Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at the Fort Scott Middle School Commons on Wednesday, September 9, for a special board meeting at 5:30 p.m.
President David Stewart opened the meeting.
Superintendent Hessong gave an update on the Return-to-School Plan.
Board members approved handbooks for the 2020-21 school year.
Board members went into executive session to discuss personnel matters and returned to open meeting. The board approved the following employment matters:
A. Employment of Tiffnie Spears as a Eugene Ware fifth grade teacher for the 2020-21 school year
B. Employment of Charles Townsend as a Eugene Ware paraprofessional for the 2020-21 school year
C. Employment of Judy Warren as a Eugene Ware paraprofessional for the 2020-21 school year
D. Employment of Natasha Lindo as a preschool paraprofessional for the 2020-21 school year
E. Employment of Dillon Duffy as a regular route van driver for the 2020-21 school year
F. Employment of Michelle Brittain as middle school 8th grade Team Leader for the 2020-21 school year
G. Employment of Jaci Cosens as the middle school 7th grade Team Leader for the 2020-21 school year
H. Employment of Adam Feagins as a mentor teacher for the 2020-21 school year
I. Employment of Jannah Farrington as middle school mentor teacher for the 2020-21 school year
J. Resignation of Stephanie Cummings as a middle school teacher aide, effective August 31, 2020
The Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site want to invite the public to their Annual Meeting this Monday, September 14 at The Fort Scott National Historic Site at 7 p.m. It will be held outside on the Fort grounds so we can social distance and you must wear a mask.
From the end of May through the middle of August, 112 Fort Scott children and teens reada combined total of 2,984 books, 204 chapters, 28,562 minutes, and 4,688 pagesas a part of the library’s summer reading program. Additionally, 33 children and teens took the 1,000 Minute Reading Challenge from August 1 – 31 and read a combined total of 29,867 minutes. Seventeen local volunteers, most of whom were retired or current educators, read or demonstrated craft projects for live and pre-recorded videos, which were shared with the community. Nine local restaurants and grocery stores donated gift certificates or coupons for free food and goods. The library won a $500 grant from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation and a $250 grant from the Walmart Community Grant program. Hammond United Methodist Church also supported the summer reading program with a $25 check. Thank you to our amazing community for their commitment to literacy, our library, and local families!
Weekly Virtual Storytimes:
Join Miss Val on Facebook or YouTube at 10 am on Tuesday mornings for Virtual Storytime! The library offers storytime packets filled with craft supplies and pre-packaged snacks, and those may be picked up through their curbside service. Email Miss Val at [email protected] to schedule a storytime packet pickup.
Weekly Teen & Tween Program:
Teens and Tweens, meet with Miss Val weekly on Zoom – Wednesdays at 4:20 pm! Meetings include book discussions, online games, crafts, virtual escape rooms, and other educational activities. The library provides curbside pickup at least once monthly of supplies for teen program participants. These include craft supplies, pre-packaged snacks, games, and paper activities. To participate or to order supplies email Miss Val at [email protected]. You’ll also need to email her for the Zoom password. The Zoom link is:
Teens may take the ongoing reading challenge and earn prizes for every 200 minutes or pages they read. For more information, contact the library.
1,000 Books Before Kindergarten
Join the library’s free early literacy program and help steer your child toward academic success! To sign up, email Miss Val at [email protected]. Tell her your child’s name and age (children from birth to Kindergarten qualify), the parent’s name, and contact information. Then keep track of your child’s reading. Every 100 books read earn a free book, sticker, and printout of your child’s photo. The library currently offers program rewards through its curbside service. Participants may send a photo of their child to the library for each 100 book milestone reached, and choose from a list of reward books. Then they may schedule a pickup time for their goodies. Photos are posted to the library’s Facebook page (with parental permission).
Book Lending Services
Wondering what books to choose for your children? Check out a grab bag! Each bag contains 10 books, along with goodies such as stickers or bookmarks. They are a curated assortment of books chosen by Miss Val, according to a topic. To check out a book bag, you must have an active library card in the SEKnFind system with no restrictions, and must call or message the library to reserve the bag, and then set up a day & time to pick it up from the curbside service (or coordinate with someone else to pick it up, using your card). Once you have the bag, you may keep the goodies and the bag itself. The books will be due back in the library’s dropbox in 3 weeks. There is no limit to how many bags you may reserve at one time. Each book bag is created for a specific age range, either Birth – 1st grade or 2nd – 5th grades. When you reserve one, you should specify which topic(s) and age range(s) you want, as well as providing your library card number. Current topics are: Bears, Boys’ or Girls’ General Interest, Cats & Dogs, Character Building, Classics, Community Helpers, Dinosaurs, Disney, Dragons, Fall, Fantasy, Farm, Food, Jungles, LEGO, Magic, Ocean, Pirates, School, Silly Stories, Superheroes, Vehicles, and Zoo Animals.
Looking for books by a specific author but don’t know or want to think up which titles to choose? Let the library staff be your personal book shoppers! Just call 620-223-2882 and tell them you would like to do a 10 book grab. Provide your library card number* and the author’s name, and they will pick out 10 books by the author.**
*Active, unrestricted library account required with Fort Scott or a SEKnFind
library.
**If not enough books are available from FSPL, they may order some from other libraries by that author, choose books by similar authors to make up the difference, or choose as many as possible, up to 10.
For more information on programs and services, visit the library’s website at:
The Gunn Park Trails Bike Repair Station is located near the entrance of the park. It was completed last Sunday, Sept. 6. Submitted photos.
A public bike repair station is available at Gunn Park, located on Fort Scott’s west side, off of Park Street.
The bike repair station is located in the parking lot adjacent to the Gunn Park entrance. This is where most of the Gunn Park Trail riders park, and is available to the public, according to Frank Halsey the organizer of the Marmaton Massacre Bike Race event that funded the station.
“It provides a public location, and tools necessary for basic emergency bike repairs such as tire repairs with an air pump. Retractable tools are also available for the tightening of loose parts,” Halsey said. “It is constructed so the bike can be elevated while being repaired.”
“This new Fort Scott asset was made available from the proceeds of the hugely successful Marmaton Massacre Mountain Bike Race hosted by Gunn Park Trails on July 11th and 12th,” he said. “Credit goes to the race volunteers, sponsors, and of course the participants.”
Volunteers completed the installation of the bike repair station on Sunday, Sept. 6. The City of Fort Scott poured the concrete pad for the station.
“Fort Scott is fortunate to have Gunn Park Trails providing fun exercise and attracting visitors to our community,” Halsey said. “This new feature simply adds more value to this important asset.”
Laura Felt will celebrate her 80th birthday on September 16.
Her family is requesting cards be sent to her in celebration of the day.
Please send cards to 1440 Scott Avenue, Fort Scott, KS 66701.
Laura Felt is the mother of Rick Felt, Troy Felt and Rhonda Kellstadt; grandmother of Kathy and Kenny (Rick), Scott, Tyler and Haley (Troy) & Clayton and Cade (Rhonda) and great-grandmother of Blair, Smith, Carver, Waylon, Easton and Knox.
The Tourism Advisory Board will meet on Thursday, September 10th, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. in the City Commission Meeting Room at City Hall, 123 S. Main. This meeting is open to the public.
The Tourism meeting will be available on the City’s YouTube channel.
The Design Review Board will meet on Wednesday, September 9th, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. at the City Hall Commission Meeting room at 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas. This meeting will be held to discuss a Certificate of Appropriateness for signage in the downtown area for the walking trail, and a Certificate of Appropriateness for signage and alterations to a building at 113 S. National and any others matters to be brought before the Board. This meeting is open to the public.
This meeting will be made available via the City’s you tube channel at City of Fort Scott.
Fort Scott Middle School opened its volleyball season last night with a home match against Prairie View.
It was a successful night for the Lady Tigers who went 3-1 for the night.
Seventh grade A team won in two with scores of 25-10, 25-22, 7B won in three with scores of 28-26, 19-25, and 15-6.
The following 7th graders stood out last night in serving: Jacee Rogers had a 100% serving percentage, Dana Tucker went 11/14 and Aubrey Yarick was 6/7 in serving.
The 8th grade B Team lost in two sets with the scores of 24-26 and 12-25. Greycyn Brown had a 100% serving 13/13 serves with 4 aces for the night.Kylee Comstock led the team in attacks with 4 Kills.
The 8th grade A Team won in 3 sets with the scores of 27-25, 16-25 and 15-8. Kinsley Brown led the A team in serving with 15/18 serves with 9 aces. Addie Feagins led the A team in passing.
Design Review Board meeting minutes on the signage dimensions at 124 E. Wall Street.
Added:
#1 under Consideration: Consideration to adopt Code of Procedures for the Commission of the City of Fort Scott.
#6 – Approval of Airport Storage Facility Lease Agreement and Hangar Lease Agreement – Heinen Brothers Agra Services, Inc.
I. ROLL CALL:
K. ALLEN P. ALLEN NICHOLS WATTS MITCHELL
II. FLAG SALUTE:
III. INVOCATION: Pastor (to be announced)
IV. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS:
V. CONSENT AGENDA:
Approval of minutes of the regular meeting of August 18th, 2020 and special meeting of August 20th, 2020.
Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1270-A totaling $1,554,358.29.
Request to Pay #2 – Home Center Construction, Inc. – $29,232.00 – Water Treatment Plant Fire Damage
Request to Pay #3 – Home Center Construction, Inc. – $30,225.50 – Water Treatment Plant Fire Damage
Certificate of Appropriateness – Sign at 19 S. National – Structures by Margo
Certificate of Appropriateness – Sign at 124 E. Wall – H-Bar Suites – Hole in the Wall Liquor
Request to Pay – HDR Engineering, Inc. – River Intake Project – $6,394.38
July financials
VI. APPEARANCE/COMMENTS/PUBLIC HEARING:
APPEARANCE:
Anne Rawlins – Sewer Incident
B. CITIZEN COMMENTS (Concerning Items Not on Agenda – 5 minute limit per citizen)
C. PUBLIC HEARINGS/COMMENTS:
VII. CONSIDERATION:
Consideration to adopt Code of Procedures for the Commission of the City of Fort Scott
Report from City Attorney on Union Lofts project
Sale/Destruction of firearms
Furniture at First Source building
Skitch’s Hauling & Excavation Invoice – July port-a-potties – $3,335.50
Approval of Airport Storage Facility Lease Agreement and Hangar Lease Agreement – Heinen Brothers Agra Services, Inc.
VIII. COMMENTS:
Director Updates:
Commission:
City Attorney:
City Manager:
EXECUTIVE SESSION:
I MOVE THAT THE CITY COMMISSION RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THE RECESS IS THE DISCUSSION OF:
The statutory justification for the recess is:
K.S.A. 75-4319(b)(1) – to discuss matters of non-elected personnel;
K.S.A. 75-4319(b)(2) – consultation with the City Attorney on matters that would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship;
K.S.A. 75-4319(b)(3) – to discuss employer-employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the representative(s) of the public body or agency;
K.S.A. 75-4319(b)(4) – to discuss data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts, and individual proprietorships;
K.S.A. 75-4319(b)(6) – for the preliminary discussion of the acquisition of real property.
The Executive Session will be for _________ minutes long and the open meeting will resume at ___________ am/pm.
Ella and her brother, Carter Beth stain the tables for the Fort Scott High School courtyard project. Submitted photos.
Fort Scott High School Senior Ella Beth began a school project in her sophomore year that will benefit the school for years to come: a redesign of the high school’s courtyard.
The long-term project provided real-life business experience as well.
Fort Scott High School Courtyard Is Transformed
“I walked by the courtyard every day of my freshman year and was upset to learn that the space… was now used for nothing,” Beth said. “I decided that I wanted to bring the courtyard back to its former glory because I saw it as bursting with potential to be a place that promoted Tiger Pride and an opportunity for students to learn or relax outdoors.”
The courtyard is an open space enclosed by the high school academic classrooms.
It has been used for pep rallies, activity meetings and outdoor classes.
Project Because of Her Design Interest
Elle Beth, FSHS Senior. Photo by Kenny Felt Photography.
The project idea came because Beth is interested in interior design.
She and a classmate, Dawna Hudiberg, wanted to design some project and then implement their ideas.
” We brainstormed and came up with the idea of renovating the courtyard,” Beth said. “Dawna eventually decided to take on another project, but I really wanted to have an area that allowed for some outdoor time and a possible way to promote Tiger Pride and unity in our school. Mrs. Kemmerer then helped me to get started on the project my sophomore year.”
“She presented her project proposal to the FSHS Principal and Superintendent for approval early last Fall 2019,” Angie Kemmerer, FSHS Independent Study Class teacher, said.
The goal was to have the project completed in time for the FSHS All-School Reunion in June 2020, but the COVID-19 Pandemic halted work.
Beth began in the spring of 2018 to design the project, her new deadline is May 2021, before she graduates.
Real-World Experience
” I encouraged Ella to develop a project plan with her ideas as a way for her to gain real-world experience in an area that she was interested in,” Kemmerer said. “She wanted to do something that would benefit others. When she first asked me about the possibility of remodeling the courtyard, my response was ‘why not’? She did her research, developed a plan, created a budget, identified community resources, wrote grants, networked, created community buy-in, discovered the importance of sweat equity and stepped outside of her comfort zone. She learned that things don’t always go the way you plan, but where there is a will there is away.”
“She started raising money, mostly through writing grants, and contacting local alumni-owned businesses to help with different parts of the project last year,” Kemmerer said. “She has networked with different FSHS programs to help with specific areas of her redesign plan and is currently trying to raise funds to finish the project.”
A Collaborative Effort
The project has been a collaborative effort.
“The turf and labor to install it was donated by FSHS alum Joe Kerr,” Kemmerer said.
“FSHS Physical Education and construction trades students helped move and spread the turf fill for the installation.”
This was the area before the turf was put in place. Submitted photos.
FS Physical Education students helped with the turf segment of the Beth project. Submitted photos.The turf in place in the FSHS courtyard. Submitted photos.
“The funding for the concrete material came from the TIMKEN Community Grant and the labor was donated by RII Concrete Construction owned by FSHS alum Mike Rogers.”
“The eight tables and soon to be 45 benchtops are built by Mr. Lawerence’s construction trades students.”
“Legs for the 45 benches will be made by Mr. Parks ag program. The funding for the benches and tables came from the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation Grant and money set aside by USD234 for this project.”
The wall murals were designed by art students working under FSHS Art Teacher Ellen Kendrick.
“The aluminum panels for the murals were purchased with a grant from the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas.”
Mr. Feagin’s, FSMS Technology Teacher Mr. Feagins will help Ella complete the design and application of the murals to the panels, Kemmerer said.
“Ella received funds from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Healthy pathways grant to purchase outdoor activities like giant Jenga, chess, checkers, ping pong and more for students to enjoy during free time,” Kemmerer said.
“Raised gardens will be installed for use by Mr. Hudiburg’s life science classes. The ground will be regraded to prep it for new sod and proper drainage. The old concrete will be cleaned, sealed and stained to match the new stamped concrete.”
“FSHS alum Gina Shelton has helped connect her to grant opportunities and support with connecting with additional alumni.”
“FSHS alum Matt Casner helped Ella create a Facebook page that links to a Go Fund Me page to help raise funds to complete the project. Unfortunately, shortly after its launch, a global pandemic hit and she has not been able to reach her ultimate goal.”
Sun Shades Still Need Funding
The last big expense, which she is seeking additional funding for, is the sun shades.
“The biggest expense left for the redesign project is the installation of sun shades at a cost of $22,000,” Kemmerer said. “This will be the last phase of the project, if funding allows. A donor wall will be created when the project is finished to recognize everyone who contributed along the way.”
Checks can be made to USD234 with “courtyard project” in the memo, or send to Ella Beth at the high school, or her gofundme link: https://gf.me/u/yvikqm
The City of Fort Scott Administrative Office will be closed on Monday, September 7th, 2020 in observance of the Labor Day holiday. The offices will reopen on Tuesday, September 8th, 2020.
The City’s tree and brush dump site located on North Hill will also be closed on Saturday, September 5th, 2020 for the Labor Day holiday. It will be open again on Tuesday, September 8th, 2020 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
