Monday, December 12, 2022

Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, December 12, 2022, 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:

• Minutes from November 12, 2022, Board of Education meeting
• Financials – Cash Flow Report
• Check Register
• Payroll – November 18, 2022 – $1,927,977.43
• Activity Fund accounts
• Orchestra Extended Trip Application
• Band and Choir Fundraiser Application
• Substitute Pay Schedule
• Sale of Decommissioned Student Equipment

Yasmina Query, Eugene Ware Elementary, introduced six students from Eugene Ware Leadership Club. Students Landen Brown, Myah Chaplin, Logan Flanner, Georgia Hurd, Jentry Palmer, and Hunter Yarick shared information with the board about various projects the leadership club does to help the community, their school, and staff.

Classified Tiger Team Member – Superintendent Destry Brown recognized Tanya Lockwood as the Classified Tiger Team Member of the Month.  Mrs. Lockwood is a custodian at the high school who demonstrates how to build great relationships with kids.  She greets students, encourages them, and sets a great tone for them.

Licensed Tiger Team Member – Superintendent Destry Brown recognized Linda Minor as the Licensed Tiger Team Member of the Month.  Mrs. Minor is a 2^nd grade teacher at Winfield Scott Elementary and is the Leadership Club sponsor.  She is very good at building relationships with kids, supporting other staff, and creating a positive environment.  She is often heard telling students and staff to “Go Be Great!”

Superintendent Brown reported on an expansion of the Construction Trades Program at Fort Scott High School made possible with collaboration with Fort Scott Community College.  This will allow students to achieve NCCR Certification, be OSHA certified, and graduate high school with 28 college credits.

Gina Shelton, Finance Director, updated the board on the ESSER submission, the investment of funds, and reported that the district had 57 employees complete the wellness stipend challenge.  Mrs. Shelton discussed the importance of special education funding and provided the board with a handout explaining how special education funding works.

The board received an update on District Communications from Shawnee Lorenz with Trajectory Strategies, which is a strategic development firm.  Mrs. Lorenz went over the assessment conducted, the major findings, and the recommendations to the board for next steps.

Merrill Atwater and Jennifer Massey with Legacy Health, along with Superintendent Brown updated the board on the progress of the preschool expansion at the old Mercy Hospital building.

The board approved the following items:

• Agreement for Hourly Rate Professional Services for Preliminary Design for Special Education Department Spaces at Fort Scott High School in the amount of $2,960 that will be covered by the CHC grant
• Delos Indoor Air Quality Research Program Quote in the amount of $24,411 that will be covered by the KDHE Test to Stay Grant
• Workers Compensation Proposal from KASB Workers Compensation Fund, Inc.
• Request to refund a donation contingent upon no concerns from KASB attorneys
• Personnel Report – following

The board tabled a change to the Drug Testing Policy at FSHS until next month.

The board went into an executive session for personnel matters.

President Danny Brown adjourned the meeting.

PERSONNEL REPORT – APPROVED EMPLOYMENT

RESIGNATIONS/TERMINATIONS/RETIREMENTS:

• Stewart Guss – Retirement – Eugene Ware custodian, effective January 31, 2023
• Jessica Smith – Resignation – FSHS paraprofessional, effective December 16, 2022
• Kristi Hartman – Resignation – Occupational Therapist, effective at the end of the 2022-23 school year
• Russ Hughes – FSMS Track Assistant, effective December 12, 2022

EMPLOYMENT/REASSIGNMENTS – FOR THE 2022-23 SCHOOL YEAR

• Sharonda Edwards – Winfield Scott 7.5-hour paraprofessional
• Michelle Lisica – Eugene Ware 7.5-hour paraprofessional
• Matthew Prock – Winfield Scott 7.5-hour teacher aide
• Billi Jo Shoemaker – Winfield Scott paraprofessional to Eugene Ware behavior interventionist teacher, effective January 3, 2023
• Amanda Jamison – Winfield Scott paraprofessional to Head Start teacher, effective January 3, 2023
• Michelle Martin – mentor for Lienna Upchurch

Manhattan, KS — Ms. Margaret Marino, K-2 Math and Reading Special Education Instructor, Winfield Scott Elementary School, USD 234, Fort Scott, was recently awarded a $500 Classroom Grant by the Kansas Association of American Educators (KANAAE), a non-union professional educators’ association serving Kansas educators.  Ms. Marino will be using the grant to purchase supplies to supplement the Orton Gillingham training she attended this past summer!

“KANAAE is thrilled to be able to provide funding to purchase needed materials and supplies for Margaret’s classroom,” said Garry Sigle, KANAAE executive director.  “As a professional association we are committed to helping educator’s purchase items through our scholarship and grant program they may not otherwise be able to obtain.  We know it’s the students who ultimately benefit.”

The winners of the KANAAE Teacher Scholarships and Classroom Grants are selected by a committee of their peers from across Kansas.  All educators are encouraged to apply.

KANAAE is an affordable, non-union professional education association that provides teacher scholarships and classroom grants exclusively for Kansas educators twice a year.  The grants can help pay for a variety of materials for the classroom and scholarships can be used to cover a wide variety of expenses including tuition, books, conferences, and workshops. The next application deadline is March 1, 2023.  For more information visit www.kanaae.org.

USD 234 schools will be closed Wednesday through Friday, November 23-25, for Thanksgiving vacation. Classes will resume on Monday, November 28, 2022.

Unified School District 234

424 South Main

Fort Scott, KS 66701-2697

www.usd234.org

620-223-0800   Fax 620-223-2760

DESTRY BROWN                                                                                                                                      Superintendent                                                                                                                                            

BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING

NEWS RELEASE

Monday, November 14, 2022

Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, November 14, 2022, 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:

• Minutes from October 10, 2022, Board of Education meeting
• Financials – Cash Flow Report
• Check Register
• Payroll – October 20, 2022 – $1,572,916.54
• Activity Fund accounts
• Parent/Teacher Conference Statistics
  • FSPC – 92%, Winfield Scott – 94%, Eugene Ware – 89%, FSMS – 56%, FSHS – 63%

Scott Kimble, Fort Scott High School Principal, introduced Anna Laubenstein, a senior at FSHS, who provided an update on the varsity Cinematography Challenge at the 4-State Academy of Scholastic Broadcasting Film Festival in Springfield, Missouri.  Anna, along with FSHS students Lily Brown, Elena Robison, and Zaida Gomez, all competed in the festival with 30 other schools. In total, eleven students from FSHS were able to attend.  The students shared information with the board on the competition and the Digital Media program at the high school that they are a part of.

Terry Sercer, CPA, with Diehl, Banwart, Bolton CPAs, P.A., presented the financial audit for 2021-22 year.  There were no violations.

Superintendent Destry Brown noted that the final Visioning Session hosted by Bourbon County REDI will be Wednesday, November 16^th at 5:30 p.m. at the Liberty Theater.  Mr. Brown discussed the district’s preschool expansion project to take place at the old Mercy Hospital and how the current location on Judson will then be utilized for an elementary school specific for behaviors.  Mr. Brown updated the board on the delivery and installation of the air purifiers purchased with KDHE grant funds.  Superintendent Brown closed with discussing the “40 Developmental Assets” that help young people grow up healthy, caring, and responsible and how these are things our community can take part in to support our students.

Assistant Superintendent Dalaina Smith thanked the board and community for their support of PLC time.  Mrs. Smith discussed conversations happening regarding attendance at PLC conferences or whether that training should be held in-house.  Mrs. Smith provided an update on the cases purchased to protect student technology devices and the Science adoption that will come to the board for approval in March.

Gina Shelton, Finance Director, reported on the workers compensation renewal, federal funds, open enrollment for employee benefits, and staff retirements.

The board received an update on District Communications from Superintendent Brown.

The board approved the following items:

• ESSER III Budget – information, including the budget can be found on the USD 234 website.
• Contract with Benchmark Inc. for a full-time project management service for the roof replacement project in the amount of $178,000.
• Resolution to join Kansas Municipal Investment Pool and investment of funds into the KMIP for 180-days, with an interest rate of 3.96%.
• Acceptance of quote from City State Bank for a 90-day CD, with an interest rate of 3.13% with revaluation in 90 days.
• RPS Benefits by Design, Inc Consulting Agreement for health insurance broker services.
• Premium Rate Schedule for 2022-23.
• District Benefit Committee Recommendation with no increase to health insurance premiums, increase in Wellness Stipend to $350.00, and change in accident/cancer policy options.
• Personnel Report – following

The board went into an executive session for personnel matters and the superintendent evaluation process.

President Danny Brown adjourned the meeting.

PERSONNEL REPORT – APPROVED EMPLOYMENT

RESIGNATIONS/TERMINATIONS/RETIREMENTS:

• Amy Lybarger – Early retirement as Eugene Ware third grade teacher, effective at the end of the 2022-23 school year
• Chris Sather – Early retirement as Winfield Scott physical education teacher, effective at the end of the 2022-23 school year
• Rachel Patton – Resignation as Eugene Ware paraprofessional, effective Oct. 19, 2022
• Kaylie Harper – Resignation as Winfield Scott paraprofessional, effective Oct. 26, 2022
• Elizabeth Rose – Resignation as FSHS paraprofessional, effective Nov. 11, 2022
• Amaiya Terry – Resignation as FSHS paraprofessional, effective Nov. 11, 2022
• Bethany Higgins – Eugene Ware teacher, leave of absence
• Andi Heckman – FSPC teacher, leave of absence
• Francis Torres – Winfield Scott paraprofessional, leave of absence

EMPLOYMENT/REASSIGNMENTS – FOR THE 2022-23 SCHOOL YEAR

• Brad Wright – Central Office HVAC Maintenance
• Kathryn Harrington – FSMS paraprofessional
• Robert West – Eugene Ware/FSPC custodian
• Belinda Pitts – FSHS paraprofessional
• Billi Jo Shoemaker – Winfield Scott 7.5-hour paraprofessional
• Amanda Jamison – Winfield Scot 7.5-hour paraprofessional
• FSHS newspaper sponsor change from Brian Pommier to Bethany Anderson for the second semester
• Langdon Giddens – Tech Department paid intern
• Sara Schnichels – FSMS paraprofessional
• John Metcalf – FSHS assistant wrestling coach
• Colin Downey – FSHS assistant freshman boys basketball coach

Unified School District 234
424 south Main
Fort Scott, KS 66701-2697
www.usd234.org
520-223-0800 Fax 620-223-27 60
DESTRY BROWN, Superintendent

November 15,2022


USD 234 will provide preschool screenings for children up to the age of5 years on December 2,2022. Children may have vision, hearing, speech/communication, motor skills, socialization skills, and general development screened.
The purpose of the screenings is to locate and identify children with
possible developmental delays who may need special education preschool and/or related services.
Appointments may be scheduled by calling Tammy Catron, Fort Scott Preschool Center,223-8965, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The deadline for scheduling an appointment is November 22,
2022