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Government, Jobs, Kansas

Support Program For Kansans Seeking Employment Announced

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Governor Laura Kelly Announces Launch of My Reemployment Plan

~Program offers support, resources to Kansans seeking employment~

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today announced the launch of My Reemployment Plan, a program designed to support Kansans with job-search efforts.

“My Reemployment Plan is a great tool to provide Kansans with the resources needed to secure high-quality, in-demand jobs,” Governor Kelly said. “While it’s welcome news that our state’s unemployment rate is back to 3.5%, we want to keep pursuing programs and resources that support getting every Kansan on the right career track. This is how we grow our workforce and build a better, more resilient economy for future generations.”

The program, developed with collaboration between the Kansas Department of Commerce, Kansas Department of Labor, and KANSASWORKS Workforce System, will connect unemployment recipients with workforce service professionals in their area. The personalized job-search assistance they will receive free of charge will include:

  • Creation of a personalized My Reemployment Plan that focuses on goals and accountability.
  • Skills assessment to match interests and skills with occupations.
  • Resume, interview and networking assistance.
  • Labor market information highlighting current in-demand jobs.

“Our team is working hard to drive the Kansas economy forward,” Lieutenant Governor and Commerce Secretary David Toland said. “This is why the Kelly administration is focused on helping the people of our state find jobs, helping Kansas companies fill vital positions and helping our communities get back to normal. My Reemployment Plan will be a powerful tool in achieving these goals.”

Current unemployment claimants who have received three or more consecutive unemployment payments will automatically be enrolled in My Reemployment Plan.

The process of sending notifications will begin on the evening of Tuesday, June 22. Participants will receive an email from an “@ks.gov” account. Recipients without access to an email account will receive information in the mail.

Claimants will have seven days from the date the email was sent to complete the following tasks:

  1. Upload/build a resume at KANSASWORKS.com (resume must be in active status).
  2. Complete the online job search form (including the O*Net Interest Profiler) attached to the email/included with the mailed information.
  3. Email completed form to the Kansas Department of Commerce at [email protected].

Failure to submit this information before the deadline may result in suspension of unemployment benefits. Suspended claimants must submit this information to have the hold lifted.

Kansans receiving unemployment benefits who are eligible to be enrolled in MyReemployment are encouraged to prepare for the launch of the program:

  1. Log into your KANSASWORKS.com account and ensure that your account information is up to date.
  2. Create/build your online resume.
  3. Contact your local Workforce Center for immediate assistance with your job search.

Questions on the launch of this program should be directed to the team at KANSASWORKS:

To learn more about the MyReemployment Plan program, visit kansascommerce.gov/mrp.

About KANSASWORKS

KANSASWORKS links businesses, job candidates and educational institutions to ensure that employers can find skilled workers. Services are provided to employers and job candidates through the state’s 27 workforce centers, online or virtual services KANSASWORKS is completely free for all Kansans to use.  Learn more at KANSASWORKS.com.

About the Kansas Department of Commerce

As the state’s lead economic development agency, the Kansas Department of Commerce strives to empower individuals, businesses and communities to achieve prosperity in Kansas. Commerce accomplishes its mission by developing relationships with corporations, site location consultants and stakeholders in Kansas, the nation and world. Our strong partnerships allow us to help create an environment for existing Kansas businesses to grow and foster an innovative, competitive landscape for new businesses.

Church news, Fort Scott

Fundraiser for First Baptist Church Youth June 25-26

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A fundraiser for First Baptist Church Youth will be a rummage sale at the church, 123 Scott Avenue.

First Baptist Church, 123 Scott Avenue.

The sale will be Friday, June 25 from  8 a.m.to 5 p.m., and Saturday, June 26, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Check out the First Baptist Church Facebook page for more information and pictures.

Items available: collectibles, furniture, wall hangings,
books, 45 RPM records,  household goods, and holiday decorations.

Free will donation for items, excluding furniture.

Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Chamber Coffee at The Lavender Patch June 17

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Join us for this week’s Chamber Coffee hosted by
THE LAVENDER
PATCH FARM
2376 Locust Rd. Fort Scott
8 am
Kick-Off to promote their
4th Annual Lavender Fest!
Click herefor their Website.
Click here for their Facebook Page.
Chamber Members & Guests are welcome
to make any announcement for $1 to the Chamber about their business or organization including events, new products, promotions, or any other specials!
Upcoming Chamber Coffee Schedule:
6/24 ~ Varia Quality Resale Clothing Store Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting Ceremony (New Chamber Member)
7/1 ~ The Rainbow Unicorn ~ Grand Opening &Cutting Ceremony
7/8 ~ OPEN! Call the Chamber to Schedule
7/15 ~ TFI Family Services at Common Ground.
7/22 ~ OPEN! Call the Chamber to Schedule
7/29 ~ OPEN! Call the Chamber to Schedule
Fort Scott

Care to Share Yard Sale June 18-19

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Submitted by Jana Walker

Care to share is a cancer support group, solely run by volunteers.  No salaries are paid.

All proceeds from the sale go directly to LOCAL cancer patients.

Ever since the Fort Scott Cancer Center closed every local cancer patient must travel out of town for doctor appointments and scans.

Gas expenditures add up quickly.

As a cancer survivor I can say I am amazed at the kindness and generosity of our community, and I want to thank each and every person that has donated to Care to Share in the past in any way!

Another way that people have donated are the yard sale items.

Everything to be sold has been donated by someone.

We ask that you come out and support us this weekend. You don’t want to miss this!!

Some items in the sale are:
New KU golf bag with irons
Glassware
Lots of nice clothing newborn-adult 4xl
Jeans and dress pants are $3 each all other clothing is $1 each
Display Cases
Furniture
Toys
Decor
Holiday items
Kitchenware
Children’s hair clippers
Lots of shoes they are all pick- your-price (with nothing under $1)
Lots of new items
Eddie Bauer stroller
Children’s portable cot
Hats
Linens
Light fixtures
Ceiling fans
Vintage items
And much more!

 

Fort Scott, Government, Schools

USD234 Press Release

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NEWS RELEASE

 

Monday, June 14, 2021

 

Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at the Fort Scott Middle School Commons on Monday, June 14, 2021, for their regular monthly meeting.

President David Stewart opened the meeting.  The board approved the official agenda.  The board also approved the consent agenda as follows:

 

A.    Minutes

B.    Bills and Claims

C.    Payroll – May 20, 2021 – $1,495,472.51

D.    Financial Report

E.    Activity fund accounts

F.     Fundraising Applications

G.    Site Council Reports

H.    2021-22 Site Council Members; dates and times of meetings

I.      2020-21 Gifts

J.      Communities in School Progress Reports

 

Fort Scott High School Swim Teams gave a presentation to the board.  There were no comments in the public forum section.  Board members heard reports from the Director of Academics, Dalaina Smith; Superintendent Ted Hessong; and Gina Shelton, Business Manager/Board Clerk

Board members approved the following:

 

·       Fort Scott Virtual School

·       1,116 hour calendar for the 2021-22 school year

·       KASB Board Policy updates

·       Handbook changes for the 2021-22 school year

·       NWEA MAP Renewal

·       FastBridge Implementation

·       McGraw Hill final quote

·       Eureka final quote

·       Purchase of science textbooks

·       KERMP Insurance renewal for 2021-22

·       iBoss Renewal

·       Pursuit of a grant application for a second SRO officer

·       Donation of unused Winfield Scott books to Altoona-Midway

Board members reviewed the last day Enrollment Count Report and shared comments.

Board members went into executive session to discuss personnel matters for nonelected personnel and returned to open meeting.  The board then went into executive session to discuss an upcoming negotiations meeting and returned to open meeting.

The board approved the following employment matters:

 

A.    Retirement of Clifford Lyman, middle school five-hour custodian, effective May 24, 2021

B.    Resignation of Aaron Shockley, high school/middle school band teacher, effective at the end of the 2020-21 school year

C.    Resignation of Angela Mix, Winfield Scott paraprofessional, effective at the end of the 2020-21 school year

D.    Resignation of Mary Cole, high school paraprofessional, effective at the end of the 2020-21 school year

E.    Transfer of Moriah Dillow, Winfield Scott paraprofessional, to Winfield Scott Focus room teacher for the 2021-22 school year

F.     Work agreement adjustment for Randi Witt, special education secretary/MIS Clerk, from 12 months to 11 months

G.    Addition of a preschool teaching position for the 2021-22 school year

H.    Employment of Alex Specht as high school assistant principal for the 2021-22 school year

I.      Employment of Amy Keeton as a Eugene Ware paraprofessional for the 2021-22 school year

J.      Employment of Frances Sharp as a high school cook for the 2021-22 school year

K.    Employment of teacher mentors for 2020-21

L.    Employment of Terra Kegler as a high school paraprofessional for the 2021-22 school year

M.   Employment of central office classified employees for the 2021-22 school year

N.    Employment of a technology classified employee for the 2021-22 school year

O.    Employment of food service classified employees for the 2021-22 school year

P.     Employment of transportation classified employees for the 2021-22 school year

Q.    Employment of maintenance classified employees for the 2021-22 school year

R.    Employment of high school classified employees for the 2021-22 school year

S.     Employment of middle school classified employees for the 2021-22 school year

T.    Employment of Eugene Ware classified employees for the 2021-22 school year

U.    Employment of Winfield Scott classified employees for the 2021-22 school year

V.    Employment of Fort Scott Preschool Center classified employees for the 2021-22 school year

W.  Employment of district supplemental employees for the 2021-22 school year

X.    Employment of middle school supplemental employees for the 2021-22 school year

Y.    Employment of Eugene Ware supplemental employees for the 2021-22 school year

Z.    Employment of Winfield Scott supplemental employees for the 2021-22 school year

 

The board approved a modification of Resolution 20-06 Bank Account Signers.  In addition, the board approved a COVID stipend of $500 for each employee.  The board adjourned.

Government

USDA: Create High Wage Jobs in Rural Areas

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USDA Launches Grant Program to Help Expand Regional Economies and Create High-Wage Jobs in Distressed Rural Communities

WASHINGTON, June 15, 2021 – United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Rural Business-Cooperative Service Administrator Karama Neal today unveiled a new grant program to help rural communities create good-paying jobs and support new business opportunities in high-growth fields.

Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) is intended to help rural communities identify and maximize local assets and connect to networks and industry clusters within their region. The new grant encourages a regional, innovation-driven approach to economic development.

“USDA is innovating the way we do business,” Neal said. “The RISE program ensures that critical funding supports long-term and sustainable economic growth in the rural communities and regions that need it most.”

RISE provides grants of up to $2 million to consortiums of local governments, investors, industry, institutions of higher education, and other public and private entities in rural areas. The funds may be used to form job accelerator partnerships and create high-wage jobs, start or expand businesses, and support economic growth in the rural areas of their region.

 

Funding may also be used to establish and operate innovation centers and partnerships, such as integrating rural businesses into new supply chains, providing workforce training and identifying community assets.

To help ensure long-term and sustainable community and economic development, award recipients must support projects for at least four years.

Applicants are encouraged to contact their nearest USDA Rural Development State Office ahead of the application deadline for more information about the program or the application process.

Starting June 16, 2021, applications will be accepted electronically at Grants.gov. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Aug. 2, 2021. Information about the application process is available in a notice in the Federal Register. For additional information about the program, see the final rule on page 31585 of the June 15 Federal Register.

USDA is hosting a webinar on Tuesday, June 22, 2021 at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time to help stakeholders and potential applicants learn more about this funding opportunity. To register, please visit: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/9046642451030677262.

Under the Biden-Harris Administration, Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, tribal and high-poverty areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov. If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.