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Fort Scott, Schools

U234 Board of Education Minutes of July 13

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Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met virtually on Monday, July 13, for their regular monthly meeting.

President David Stewart opened the meeting.  The board approved the official agenda.  The board adjourned Sine Die with reorganization of the new board.  David Stewart was elected President of the board, and James Wood was elected Vice-President of the board for the 2020-21 school year.  The board also approved the consent agenda as follows:

 

A.    Minutes

B.    Bills and Claims

C.    Payroll – June 19, 2020 – $1,703,740.89

D.    Financial Report

E.     Activity Fund Accounts

F.     Designation of banks for deposit of school funds

G.    Designation of newspaper for official school publications – The Fort Scott Tribune

H.    Officers for the 2020-21 school year

I.      Recreation Commission board member terms

J.      Resolution for waiver of generally accepted accounting principles

K.    Resolution for rescinding policy statements found in board minutes

L.     Resolution to set dates and times for board meetings

M.   Resolution to establish home rule by Board of Education

N.    Resolution for destruction of records

O.    Resolution for bank account signers

P.     Organizational chart

Q.    Set fees for copying of records

R.    Current state mileage reimbursement rate

 

Board members heard a report from Brenda Hill, KNEA President.

Superintendent Ted Hessong reported on SPARK funding, Extended School Year and Jumpstart, the newly-installed high school gym bleachers, bus inspections, administrator book study, count day, graduation, and return to school information.

Gina Shelton, Business Manager, discussed closing down the fiscal year, staff/student vehicle travel, roof work, CARES money, budget software, food service, and new employee signup.

The board selected James Wood as a hearing officer for suspensions and expulsions for the 2020-21 school year.

Board members approved the following items:

·       1,116-hour calendar for the 2020-21 school year

·       Memorandum of Understanding with CHC for an additional nurse

·       Device replacement purchase

·       RTS Microsystems purchase using E-Rate funds

·       Roof change order

·       Purchase of intervention materials using Title IVA funds

 

The board will hold a budget workshop on July 27 at 5:30 p.m.

Board members shared comments and then 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 matters relating to employer-employee negotiations and returned to open meeting.  The board then went into executive session to discuss matters relating to security measures and returned to open meeting.

The board approved the following employment matters:

 

A.    Resignation of Kirstie Cox, Winfield Scott second grade teacher, effective at the end of the 2019-20 school year

B.    Resignation of Abigail Helt, high school/middle school chorus teacher, effective immediately

C.    Resignation of Jeanise Malone, central office accounts payable secretary, effective July 3, 2020

D.    Resignation of Michelle Johnson, Eugene Ware paraprofessional, effective at the end of the 2019-20 school year

E.     Resignation of Angela Christy, Winfield Scott paraprofessional, effective at the end of the 2019-20 school year

F.     Resignation of Stacey Gingrich, gifted paraprofessional, effective at the end of the 2019-20 school year

G.    Resignation of Bud Hall, bus driver, effective at the end of the 2019-20 school year

H.    Transfer of Linda Minor, Winfield Scott first grade teacher, to Winfield Scott second grade teacher for the 2020-21 school year

I.      Contract adjustment for Krista Gorman, high school/middle school instructional coach, from 90% to 100% for the 2020-21 school year

J.      Leave of absence request from Breann Eden, Winfield Scott art teacher

K.    Employment of Alexandra VanSickle as a Winfield Scott first grade teacher for the 2020-21 school year

L.     Employment of Harleigh Lowry as a Winfield Scott 6.5-hour cook for the 2020-21 school year

M.   Reemployment of Beth Alexander as a Winfield Scott Focus Room teacher for the 2020-21 school year

N.    Reemployment of Jered McKay as a Eugene Ware Behavior Specialist for the 2020-21 school year

O.    Reemployment of Daniel Long, high school paraprofessional, for the 2020-21 school year.

 

The board adjourned.

 

Government, Jobs, Kansas

Kansas Unemployment Services “Resets”

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Governor Laura Kelly Shares Update from Kansas Department of Labor

Call center representatives added, virtual assistant launched

 

TOPEKA—The Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) has been working with a team of specialists from Accenture for just over two weeks as they provide operational and technological assessments to improve the delivery of unemployment services.

 

“We know there have been major issues and missteps, we’ve hit the reset button and are focusing on the future,” Governor Kelly said. “Accenture is reviewing and providing recommendations to improve the stability of our systems to make sure they are readily available to support Kansans.”

 

While the assessment is still underway, improvements are already being implemented. Since the pandemic began, KDOL has delivered $1.2 billion in unemployment claims to nearly 200,000 Kansans.

 

One of the primary difficulties the agency has had is the high volume of calls coming in that require highly-trained customer service representatives to address. At the direction of Governor Kelly, KDOL has worked with Accenture to add call center representatives who are trained in unemployment surge response and will be able to provide progressively higher levels of service to callers. The first group of new representatives started taking calls on Monday and more will start next week after completing training.

 

In addition to hiring more call center representatives, KDOL has hired seven additional IT employees to speed up implementation of the various federal unemployment programs. Those hires include professionals with specific experience in the programming language that KDOL’s outdated system was built in.

 

KDOL has also launched a new online virtual agent named Amelia who can answer the agency’s most frequently asked questions regarding unemployment benefits. Amelia can be found in the bottom right hand corner of www.getkansasbenefits.gov and as of Monday afternoon has had nearly 7,000 conversations, exchanging more than 23,000 messages with users.

 

Accenture has previously worked with more than half a dozen other states in addressing COVID-related programs. Like Kansas, many states have struggled due to the sheer number of unemployment claims and their antiquated computer systems. Accenture has stated that the system in Kansas is one of the most severe cases of outdated technology they have encountered.

 

As it develops its recommendations, the Accenture team is applying lessons learned from their work in other states, including how to use federal stimulus funds to rebuild antiquated systems and adding automated features to the website to help answer questions and get Kansans paid quicker.

 

“The response model being implemented will be able to be scaled up as needed and there will be more trained agents and technology workarounds for the current computer system,” KDOL Acting Secretary Ryan Wright said. “Our top priority is to get Kansans paid as quickly as possible and with good customer service.”

 

Currently, nearly everything in the KDOL system must be done manually with minimal automation, which means processes take longer and fewer Kansans can be served. The data and metrics are not stored in a central location, which makes it cumbersome to verify and difficult to provide consistent system reporting. 

 

“Once the surge response is stabilized, we’ll be able to turn attention to the badly needed system rebuild, so we never face this situation again,” Wright said.

Fort Scott, Government

FS City Commission Meets July 17

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The Fort Scott City Commission will meet on Friday, July 17th, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. at the City Hall Commission Meeting Room at 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas to hold a work session to discuss the City’s 5 year capital plan.

The meetings are still limited in number due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however the room will only hold 14 due to the 6’ social distancing rules. Patrons will be let in until the room is full to ensure the public health orders are followed.

The meeting will be available on the City’s YouTube channel.

Bourbon County, Government

Bourbon County Commission Agenda for July 14

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Agenda

Bourbon County Commission Room

1st Floor, County Courthouse

210 S. National Avenue

Fort Scott, KS 66701

Tuesdays starting at 9:00

Date: July 14, 2020

1st District-Lynne Oharah Minutes: Approved: _______________

2nd District-Jeff Fischer Corrected: _______________

3rd District-Nick Ruhl Adjourned at: _______________

County Clerk-Kendell Mason

MEETING WILL BE HELD IN THE COMMISSION ROOM. ANYONE ATTENDING THE MEETING WILL BE REQUIRED TO WEAR A MASK PROVIDED BY THE COUNTY. MUST MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING.

9:00 – 9:30 JT Heckman

9:30 – 9:45 Tri-Valley Board

9:45 – 10:00 Jody Hoener, BCBS Pathways Grant

10:00 – 10:15 Jody Hoener, CDBG-CV Grants & Spark

10:15 – 10:30 BBCO Soil Conservation District, 2021 Budget Review

10:30 – 10:45 David Neville, Second Floor Air Conditioner

10:45 – 11:00 Susan Bancroft, Requesting a variance from Sewer District Agreement

11:00 – 11:15 Larry Sharp, KCAMP Insurance Annual Review

11:15 – 11:30 Bill Martin/Bobby Reed, 2021 Budget Review

11:30 – 11:35 Michael Hoyt, Spark Program

11:45 – 12:00 Jacqie Spradling, Attorney 2021 Budget Review

12:00 – 12:15 Justin Meeks, CIC Contract

12:15 – 1:30 Lunch

1:30 – 4:30 Commissioners to have a budget work session

Fort Scott, Government

FS Lake Advisory Board Meets July 18

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The Lake Fort Scott Advisory Board will meet on Saturday, July 18th, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. at the City Hall Commission Meeting Room at 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas.

The meetings are still limited in number due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however the room will only hold 14 due to the 6’ social distancing rules. Patrons will be let in until the room is full to ensure the public health orders are followed.

The meeting will still be available on the City’s YouTube channel.

Obituary

Obituary of David C. Middleton

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David Charles Middleton, age 70, a resident of rural Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Sunday, July 12, 2020, at his home.

He was born August 1, 1949, in Ft. Scott, the son of Lee Charles Middleton and Allie Ethyl Peterson Middleton.

David graduated from the Ft. Scott High School with the Class of 1967.

He married Sharon Simpson on November 18, 1966, at Nevada, Missouri.

In earlier years, David worked at Mid-America Business forms and then for the Co-Op in Uniontown and Beulah.  He later returned to the printing industry and was employed by Apico Printing in Girard and later Ward-Kraft in Ft. Scott.  In addition, he operated his own farm and dairy.  He retired in 2011.

He was a member of the Cherry Grove Baptist Church, the Xenia Masonic Lodge and the Mirza Shrine of Pittsburg.

He enjoyed fishing and hunting as well as spending time with his grandchildren.

 

Survivors include his wife, Sharon, of the home; his son, Chris Middleton (Amy Larson), of Pittsburg; seven grandchildren, Brittany Horn (John), of Lawrence, Kansas, Matthew Prettyman (Alexis) and Shelby Garcia (Steven), all of Williston, Florida and Jazzmin Middleton, Dylan Middleton, Kaydence Clark and Kamdin Clark, all of Pittsburg, Kansas and seven great-grandchildren, Cameron, Kaden, Izzy, Addison, Elle, Amora and Aurelia. Also surviving are a brother, Kenneth Middleton (Lavon), of Uniontown, Kansas and three sisters, Carrie Elbrader, Ark City, Kansas, Lois Cooney, Frontenac, Kansas and Donna Davidson Williams, Uniontown, Kansas.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Beverly Ann Horn, a sister, Carolyn Rourk, and his parents.

 

Rev. Marty DeWitt will conduct graveside services at 2:00 P.M. Sunday, July 19th at the Pleasant Valley Cemetery.

Masonic rites will also be conducted.

The family will receive friends on Sunday at the Cheney Witt Chapel from Noon until leaving for the cemetery at 1:30 P.M.

Memorials are suggested to the Mirza Shrine General Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701.  Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Health Care, Mercy Hospital, Opinion

Bill Brittain Thanks Congressman Watkins For Help On Former Mercy Building

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Submitted by Bill Brittain.

Bill Brittain, left, shakes hands with U.S. House of Representative from Kansas, Steve Watkins. Submitted photo.

 

“On July 10, I was able to publicly thank Congressman Steve Watkins for his help on the Mercy facility.

The Congressman was in town Friday at the Nu-Grille (restaurant) for a small group discussion passing through for other stops for the day.

Several months ago I reached out to him and his office with an idea to save the  (former)Mercy Hospital facility.

After I reached out to them he sent one of his staff to meet with me.
His staff came to some of the meetings we set up with other people of interest such as the city, CHC, Via Christi and others. His office made contact with the person with Mercy headquarters and arranged a phone meeting between that person and myself along with the Congressman’s staff member.
They have searched for Government grants that might be of assistance for Bourbon County to use.
They opened doors that we could not get open and that is what allowed the process to move forward!

He and his staff have been instrumental with helping us get to where
we are today!

I would also like to thank the Bourbon County Commissioners for taking bold action by accepting the donation of the facility!

By doing so I believe we will ensure our community will have good healthcare options available in a nice facility for many years to come.

Our hope is to fill this facility with several healthcare options and I am in hopes that we will have hospital services at some point down
the road.

Jody Hoener, the Bourbon County Economic Director has also worked very hard in spearheading meetings, making contacts, and looking for grants.

It definitely, like many things, takes action from many but
without Congressman Watkins Office I don’t think we could have got the ball rolling!

Bourbon County, COVID-19, Government, Health Care

Bourbon County Has Four New Cases of COVID 19

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SEK Multi-County Health Departments

Allen, Anderson, Bourbon, and Woodson Counties

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

July 13, 2020

“Allen County has 2 new COVID-19 cases this morning and Bourbon County has 4,” Rebecca Johnson, SEK Multi-County Health Departments Administrator, said. “Of Bourbon County’s 4, 2 are presumptive positive.”

 

Allen County

Current Positive Cases 3
Current Recovered Cases 5
Total Positives Since Testing 8-1 removed-out of state and to remain there
Deaths 0

Anderson County

Current Positive Cases 11
Current Recovered Cases 4
Total Positives Since Testing 15
Deaths 0

Bourbon County

Current Positive Cases 26
Presumptive Cases 3-1 listed on KDHE website, tested negative
Positive Out of State/County-staying in Bourbon 11
Total Hospitalizations 5-1 still remaining in hospital
Current Recovered Cases 29-includes presumptive case
Total Positives Since Testing 54
Deaths 1

Woodson County

Current Positive Cases 0
Total Hospitalizations 1-0 remaining in hospital
Current Recovered Cases 10
Total Positives Since Testing 10
Deaths 0

Recovered cases are based on dates of onset of symptoms, not on day testing results are received.

Bourbon County, Government

Bourbon County Agenda For July 13

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Agenda

Bourbon County Commission Room

1st Floor, County Courthouse

210 S. National Avenue

Fort Scott, KS 66701

Tuesdays starting at 9:00

Date: July 13, 2020

1st District-Lynne Oharah Minutes: Approved: _______________

2nd District-Jeff Fischer Corrected: _______________

3rd District-Nick Ruhl Adjourned at: _______________

County Clerk-Kendell Mason

MEETING WILL BE HELD IN THE COMMISSION ROOM. ANYONE ATTENDING THE MEETING WILL BE REQUIRED TO WEAR A MASK PROVIDED BY THE COUNTY. MUST MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING.

10:30 Executive Session, Consultation with an attorney for the body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship