Commerce Encourages Jobseekers to Attend Year’s First Statewide Virtual Job Fair
TOPEKA – Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland encourages jobseekers and employers searching for talent to take part in the first Virtual Statewide Job Fair of the year. Hosted by KANSASWORKS, the job fair will be from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 21.
“Our state continues to see a surge in job growth as companies look to expand in Kansas,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “There are jobs available for everyone that is looking, and our KANSASWORKS team is here to assist all Kansans find employment opportunities at every skill level.”
The Virtual Statewide Job Fair portal features helpful information such as a jobseeker training video, a list of participating employers and channels for attendees to register and log in. Jobseekers are encouraged to dress professionally, as employers may request to engage in a video interview.
Candidates can participate through any digital device. Any individual with a disability may request accommodations by contacting their nearest workforce center at (877) 509-6757 prior to the event.
Registration is required to participate in virtual job fairs, regardless of previous participation. To register, click here.
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. State employment opportunities can be found at jobs.ks.gov.
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. Through Commerce’s project successes, Kansas was awarded Area Development Magazine’s prestigious Gold Shovel award in 2021, 2022 and 2023, and was awarded the 2021 and 2022 Governor’s Cup by Site Selection Magazine.
Tiger Team Members of the Month was the Fort Scott SPED Department Speech Team.
Speech Team – Danette Popp, Christie Smith, Afton Hyer, Liz Underwood, Jodi Brown Michelle Lisica, Mikiah Anderson, Shelly Yocham
Liz Underwood, Winfield Scott, Michelle Lisica, Eugene Ware, and Shelly Yocham, Eugene Ware, are in their first year as Speech Paras for the district. Mikiah Anderson is in her third year with Preschool.
Afton Hyer, Winfield Scott, has been Speech Therapist for the district the last six years and a total of twelve years.
Christie Smith, Eugene Ware, is in her second year with USD 234 and twenty-five years altogether.
Danette Popp, Preschool, has been with the district for twenty-six years and a Speech Therapist for thirty years.
Jodi Brown just started part time with Fort Scott this year and a Speech Therapist for the last twenty years.
Attending through Zoom was Tessa Alumbaugh, she is in her first year with Fort Scott as a Tele-therapist and has been a Speech Therapist for almost eleven years.
Mrs. Barnes recognized each of the team by congratulating them for being flexible and always willing to do whatever it takes to help and support the students.
Mrs. Barnes also recognized three Winfield Scott Paraprofessionals, Rachel Pommier, Francis Torres, and Laurie Bollinger. Mr. Garzone and teachers at Winfield Scott spoke very highly of these three Paras. They are positive and willing to work hard and be available for the students.
Chris Garzone – Assistant Principal Laurie Bollinger, Francis Torres, Rachel Pommier – Winfield Scott Paras
Superintendent Destry Brown reported about the Preschool grant that the district did not receive, but that we will apply for the next round soon. Several students at the High School have requested to start Zero Reasons Why program which is to help “remove the stigma of mental health and prevent teen suicide.” These students are extremely excited to get this started in our District. Mr. Brown also spoke out the KSDE Audit that was finished this last week.
Tonya Barnes, Special Education Director, gave a summary of the Speech team and their caseloads. She reported on upcoming training that she will be involved with during the end of this month. Also, Mrs. Barnes gave information on Medicaid reimbursements and deadlines for those reports.
Travis Laver, School Finance Consultant through Greenbush, came to update the Board on the District Finances. He explained about Senate Bill 386 that could potentially effect Fort Scott School District. Also, he was able to give guidance on Preschool enrollment and other options for the district. Travis thanked the district for being helpful and easy to work with during this time. He also is waiting for results from the KSDE audit to know final numbers.
Robin Button, Food Service Director, presented to the Board information about the Free Lunch Program that is District Wide this year. We have seen an increase in student participation in most buildings. She was able to explain the process for school reimbursement from various programs.
Superintendent Brown went over the contract from Hight Jackson for the remodel of the Preschool Building. Going forward the district will be able to do dirt and drainage work. An estimate of this summer was given before the final drawings from the architect would be completed.
As a discussion item, Superintendent Brown brought to the Board the rough draft of a new cell phone policy to be implemented. They were provided with a list of what that policy could potentially look like in the future, including times, devices, as well as disciplinary actions. There will be further discussion on this policy.
The board approved the following items:
Hight Jackson Fort Scott Preschool Contract
The board went into an executive session for personnel matters.
President Stewart adjourned the meeting.
PERSONNEL REPORT – APPROVED EMPLOYMENT
February 12, 2024
RESIGNATIONS/TERMINATIONS/RETIREMENTS:
Bergmann, Mark – Resignation – English Teacher – High School
Crapson, Sydney – Resignation – 1st Grade Teacher – Winfield Scott
Hall, Dakota – Resignation – Assistant Wrestling Coach
Yarick, Gail – Resignation – Business Manager
TRANSFERS/REASSIGNMENTS/LEAVE OF ABSENCE:
For the 2023-24 school year:
Lee, Becky – From Food Service to Full – Time Paraprofessional – Winfield Scott
EMPLOYMENT:
Certified Recommendations for the 2023-24 school year:
Cosens, Jayci – 7th Grade Social Studies – Middle School 2024-25
Hampton, Breanna – 6th Grade ELA – Middle School 2024-25
Hastings, Nicolette – Adaptive Special Education Teacher – High School – 2024-25
Oxholm, Chris – Adaptive Special Education Teacher – High School – 2024-25
Payne, Melissa – 6th Grade ELA – Middle School -2024-25
Classified Recommendations for the 2023-24 school year:
Black, Carla – Part Time Paraprofessional – High School
Claypool, Kaitlyn – Paraprofessional – Eugene Ware
Endicott, Jencyn – Paraprofessional – Winfield Scott
Graham, Jenna – Paraprofessional – Middle School
Uhler, Laurie – Paraprofessional – Middle School
Supplemental Recommendations for the 2023-24 school year:
Jones, Madi – Assistant Track Coach – High School
Myers, Brent – Assistant Track Coach – High School
Robertson, Tom – Head Boys Golf Coach FSHS
The Board moved to extend Administrator Contracts as presented.
The Budget starts with the Governor proposing spending for departments and agencies. The legislature then has hearings and considers the requests with minimal information. Some states like Ohio, will work on budgets for months without working on any other legislation. That does not happen in Kansas. While working on all other topics of bills, legislators also work on the budget. The Governor’s proposed budget is presented the day after the State of the State speech, which is usually the second or third week of session. This process needs to be changed so that legislators have more information and more time to research and consider the spending.
The Senate has the standing committees look at the corresponding departments budget. When working on the Department of Commerce budget, a motion was made to give $28 million of Kansas taxpayer money for the World Cup Soccer Tournament coming to Chiefs stadium. The money will go to a non-profit with no guard-rails on how the money will be spent. The World Cup will have teams practicing in Kansas, some could be as far away as Manhattan. A few of us did not support this spending but it passed out of committee. I did make a successful motion to cut Public Broadcast System (PBS) funding by 10% because the taxpayer funded station pushes their political agenda using tax dollars. PBS has some good programs on cooking, sewing, travel, history, and many other topics. However, a couple of the PBS stations in Kansas choose to push a political agenda without showing both sides of an issue. If they choose to do so tax dollars should not be funding it.
Proposed Pay Increases for the legislature has made national news. It’s a massive increase that myself and others are trying to block. A commission was formed and proposed the increase. I understand there needs to be some increase so that we get legislators from different walks of life who can serve. But the commission’s proposal is over a 90% increase in one year. If the legislature doesn’t take action, the increase goes into effect next year. There was an attempt to go around leadership by pulling the resolution to block the increase out of committee and force a debate on the Senate floor. It needed 24 votes but only received 21.
Tax Cuts were vetoed by the Governor because she refused to sign into law tax policy in CCR 2284 that she calls a “reckless flat tax experiment, taking us back to Brownback years”. How can this be true when several states have this policy, including Colorado, Michigan, Kentucky, North Carolina, Utah, and others? “North Dakota looks to follow lead of Idaho, Georgia, Arizona, and Mississippi, becoming [the] nation’s 24th flat tax state,” according to a 9/2/22 Forbes article, “More States To Join The Flat Tax Club.” Let’s be clear, a flat tax is what people are calling a single rate and that is what is being proposed in Kansas. More accurately, Kansas could be considered a dual rate proposal because low income amounts will not be taxed at all. The Governor is wrong that CCR 2284 would be a “failed experiment”. There are red and blue states that have adopted a single rate income tax. Kansas would tax Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) at 5.25 after subtracting $12,300 ($6150 for individual). This subtraction makes it a tax cut for all. It is proven policy, not reckless, not an experiment, and would not break the state – there is over $3 billion in the state coffers.
Remember, over 341,000 low income filers would pay $0 state income tax, Social Security would be exempt from state income tax, there are inflation busters on income taxes and homeowners’ property taxes. Hopefully legislators from all parties will vote for the veto override and put the people of Kansas above politics.
It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your 12th District State Senator.
The map is of northwest Bourbon County. This is the possible site of the Pike Reservoir Project. Taken from the county’s website. According to the bill that was introduced on February 9, 2024, the site will be: beginning at the intersection of Highway 3 and Highway 65; east along Highway 65 to 95th Street; north along 95th Street to the Linn county line; west along the Linn county line to Highway 3; south along Highway 3 to the intersection of Highway 3 and Highway 65.The red rectangle shows the area being proposed, based on the description.
A bill was introduced on February 9 in the Kansas Legislature that could impact Bourbon County, especially those living in the northwest part of the county.
Senate Bill 497 reads that it is an act concerning economic development; establishing the Pike Reservoir Project District Act; providing for the construction of a dam and a lake in Bourbon County, residential and commercial property development, and water resource development; authorizing the establishment of a governing board for the project and the establishment of real property tax and sales tax increment financing districts to finance the project costs; creating the Pike Reservoir District sales tax fund and the Pike Reservoir District sales tax refund fund; authorizing the creation of a special district fund to pay project costs; authorize the issuance of special obligation bonds and pay-as-you-go financing to pay project costs.
On February 12, the bill was referred to the Kansas Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Senator Robert Olson, who worked with the Senate Committee on Federal and State Affairs on the project, spoke with fortscott.biz about the project.
Senator Robert Olson’s photo was taken from the Kansas Legislature website.
“It was just introduced and is a long process,” Olson said. “This is the very first step. To build that reservoir takes five to 10 years.”
State and county leaders met to discuss the matter several years ago, Olson said.
“Lynn Oharah, who was a Bourbon County Commissioner at the time was pitching that,” Olson said. Senator Tim Shallenberger introduced the bill and others were a part of the discussion, he said.
“I like the concept, especially in smaller counties,” Olson said. “We need the water for agriculture and public consumption. Your (Bourbon County) water situation was pretty bad (because of drought).”
“This will improve your water supply,” Olson said.
The project proposes an approximately eight-mile lake in northwest Bourbon County, with a 68-foot-long dam.
The location is described as beginning at the intersection of Highway 3 and Highway 65; east along Highway 65 to 95th Street; north along 95th Street to the Linn county line; west along the Linn county line to Highway 3; south along Highway 3 to the intersection of Highway 3 and Highway 65.
Olson envisions it will be like Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri, he said.
“People living in big weekend homes, and if houses are built it can bring lower property taxes (for Bourbon County property owners),” he said.
One part of the long process of the project is public comment, he said.
The reservoir is named after Lieutenant Zebulon Pike who went through the area in the early 1800s.
TOPEKA – The 2024 Kansas KidWind Challenge kicks off this week with more teams expected to participate than ever before. The annual event has grown from one regional challenge with 14 teams in 2016 to six regional events with an anticipated total of 95 teams from 48 schools competing this year.
The first regional challenge will be held in Hutchinson on Tuesday, February 13 with 11 schools participating. Five more regional events will be held in Manhattan, Burlington, Dodge City, Colby and Overland Park. All events are open to the public. Times and locations are available here.
Student teams work together to design, build and test a wind turbine using the materials of their choice. We’ve seen turbine blades made with everything from soda cans to vinyl records – no two look alike. Each team’s turbine will be put to the test in a 48″ × 48″ wind tunnel at a wind speed of approximately 3.0 meters/second (6.7 miles/hour).
Students compete by age categories: 4th – 8th grade or 9th – 12th grade. Scoring is based on turbine performance, a knowledge quiz, a presentation to judges where the team explains its design process, and an instant challenge. The winning teams at regional events advance to the state finals on April 13 in Salina. State winners are invited to the national competition in Minneapolis, MN. Last year two Kansas teams earned national titles.
“KidWind is a fantastic hands-on opportunity that allows students to tinker and experiment with wind turbine designs. They experience the thrill of scientific discovery as their designs are validated through performance testing, and they hone their public-speaking skills as they present their turbine design to a panel of judges,” explained David Carter, Director of the Kansas Energy Program at K-State Engineering Extension.
Kansas KidWind is an energy-related STEM education event from the Kansas Corporation Commission and K-State Engineering Extension made possible by a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy.
New screen for X-Linked Adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) added.
TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s (KDHE) Kansas Newborn Screening Program (KS-NBS) began screening for X-Linked Adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) at the start of the month. The move aligns with the Recommended Uniform Screening Panel, which is the national guideline for newborn screening.
“We are very excited to be able to add testing for X-ALD to our screening process,” Janet Stanek, KDHE Secretary, said. “This will have a direct and positive impact on the health and future of our youngest Kansans.”
Nearly 35,000 Kansas babies receive the newborn screening shortly after birth each year. With one small blood sample, 33 metabolic and genetic conditions can be detected. Early diagnosis and entry into treatment has demonstrated evidence of better health outcomes for children. Many of the conditions on the screening panel are not detectable at birth or during routine follow-up visits.
According to multiple sources, it is estimated that one out of every 15,000 newborns is diagnosed with X-ALD. X-ALD is a disease that affects the nervous system and the adrenal cortex. If untreated, X-ALD can impact learning and behavior in boys, with onset typically occurring between the ages of 4 and 10.
The KS-NBS strives to protect and improve the health of all newborns in Kansas. Visit kdhe.ks.gov/NewbornScreening to learn more about the program. More information on tests included in newborn screenings can be found at Babys First Test. For specific information on X-ALD, visit ALD Parents Guide.
KDOT’s Cost Share Program applications being accepted
The Kansas Department of Transportation is now accepting applications for the spring 2024 round of the agency’s Cost Share Program. Nearly $140 million has been given to Kansas communities since the Cost Share Program began in 2019.
The Cost Share Program provides financial assistance to local entities for construction projects that improve safety, leverage state funds to increase total transportation investment and help both rural and urban areas of the state improve the transportation system. This is the 10th round of projects to receive funding.
“Cost Share funding benefits communities of all sizes by helping needed transportation projects become reality,” said Michelle Needham, KDOT Economic Development Programs Manager. “This program provides urban and rural areas with numerous ways to improve transportation, generate economic growth and create job opportunities.”
An informational webinar on the program will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 20, at 10 a.m. The application process will be discussed, and attendees can ask questions. To register for the webinar, go to: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_wrPjPSOcQzSMRF4cRYXtvw.
All transportation projects are eligible, including roadway (on and off the state system), rail, airport, bicycle/pedestrian and public transit. Candidate projects should include investments that provide transportation benefits and are not eligible for other KDOT programs. This round of grant funding has an overall budget of $9 million, with a maximum awarded amount of $1 million per project.
The deadline for applications is March 21. Information and the application link are on KDOT’s website – http://www.ksdot.org/CostShare/CostShareProgram.asp. Applications must be completed online, and a sample PDF application will be available for preview.
Kansas Tourism Announces Attraction Development Grants Spring Applications Open
TOPEKA – Kansas Tourism has announced the spring round of applications are open for the Tourism Attraction Development Grant Program. Attraction Development Grants are designed to assist in the development of sustainable travel experiences by developing new tourism attractions or enhancing existing attractions that will spur new visitation and increase visitor spending. A total of $500,000 will be granted during this round. Applications are due by April 1, 2024.
“Tourism is a key element to invigorating local economies,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “Through strategic investments in developing new tourism opportunities, we create jobs and increase a community’s appeal as a place to live and do business.”
The goals of the Attraction Development Grants are to spur economic growth, increase visitation to the state, enhance the visitor experience and improve quality of life.
“The development of new attractions offers fresh avenues for exploration and discovery,” Kansas Tourism Director Bridgette Jobe said. “This is one way we can encourage visitors to come back over and over to continually uncover more about Kansas each time they visit.”
For more information about the Attraction Development Grants, click here, or contact Kansas Tourism Grant Program Manager Carrie Doud here.
For a full list of grants offered by the Kansas Department of Commerce, click here.
About Kansas Tourism:
The mission of Kansas Tourism is to inspire travel to and throughout Kansas to maximize the positive impacts that tourism has on our state and local communities. Kansas Tourism works hand in hand with other Commerce community programs to elevate and promote Kansas as a tourist destination. Kansas Tourism oversees all tourism marketing and PR for the state, produces travel publications and advertising, manages state Travel Information Centers, manages both the Kansas By-ways program and the Kansas Agritourism program, approves tourist signage applications, produces the KANSAS! Magazine, and provides financial and educational support to the tourism industry in Kansas through grants, education, and support.
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. Through Commerce’s project successes, Kansas was awarded Area Development Magazine’s prestigious Gold Shovel award in 2021, 2022 and 2023, and was awarded the 2021 and 2022 Governor’s Cup by Site Selection Magazine.
