dogs, taco salads, malts, shakes, and more!
Country Store offers a day of fun for everyone!
ALL ARE WELCOME!
*We are taking gently-used donations for the garage sale, and new items for the auction! Items can be dropped off anytime during school hours (8:00 – 3:45 Monday through Thursday).
Fort Scott School District USD234 staff have been working on standards and best ways to teach them as they have met on Wednesdays this school year.
“Our early release days have provided our teachers to work to identify the essential standards that every student needs to be successful at the next level or the next course,” Superintendent Destry Brown said. “Our teachers have mostly finished this process and are now at the refinement stage. We will be working next year on identifying the resources that we will use to teach those standards and identifying the best practice in teaching those standards.”
Destry Brown. Submitted photo.
The district is changing the days the teachers gather to collaborate in response to staff and parents input.
Next year the days will be once per month.
“We decided to change to once per month in response to parent and staff input,” Brown said. “Staff believed they could have more concentrated and focused time to do the things we need to do next year while parents felt it would be easier for them to plan for a full day rather that an early release every week.”
“The time spent this year has been very successful and we are well ahead of where we were,” he said. “Teachers have seen the value in the time to collaborate and work together on curriculum, assessment and instruction.”
USD234 Preschool Update
The Fort Scott Preschool, at 409 S. Judson.
The preschool is going to remain at 409 S. Judson for the time being.
“We have six sections of preschool currently with enough for two more sections on the waiting list,” Brown said. “Our plan going forward will be to do some remodeling of the current space and reconfigure the space to better meet our needs.”
“We will also look at purchasing a mobile unit to place on the grounds at the preschool site,” Brown said. “This would allow us to bring all of our preschool students and classes to one location as well as expand our preschool to include more students.”
There are currently three teachers at the preschool.
“I believe that if we open more sections to the public, we will probably be able to expand to five teachers,” he said. “One thing we are considering is having a section for all-day students to help with some childcare needs in the community.”
The community needs quality childcare.
“Our community has a great need for childcare; especially for working families,” Brown said. “For our community to grow economically and to attract and expand business in Fort Scott, we need to be the kind of community that provides ways to make it possible for parents to work and trust that their children are being cared for safely.”
For students who want a career in construction trades such as welding, masonry, carpentry or heating and air conditioning, which are high demand and high paying jobs, there is a short cut to do that.
Junior or senior year students in Fort Scott High School and Uniontown High School have the opportunity to get a head start on these jobs, said Kris Mengarelli, Fort Scott Community College’s Director of the Career and Technology Center, CTEC.
“CTE courses prepare students with the technical, academic, and employment skills needed for life after high school,” from CTEC’s Facebook page. “The courses hone critical thinking, problem-solving, teamwork, and communication skills—all valuable tools needed to succeed in today’s workforce.”
“Starting in the fall of 2023, we are….offering carpentry basics, OSHA 10 (certification training) and introduction to craft skills for high school and college,” he said. “This is typically for juniors and seniors. It’s a two-year program to get a certificate.”
“The teacher will be Michael Casner, a Fort Scott High School teacher,” he said. “He’ll be teaching dual credit classes for those three classes at the high school. Uniontown will be able to send students over to attend those classes as well. The schools will coordinate what works best.”
The target student is any interested in the trades for a career.
The State of Kansas is offering an Excel in CTE Initiative, for high school juniors and seniors for free college tuition on approved technical courses offered at Kansas technical schools and community colleges.
“The state looks at where there is a lacking workforce,” he said.
“There are some small fees that fall back on the student, but not significant,” Mengarelli said.
Following the classes for dual high school and college credit, students will have a nationally recognized certificate,” he said. “Students who want to go into construction, this makes them employable just out of high school.”
CTEC is located in Crawford County.
Destry Brown, Fort Scott’s Superintendent of USD 234 was a “key player in getting CTEC started in Crawford County,” Mengarelli said.
Brown was formerly a superintendent of schools in Pittsburg, in Crawford County and is currently superintendent of schools for Fort Scott.
Tonya Barnes will begin duties as the USD 234 Special Education Director on July 1.
Barnes was in District Level Leadership; Emporia State University in 2015; Building Level Leadership; Emporia State University, 2010; Master of Science; Major: Special Education, Behavior Disorders K-12; Emporia State University, 1997; and earned a Bachelor of Science; Major: Elementary Education; Pittsburg State University, 1988.
She is the current director of special education at USD 282, 283, 286 in Chautauqua and Elk Counties Special Services Cooperative, since 2018.
She was director of special education from 2015-18 for Coffey County Special Education Cooperative.
From 2012-15 she was special education coordinator at the Flints Hills Special Education Cooperative.
Barnes was a special education teacher from 1995-2012 at the ANW Special Education Cooperative.
Fort Scott: The Next Step, Coming to Her Home District
Barnes is a graduate of Fort Scott High School, class of 1984.
She is married to Kevin Barnes who is teacher and coach for Woodson USD 366 in Yates Center for 32 years. They have a son, Jon Barnes who is in his first year of teaching and coaching at Fort Scott High School.
Her parents are Karen and the late Ron Billiard, Fort Scott, and her sister is Robin Hartman, Fort Scott.
Her community involvement through the years has been family focus – church activities, youth events, 4-H parent, supporting school district activities and sporting events, Kansas University basketball enthusiasts, spending time with family, and “spoiling our beloved pets,” she said.
For Barnes, the best part of being the special education director is working with the students and staff, and learning their stories, she said.
“The relationships we will build together takes time and intentional work,” Barnes said. “Our special education team has a wealth of experience and knowledge, and I look forward to learning from them.”
“The special education team (at U234) consists of approximately 30 licensed teachers and related service providers, and 80 paraeducators,” she said.
“USD 234 has approximately 22% of the district’s enrollment receiving special education services,” she said.
Her office will be located at the district office, 424 S. Main, and her time at the district office will be combined with time in the different age-grouped buildings, Barnes said.
USD 234 Board of Education Building, 424 S. Main
“The biggest challenge of the position is time to be sure the most important work is accomplished, which is matching student needs with the most effective intervention or strategy, supporting teachers, providers, and paras with the knowledge, resources, time, and energy to deliver what is needed, and valuing their contributions,” she said.
The following will be her duties:
*Build relationships with staff, students, parents, patrons, and the entire learning community;
*Partner with the district’s special education team to learn the processes, successes, and strengths of the special education staff and programming in each building;
*As a team, access areas of desired and needed professional development…for best practice in providing programming to students and families, in addition to supporting their professional growth;
*Being accessible … connecting with staff… learning the culture, observing instruction first-hand to support our providers in their work of providing solid learning opportunities for students;
*Work with the…business office to learn the special education budget in USD 234 and become familiar with how revenue streams, expenditures, and funding are managed,
*Assist and support the procurement of needed materials and resources to meet student’s needs;
*Work with the USD 234 Administrative Team to assist and support special education matters in their buildings;
*Represent USD 234 in contacts with local, state, and federal agencies in matters pertaining to special education;
*Assist and provide support in securing the needed staffing for special education programs and provide induction for new staff;
*Collaborate with building teams to ensure a comprehensive curriculum is being provided;
*Work with all providers…to ensure students are receiving equitable evaluations, consistent services, and access to research-based curriculum and instruction, while maintaining best practices;
*Attend required and selected professional development opportunities to support…to provide guidance and leadership with special education mandates and new initiatives;
*Collaborate with building teams to provide the opportunities necessary for successful post-secondary transition success;
*Assist management of grants available for special education funding and the submission of staff information to maximize state special education categorical aid;
*Prepare and submit all reports within guidelines and timelines;
*Comply with legal and regulatory requirements of various governmental agencies;
*Ensure all special education programs perform within state and federal statutes, and adhere to the policies and procedures of the USD 234 Board of Education.
UNIONTOWN UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT 235 Uniontown, Kansas 66779 REGULAR MEETINGApril 10, 2023 The Board of Education of Uniontown Unified School District 235, State of Kansas, met in regular session on Monday, April 10, 2023, at 7:30 p.m. in the BOE Meeting Room, Uniontown, Kansas. Board members present: Jason Sutterby, Sally Johnson, Mike Mason, Troy Goodridge,Tyler Martin,Josh Hartman,and Brian Stewart
Others present for all or portions of the meeting: Vance Eden, Sherri Hartman, Tracy Smith, Tema Gilion, Rhonda Hoener, Jenny Covey, Scott Sutton, Tim Endicott, Heather Herring, Kaytlin Herring
President Jason Sutterby called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Sutterby then led the group in the flag salute. Superintendent Eden read the District Mission Statement. Hartman, seconded by Martin, made a motion to approve the agenda with the changes of Strike VII: Executive Session – Student; Add Action Item IV: Construction Manager At Risk (CMAR). Motion passed 7-0. Mason, seconded by Martin, made a motion to approve the minutes of the March 20, 2023 Regular meeting with the correction of Eden reading the District Mission Statement. Motion passed 7-0. Johnson, seconded by Hartman, made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda. Motion passed 7-0 A.Approve payment of bills in the amount of $395,699.35. B.Approve the March 2023 Treasurer Report. C.Approve Early Graduation requests. D.Approve KSDE Legal Membership for 2023-2024. ($2750.00) E.Approve KASB Membership for 2023-2024. ($9,552.24) No patron addressed the board. Superintendent Eden gave written and oral reports to the board on Bond planning and the Construction Manager AtRisk. Principal’s Smith and Gilion gave written and oral reports to the board. Martin, seconded by Hartman, made a motion to approve publication of the Notice of Intent for Construction Manager atRisk Services (CMAR) and to have a SPECIAL meeting on April 19, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. for public input. Motion passed 7-0
Uniontown USD 235 – Regular Meeting – April 10, 2023 – Page 2 Johnson, seconded by Mason, made a motion to go into executive session to discuss an individual’s performance pursuant to non-elected personnel exception under KOMA and the open meeting will resume in the boardroom at 8:45 p.m. Motion passed 7-0. Into Executive Session at 8:35 p.m. Eden was invited into session. Out of Executive Session at 8:45 p.m. Mason, seconded by Martin, made a motion to go into executive session to discuss the latest proposal for increasing the base pay rate from the teachers pursuant to the exception for employer-employee negotiations under KOMA, and the open meeting will resume in the boardroom at 8:55 p.m. Motion passed 7-0. Into Executive Session at 8:45 p.m. Eden was invited into session. Out of Executive Session at 8:55 p.m. Mason, seconded by Hartman, made a motion to accept the resignation of Jacy Walker as UJHS Head Girls basketball coach. Motion passed 7-0. Johnson, seconded by Mason, made a motion to accept the resignation of Linda Sprague as UHS/UJHS Cook. Motion passed 7-0. Johnson, seconded by Goodridge, made a motion to accept the retirement of Betty Dennis and to thank her for her many years of service to the district. Motion passed 7-0. Martin, seconded by Hartman, made a motion to accept the resignation of Hannah Blevins as WBE 1st grade teacher for 2023-2024. Motion passed 7-0. Mason, seconded by Martin, made a motion to approve Lakyn Coyan as 1st grade teacher for the 2023-2024 school year. Motion passed 7-0 Martin, seconded by Johnson, made a motion to approve Alex Chesney as WBE Music Teacher for 2023-2024. Motion passed 7-0. Martin, seconded by Hartman, made a motion to approve Ian Ballinger as UHS Social Science teacher for the 2023-2024 school year. Motion passed 7-0.
Uniontown USD 235 – Regular Meeting – April 10, 2023 – Page 3 Mason, seconded by Martin, made a motion to read the Final Action of Non Renewal. Motion passed 5-2. (Hartman, Goodridge) Mason read the Final Action of Nonrenewal for Jeff Feagins. Mason, seconded by Martin, made a motion to adjourn. Motion passed 7-0. Meeting adjourned at 9:05 p.m. Date minutes approved______________________ ______________________________ President, Board of Education __________________________________ Attested: Clerk, Board of Education Special Board Meeting (Notice of Intent for Construction Manager AtRisk will be Wednesday, April 19, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. Next board meeting will be Monday, May 8, 2023 at 7:30 p.m.
