Category Archives: Fort Scott

Fort Scott, Government, Schools

USD 234 Board of Education Press Release From the August 7 Meeting

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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

NEWS RELEASE

Monday, August 7, 2023

 

Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, August 7, 2023, for a special board meeting at the board office.

 

Vice-President James Wood opened the meeting.

 

Tonya Barnes, Special Education Director, presented an updated contract with No Limits Rehabilitation Inc., for physical therapy services.  The board heard from building administrators regarding school handbooks.

 

Superintendent Destry Brown and Gina Shelton, Finance Director, presented the 2023-24 budget.  Dalaina Smith, Assistant Superintendent, presented the Building Needs Assessment as part of the budget process.

 

The board approved the following items:

  • Contract with No Limits Rehabilitation Inc. for the 2023-24 school year
  • School and Activity Handbooks for the 2023-24 school year
  • Personnel Report as follows
  • The board did not accept the resignation of Caitlin Shrewsbury – Eugene Ware Elementary 3rd Grade Teacher

 

The board went into two executive sessions for personnel matters.

 

Vice-President Wood adjourned the meeting.

 

 

PERSONNEL REPORT – APPROVED EMPLOYMENT

August 7, 2023

 

RESIGNATIONS/TERMINATIONS/RETIREMENTS:

  • Abati, Sarah – Resignation – Fort Scott High School Assistant Cheer Coach
  • Reinbolt, Katren – Fort Scott High School Assistant Track Coach and Assistant Cross Country Coach

 

TRANSFERS/REASSIGNMENTS:

For the 2023-24 school year:

Certified:

  • Anderson, Anna – Transfer from Eugene Ware Focus Room Teacher to Eugene Ware Special Education Teacher

 

EMPLOYMENT:

Certified Recommendations for the 2023-24 school year:

  • Garzone, Laura – Fort Scott Middle School English Teacher – through first semester
  • Self, Karen – Fort Scott High School English Teacher

 

Classified Recommendations for the 2023-24 school year:

  • Estes, Thomas – Fort Scott Middle School Custodian – starting 08/07/23
  • Guss, Jordan – Eugene Ware Elementary Paraprofessional
  • Hardwick, Lauren – Fort Scott High School Paraprofessional
  • Haynes, Tonya – Eugene Ware Elementary Paraprofessional
  • Large, Lahanna – Winfield Scott Elementary Paraprofessional
  • Michael, Dariane – Eugene Ware Elementary Paraprofessional
  • O’Bryan, Carolina – Fort Scott Middle School Paraprofessional
  • Palmer, Lana – Preschool Van Driver – 5.5 hours
  • Thurston, Erin – Eugene Ware Elementary Paraprofessional

 

Supplemental Recommendations for the 2023-24 school year:

  • Farrington, Jannah – DLM Coordinator
  • Feagins, Adam – Fort Scott Middle School Detention
  • Feeback, Brennen – Fort Scott High School Assistant Track Coach
  • Gorman, Krista – Fort Scott Middle School Testing Coordinator
  • Gorman, Krista – Fort Scott High School Testing Coordinator
  • Gulager, Lindsey – Winfield Scott PDC
  • Harney, Joel – Fort Scott Middle School Assistant Boys and Girls Basketball Coach
  • Laubenstein, Michelle – CTE Coordinator
  • Martin, Paul – Fort Scott Middle School Boys Basketball Coach
  • Mayberry, Polly – District ESOL Coordinator
  • Mix, Marci – Eugene Ware Testing Coordinator
  • Rogers, Jamie – Fort Scott High School PDC
  • Travis, Hayden – Eugene Ware Elementary Art Show
  • FSHS Guiding Coalition Members
  • FSMS Guiding Coalition Members

 

Bourbon County, Fort Scott

  Fort Scott Area Community Foundation Opens Annual Grant Process

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The Fort Scott Area Community Foundation (FSACF) is now accepting applications for the 2023 General Funds Grant program.  Applications will be accepted through August 31, 2023.

The mission of FSACF is to serve the region by encouraging charitable giving benefiting the common good and improving the quality of life. The Foundation is committed to making a making a meaningful contribution in the areas of civic improvements, arts and humanities, health, education, human and social services, and the conservation and preservation of cultural and environmental resources.

Grant funds are available to local 501(c)(3) public charities, schools, government agencies, and religious institutions.  The Foundation considers proposals based on how they improve the quality of life for residents, and is particularly interested in projects that are sustainable in the future. Collaborative projects are strongly encouraged.

In 2022, the Foundation awarded $53,536 to 26 non-profit recipients through its General Funds Grant cycle. Projects in Fort Scott, Mapleton and Uniontown received funding.  A history of funded projects can be viewed at https://fsacf.com.

Interested organizations should submit their grant application through the online portal.  The link to the portal can be found on the FSACF website, or at this link: https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=southeastkansas .

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Fort Scott, Schools

U234 Special Meeting Agenda for August 7

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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 SPECIAL MEETING

AUGUST 7, 2023 – 5:30 P.M.

AGENDA SUMMARY PUBLIC

 

1.0       Call Meeting to Order                                  James Wood, Vice-President

 

2.0       Flag Salute

 

3.0       No Limits Rehabilitation Inc. Contract for Physical Therapy Services (Action Item)

 

4.0       Handbooks for the 2023-24 school year (Action Item)

 

5.0       Presentation of 2023-24 Budget and Needs Assessment (Discussion Item)

 

6.0       Other Business – Personnel Matters

6.1       Enter Executive Session – Personnel Matters (Action Item)

6.2       Exit Executive Session

6.3       Approval of Personnel Report (Action Item)

6.4       Approval of Personnel Report (Action Item)

 

7.0       Adjourn Meeting

                       

Bourbon County, Fort Scott

Understanding Poverty: Poverty Paradigm, August 12

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 CORE Community Bourbon County is sponsoring a poverty simulation event  on August 12 at 4 p.m. at the Fort Scott Middle School.
The Poverty Paradigm’s purpose: helping the community understand poverty.

“The mission of CORE Community Bourbon County is to overcome poverty in Bourbon County,” Jennifer Michaud, one of the advisory board members said. “Decreasing poverty will result in a better quality of life for our citizens and a healthier and more vibrant community.”

Jennifer Michaud. Submitted photo.

“We are bringing the Poverty Paradigm to town because we can’t begin to help our citizens overcome poverty if we do not understand it,” Michaud said.  “The Poverty Paradigm is a simulation that will allow the participants to understand what it is like to live in poverty.  By understanding poverty, we can then work with those who live it to empower them to overcome it as a community.”

“The target audience is ANYONE who would like to learn more about poverty in Bourbon County and how to overcome it,” Michaud said.  “This includes business leaders, educators, social workers, civic-minded individuals, faith communities, health care workers. In addition, this is for anyone who currently lives in poverty who is interested in overcoming it.”
Michaud is an educator herself, who teaches Spanish at  Fort Scott High School.
  ALL are invited and welcome.

The cost is $10 to participate.

“However, if individuals want to participate, but cannot afford the $10, then they can contact me directly.  We do NOT want cost to be prohibitive!” she said.

To contact Michaud: phone:  785-230-7010 or email
[email protected]
To learn more:
Fort Scott, Government

FS City Commission To Consider Applying For the Certified Local Government Program

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Friday, August 11 at 5 p.m at city hall, the Fort Scott City Commission will discuss the idea of Fort Scott considering the option of applying to the Certified Local Government Program as presented to the Design Review Board and the City Commission by Mayor Matthew Wells.

The Certified Local government (CLG) program is designed to promote the preservation of prehistoric and historic sites and districts by establishing a partnership between the local government on behalf of the State of Kansas and the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), a division of the Kansas Historical Society.

Katrina Ringler, Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer, and Director of Cultural Resources Division of the Kansas Historical Society will be present at the meeting to answer questions.

 

Please share with anyone who might be interested in learning more about this program and participate in the discussion of this proposal for the City.

 

Further information that was presented at the City Commission meeting can be found at http://www.fscity.org/AgendaCenter

 

An announcement will be posted on Facebook as well.

Bourbon County, Fort Scott, Schools, Youth

Host Families For International Students Are Needed in Bourbon County

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School is just around the corner, and I have an opportunity to make this year EXTRA SPECIAL for your family. FLAG International is seeking host families for international exchange students in Fort Scott and the surrounding area.

There are hundreds of students from counties around the world who are waiting for host families in the US to say “Yes!” to the opportunity to be their family for the 2023-2024 school year! Would YOU be a HERO for these students? They have been anxiously waiting to hear who their host family will be so they can start a connection with them before they arrive.
Not ready to host the whole school year? That’s ok! Would you consider being a welcome family for 5 weeks while we continue to seek them a permanent placement?
Find out how adding a bonus family member ​from the other side of the planet will grow your HEART and make this year EXTRA special for your family.
Let us match you with a student that shares common interests with you and your family – athletics, arts and lifestyle!

Ask me for more information! You can email me at [email protected] or call or text 620-215-5494.

Fort Scott, Schools

New USD 234 Teachers: Woellhof, Fugate-Cate, Setina

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This is part of a series featuring the 20 new teachers in the Fort Scott School District.

School starts August 18.

Beckie Woellhof. Sumitted photo.
Beckie Woellhof will be a new 4th Grade math teacher at Eugene Ware Elementary in Fort Scott.
She has taught for 13 years.
Woellhof graduated from Pittsburg State University in 2004.
“I grew up in and around Fort Scott and have lived in this area for most of my life,” she said. “I had some wonderful teachers when I was younger and they inspired me to be a teacher.”
For Woellhof,  getting to know her students is the best thing about being a teacher.
For her, challenges of teaching include “Finding a good work/life balance. As an educator, it is hard to turn off my teacher brain. I am always looking for new and engaging ideas for my classroom or creating things for my classroom at home. My kids often get drafted to help me.”
She and husband, Edwin, have four children.
In her spare time she loves to read and spend time with family and friends, she said.
Kassie Fugate-Cate. Submitted photo.
Kassie Fugate Cate, 33, will be a new special education teacher for Winfield Scott Elementary School.
“This will be a new adventure for me,” she said. “I have been a part of the district in different ways for about six years now. I’ve taught at the college level for about seven years and was a substitute teacher for the district last year.”
“I’ve been teaching at the collegiate for a while and never thought I would want to teach in K-12 until I started subbing for the district,” she said. “I really enjoyed being in the classroom and watching the light bulb go off when they understood what they were struggling with. Also, my son Kendrick was my inspiration to go into special education. He is autistic and I have learned so much from him.”
For her, the best thing about teaching is “Seeing the kids light up about learning and understanding the concepts. Also, being someone they can trust, support them, and push them to succeed. Being in education is all about student success and I look forward to making that happen for all my students.”
Instruction isn’t a challenge for her.
“It’s making sure that I teach them in a way they can understand and enjoy,” she said. “Then of course the paperwork that comes with special education is a little intimidating, but I’ve always enjoyed writing so it will be fun.”
Cate obtained a bachelor’s from Pittsburg State University in 2014 in communication. Then received a masters in strategic communication from Liberty University in 2018. She is currently working on another masters in education focusing on curriculum, instruction, and special education, with completion next summer.
She currently resides in Pittsburg, but is searching for a place in Fort Scott.
“I’ve been happily married to my husband Stephan  for 11 years and we have two beautiful children, Kendrick, in 5th grade at Eugene Ware and Katerina in 3rd grade at Eugene Ware,” she said.
“I enjoy helping out in the community and my church (Faith Church of Kansas),” she said. “I enjoy leading the elementary Parent Teacher Organization as president, it keeps me busy. I like going to the movies with my family and spending time with friends. Definitely a Netflix and chill type of person.”
Ashlee Setina. Submitted photo.
Ashlee Setina is the new Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher at Fort Scott High School.
This is her 4th year of teaching.
She went to college at Fort Scott Community College then Pittsburg State University.
Setina was motivated to become an educator by her Family and Consumer Science Teacher, who encouraged her to teach “because of my love and passion to help others achieve their goals.”
The best thing about teaching for her is “When a student finally learns the information and gets it 100%,” she said.
Her greatest challenge is “Being a young teacher because I do not have a lot of experience.”
Setina’s hometown is Arma.
“I enjoy fishing and hunting in my free time,” she said. “I love to cook and sew as well.”