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The P.EO. Program for Continuing Education was established in 1973 to provide need-based grants to women in the United States and Canada whose education has been interrupted and who find it necessary to return to school to complete a degree or certification that will improve their marketable skills for employment to support themselves and/or families.
Naomi is pursuing a Bachelor of Science Nursing Degree. She took prerequisite classes at Fort Scott Community College. She was awarded a $3,800 international award to assist her in pursuing her degree.
P.E.O., a philanthropic educational organization, has been celebrating women by helping women reach for the stars for more than 155 years. Since its inception in 1869, the nonprofit organization has helped more than 125,000 women pursue educational goals by providing approximately $432 million in grants, scholarships, awards and loans. The Sisterhood also owns and supports Cottey College. Through membership, the P.E.O. Sisterhood has brought together more than a half a million women in the U.S. and Canada who are passionate about helping women advance through education while supporting and motivating them. In addition to the educational philanthropies, the P.E.O. Sisterhood provides a framework of support and community for all members.
What started with a bond of friendship among seven women in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, is now one of the oldest women’s organizations in North America with close to 5,500 chapters. There are two chapters here in Fort Scott. To learn more about P.E.O., its powerful educational philanthropies and see stories of women who have benefited from the programs, visit peointernational.org. You can also join us at facebook.com/peointernational, and @PEOInternational on Instagram

I have great news! The Rural Community Partners Website is officially live!
Thanks to our Pittsburg State University Micro-Intern (funded through the Parker Dewey and the Kansas Department of Commerce), we have a BEAUTIFUL, user friendly website that clearly showcases our work and makes it easy for people to sign up for services, get involved, and connect with us. It’s all part of our effort to find, connect, and engage across our rural communities!!
Explore the site:
The home page is here: https://www.ruralcommunitypartners.org/
Community Local Health Equity Action Team Page: https://www.ruralcommunitypartners.org/programs/local-action-teams
Small Business and Entrepreneur Council Here: https://www.ruralcommunitypartners.org/programs/entrepreneur-council
RCP Executive Board Members: https://www.ruralcommunitypartners.org/programs/board-members
And to sign up for all kinds of support or services: https://www.ruralcommunitypartners.org/get-support
A few of the services offer to our rural communities:
We’re incredibly proud of this milestone and grateful to the partners who helped make it happen. Please take a look, share the site, and encourage individuals, businesses, and community partners to explore how they can connect with Rural Community Partners.
Thank you to everyone involved in making this happen!!
Jody Love
The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team, Inc.
Rural Community Partners
President and CEO
Office: 620-224-2563 Ext. 4
Cell: 620-215-2892
104 North National
Fort Scott, KS 66701

Late last year, the Fort Scott Public Library received notification it would receive a $10,000 gift in celebration of our country marking the 250th year since the Declaration of Independence was signed.
Currently, new additions from an American Library Association $20,000 grant last year are in the works for children of all ages.
“We have the new Shushbooth in and I have received the correct furniture, but am still waiting on just one piece for it to be complete,” she said. “The Shushbooth is a sound-deadening room where children can decompress with less stress. It is also where they can do therapy. When not in use for that purpose, the booth can be used by community members for study, job interviews, and telehealth. It is upstairs, next to the east window, so they can see the reading mural across the way and it is in the new study area. I have one more piece of furniture for the booth, and that will be done.It is available for patrons for limited use at this time.”

The staff is creating a new children’s area, teen area and maker space for the library.
Fort Scott Public Library Awarded $20,000 For Children’s Section

Unified School District 234
424 South Main
Fort Scott, KS 66701-2697
620-223-0800 Fax 620-223-2760
DESTRY BROWN
Superintendent
BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING
NEWS RELEASE
Monday, January 12, 2026
Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, January 12, 2026, for their regular monthly meeting at 424 S Main.
President David Stewart opened the meeting.
David Stewart welcomed new Board Members.
The board approved the official agenda, and the consent agenda as follows:
Board Minutes
12-08-25
Financials – Cash Flow Report
Check Register
Payroll – December 20, 2025 – $1,831,678.21
Activity Funds Accounts
USD 234 Gifts
Superintendent Destry Brown informed the Board on the new Tiger Academy. As of now there are five students enrolled and they are doing well. Mr. Brown reviewed the handbook and daily routine of the Academy.
Assistant Superintendent Terry Mayfield provided a shared document. Mr. Mayfield provided an update on the Preschool building, Wrestling Facility, and budget information.
Assistant Superintendent Zach Johnson updated the Board on testing scores over the last ten years. Staff was thanked for the improvement in results. There will be a Board planning meeting to be set up in February.
Special Education Director Tonya Barnes shared an update on state reports. The district scored 100% on the Indicator 12. Mrs. Barnes thanked the SPED staff for the hard work on these reports.
The Board approved the following:
Administration has updated and consolidated USD 234’s Human Resources Processes & Procedures to improve clarity, consistency, and fiscal stewardship related to staffing and hiring. The update formalizes vacancy review, centralizes HR coordination, and standardizes onboarding and exit procedures, while preserving existing board authority and hiring practices.
There were none present for public forum.
The Board went into an executive session for personnel matters.
President David Stewart adjourned the meeting.
PERSONNEL REPORT – APPROVED
January 12, 2026
RESIGNATIONS/TERMINATIONS/RETIREMENTS:
Able, Andrew – Supplemental Resignation – Assistant Speech Coach – Middle School
Black, Staci – Retirement – Business Teacher – Middle School – end of 2025-26 school year
Burton, Toni – Termination – Teacher’s Aide – Middle School
Dotson, Destiny – Resignation – Paraprofessional – Eugene Ware
Guss, Stewart – Retirement – Bus Driver
Harper, Amy – Resignation – Math Teacher – High School – end of 2025-26 school year
Lail, Brandon – Resignation – Paraprofessional – Winfield Scott
Robertson, Tom – Supplemental Resignation – Head Boys Golf Coach – High School
Shaw, Mike – Termination – Custodian – Eugene Ware
Young, Annie – Resignation – Paraprofessional – Winfield Scott
Leave of Absence:
Engstrom, Lauren – Middle School – Jan 19 through April 7
TRANSFER:
Barnes, Jon – Supplemental – Assistant Boys Golf Coach to Head Boys Golf Coach – High School
Ruggero, Lucretia – Paraprofessional to ISS Supervisor – High School
EMPLOYMENT:
Classified Recommendations for 2025-26 School year:
Harper, Melonie – Paraprofessional – Winfield Scott
Ingraham, Elizabeth – Paraprofessional – Winfield Scott
Lemcke, Hailey – Paraprofessional – High School
VanBuskirk, Don – Student Support – Middle School
Supplemental Recommendations for the 2025-26 school year:
Collins, Clayton – Supplemental – Assistant Baseball Coach – High School
Nelson, Andrew – Supplemental – Academic Team – Winfield Scott
Ruggero, Lucretia – Supplemental – Assistant Debate & Forensics – High School
The Fort Scott High School Thespian Troupe #7365 brought home a number of honors from the 2026 Kansas Thespian Festival (KTF).
Students attended the festival with nearly 2,000 other students from across the state on Jan. 8-10 at the Century II Performing Arts and Convention Center in Wichita.
Sixteen students performed in the Thespy individual events competition with a record number of FSHS students receiving Superior ratings and qualifying to compete at the International Thespian Festival at Indiana University on June 21-26. Superior achievers include senior Levi Fairchild in both Duet Acting and Musical Solo, senior Junie Fisher – Musical Solo, senior Lily Brown – Short Film, senior Grace Walker – Stage Management, junior Ava Johnson – Solo Acting, junior Clark Uttinger – Duet Acting, and sophomore Gianna Gorman – Musical Solo.
“Kansas Thespian Festival has always been so fun and is always a great reminder of why I love theater,” Fisher said. “This year’s festival was truly a great way to close out my senior year!”
The troupe received the Gold Honor Troupe Award, the highest level of achievement for Thespian troupes in Kansas, based on performances, community, outreach, advocacy, and service from the past school year.
The Advanced Drama class performed the one-act play “When Bad Things Happen to Good Actors” by Ian McWethy and Jason Pizzarello. The troupe also presented a Lobby Display featuring photos and events from the past school year.
FSHS State Thespian Festival Board Members, senior Chris Newman and Juniors Ava Johnson and Allie Wards helped organize the festival as leaders.
“KTF taught me, challenged me, and reminded me why theatre matters so much to me. It’s not just something I love to do, it’s something that’s continuously changing my life,” said Wards.
FSHS Theatre Director Angie Bin taught a workshop entitled “From Burnout to Balance: Wellness for Theatre Teachers” and Bin as well as Assistant Theatre Directors Mesa Jones and Abby Starkey judged Thespy events performing at the festival. Bin, a member of the Kansas State Festival Board, also led the Competitive Improv Event and the Honor Troupe competition.
Students participated in a variety of workshops and classes throughout the festival learning about acting, technical theatre, dance, playwriting, and other theatre-related topics. Workshops were taught by theatre professionals from all over the country. Thespians also viewed mainstage and one-act productions from schools throughout the state. Students competed in events including Competitive Improv, Speed Charades, and Creative Costuming. Attendees also had the opportunity to meet with college theatre programs from across the country.
Brown said, “At KTF, I learned to embrace failure, and to use failure to my advantage, whether it be humorous or serious, I can use my failures as a way to bring life to my performances. In fact, failure is no longer a word I use to describe mishaps in my performances anymore, now I call them moments of opportunity.”
Sophomore Theodore Bowman added, “Going to KTF is more than an experience, it’s a bonding adventure full of new friends, incredible workshops, lots of laughs, and mind-blowing performances. KTF isn’t a theatre-filled field trip, it’s a weekend where emotions are inevitable, friends are everywhere, laughing is plenty, and memories are made.”
FSHS Theatre’s next event is auditions for Clue High School Edition on Jan. 12 and 13 with performances on March 5-7, 2026.
Photos and information about Troupe #7365 can be found at the Fort Scott High School Thespians Facebook page.
# # #
Contact: Angie Bin, angela.bin@usd234.org, 620-719-9622.
International Thespian Festival qualifiers from left to right: Top – Clark Uttinger, Levi Fairchild, Lily Brown. Bottom – Ava Johnson, Junie Fisher, Gianna Gorman, Grace Walker.

Fort Scott High School Thespians attending the Kansas Thespian Festival from left to right: Top – Junie Fisher, Chris Newman, Clark Uttinger, Tray Maloun, Aimee Hardwick, Levi Fairchild, Tyffani Bolden, Michael Stevenson II. Middle – Abby Starkey, Theodore Bowman, Emma Marshall, Isis Patton, Lily Brown, Bonnie Esgar, Angie Bin. Bottom – Mesa Jones, Ava Johnson, Gianna Gorman, Allie Wards, Grace Walker, Landon McDaniel, Trinity Leihsing.

FSHS students compete in the Creative Costuming event: (from left to right) Isis Patton, Ava Johnson, Grace Walker.
Chris Newman and Ava Johnson in the one-act play “When Bad Things Happen To Good Actors.”
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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
January 12, 2026 – 5:30 P.M.
AGENDA PUBLIC
1.0 Call Meeting to Order David Stewart, President
2.0 Flag Salute
3.0 Approval of the Official Agenda (Action Item)
4.0 Approval of the Consent Agenda (Action Item)
4.1 Board Minutes
12-08-25
4.2 Financials – Cash Flow Report
4.3 Check Register
4.4 Payroll – December 20, 2025 – $1,831,678.21
4.5 Activity Funds Accounts
4.6 USD 234 Gifts
5.0 Leadership Reports (Information/Discussion Item)
5.1 Superintendent’s Report
5.2 Assistant Superintendent’s Report (Zach)
5.3 Assistant Superintendent’s Report (Terry)
5.4 Special Education Director’s Report (Tonya)
6.0 New Business
6.1 Resolution 25-14 To Establish Regular Board Meetings 2026 (Action)
6.2 Resolution 25-15 To Establish Election of School Board Officers (Action)
6.3 Human Resources Processes & Procedures (Information only) Presentation
7.0 Public Forum
8.0 Other Business – Personnel Matters – Time __________
8.1 Enter Executive Session – Personnel Matters (Action Item)
8.2 Exit Executive Session – _______ (Time)
9.0 Adjourn Meeting _____ (Time) David Stewart, President
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Cool temperatures and wind did not deter several hundred people from attending the 2025 Wreaths Across America ceremony and laying of wreaths on December 13 at Fort Scott National Cemetery. Volunteers were able to place a remembrance wreath on each grave at the cemetery, thanks to the donations and sponsorships for the 2025 campaign.
At the ceremony, Diann Tucker, location coordinator, announced that there is a matching funds campaign for all donations received by December 31, 2025, to help sponsor wreaths for the 2026 Wreaths Across America event that will be held December 19, 2026. Wreaths are still $17.00 each. You can leave your sponsorship donation at Stewart Realty Co., 1707 S. National, Fort Scott, or call the office (620-223-6700) to use a debit or credit card. Sponsoring during the “match campaign” allows your sponsorship dollars to DOUBLE.
Tucker said they also want to thank all of the volunteers who showed up early to station boxes throughout the cemetery Saturday morning to make it easier for the wreaths to be placed. If you have not yet driven through the cemetery to see the result of the wreaths effort, Tucker invites you to do that. Wreaths will remain at the cemetery until the middle of January when they will be removed and retired.