Category Archives: Government

Government, K-State Extension

Reunification Month For Families

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Governor Laura Kelly Signs Proclamation Recognizing Reunification Month

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today announced that, to recognize Kansans’ continuous efforts to strengthen families and communities, she has proclaimed June as Reunification Month in Kansas.

“All Kansas kids deserve a permanent, loving home,” Governor Kelly said. “This Reunification Month, I ask Kansans to join me in thanking our welfare agencies, courts, schools, businesses, individuals, and all those who put in the work to reunite the children in our foster care systems with their families.”

The proclamation states that reunification with their family is the preferred outcome for children placed in foster care. The care, love, security, and stability of a family unity provides a solid foundation for personal growth, development, and maturity.

From July 2020 to April 2021, 1,516 children were successfully reunified with their families in Kansas.

The proclamation reads:

“TO THE PEOPLE OF KANSAS, GREETINGS:

WHEREAS, reunification with family is the preferred outcome for children removed from their homes and placed in foster care; and

WHEREAS, for most children in foster care, reunification with their family is their best option for a permanent and loving home; and

WHEREAS, from July 2020 to April 2021, 1,516 children were successfully reunified with their families in Kansas; and

WHEREAS, all children need the care, love, security, and stability of family unity – including parents or guardians, siblings, grandparents, and/or other extended family members – to provide a solid foundation for personal growth, development, and maturity; and

WHEREAS, reunification takes work, commitment, and investment of time and resources by parents, family members, social workers, foster parents, service providers, attorneys, courts, and the community; and

WHEREAS, Kansas has been a leader and example in celebrating the accomplishments of families who overcome an array of challenges to reunify safely and successfully; and

WHEREAS, the State of Kansas encourages service, civic, and religious organizations as well as child welfare agencies, courts, schools, businesses, and individuals to join in commemorating Reunification Month with appropriate ceremonies and activities that recognize the importance of supporting our families and communities.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Laura Kelly, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF KANSAS, do hereby proclaim June 2021 as Reunification Month in Kansas and I urge all citizens to join in this observation.”

View the proclamation here.

Fort Scott, Government

Road Work Starts June 21 on National Avenue

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Road work is scheduled to begin on National Avenue starting Monday, June 21st. Pavement milling will be completed from 13th to 17th Street. Pavement milling and overlay will be completed from 17th Street to Highway 69.

The project is expected to be completed within two days. Please be aware that it may be difficult at times to traverse National Avenue from 13th to Highway 69. One lane will remain open at all times, but drivers should expect delays. When possible, please utilize alternate routes.

Please contact City Hall with any questions, 620-223-0550.

Bourbon County, Government

Spradling Resigns as Bourbon County Attorney

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Bourbon County Attorney Jacqie Spradling.

Bourbon County Attorney Jacqie Spradling sent the following letter to Mark McCoy, Bourbon County Republican Chairman, on June 16.

“It has been my honor and privilege to have served Bourbon County as the Bourbon County Attorney for the last three years.

“I am retiring and tendering this resignation effective Wednesday, June 30, 2021.”

The process has begun for an interim Bourbon County Attorney, McCoy said.

“In this case, the Bourbon County Republican Party will convene a meeting with officers and committee persons, approximately 40 people,” McCoy said. “We have 14-21 days to convene a caucus, to select a candidate for Bourbon County Attorney to submit to Governor Kelly, to fill the position temporarily. I understand in 2022 that person will run for the position. Spradling had two years remaining, she was elected in  November 2020.”

“The date of the caucus is to be determined,” McCoy said. “Further notification will be coming out. This meeting is not open to the public.” Editor’s note: the caucus is scheduled tentatively for Thursday, July 1 at  6 p.m. at the Empress Event Center, 7. N. Main, according to McCoy on June 18, it is not open to the public.

“We will put out a notice to all interested parties (in the county attorney position) to submit a resume to me, Mark McCoy, 2138 Jayhawk Road, Fort Scott, KS 66701, applications will need to be submitted by June 28,” he said.

Brandon Cameron and Chad Taylor are the assistant county attorneys in Bourbon County, according to the Bourbon County Clerk’s office.

Spradling was selected as Bourbon County Attorney in 2018.

An attorney panel unanimously recommended the Kansas Supreme Court disbar Spradling for knowingly making false statements to juries during two high-profile trials and for misleading claims about her prosecutorial misconduct to justices of the state’s highest court, according to a story by Tim Carpenter of the Kansas Reflector news service this month.

To view the story:

KS Supreme Court Will Issue Decision on Bourbon County Attorney Jacquie Spradling

 

 

Government, Kansas

Juneteenth Recognized in Kansas

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Governor Laura Kelly Signs Proclamation Recognizing Juneteenth

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today proclaimed June 19, 2021, as Juneteenth Day in Kansas.

“Today’s proclamation – and the spirit of Juneteenth – serve as a reminder that, while we have come a long way in our efforts to promote equity and justice, there is work left to do,” Governor Kelly said. “As we celebrate the end of slavery in the United States and learn more about our nation’s history, Juneteenth is also an opportunity to recommit ourselves to making Kansas a better place for all to call home.”

The proclamation states that the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed enslaved peoples living in the Confederacy, was enacted and took effect on January 1, 1863. It was not until over two years later, on June 19, 1865, that the news of this freedom finally reached enslaved people living in Galveston, Texas. This prompted the now freed people to celebrate, coining the day Emancipation Day, Jubilee, or Juneteenth.

Governor Kelly was joined today by Dr. DeAngela Burns-Wallace, Secretary of the Kansas Department of Administration and Chief Information Technology Officer; Stacey Knoell, Executive Director of the Kansas African American Affairs Commission; and Norma Avery, President of the Topeka Family and Friends Juneteenth Celebration Corporation as she signed the proclamation.

Please find the proclamation here.

COVID-19, Government, Kansas

Grants Supports Health Care Providers/Efforts to Vaccinate

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Governor Laura Kelly Announces $900,000 in Grants to Support Health Care Providers, Increase Vaccinations

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today announced that $900,000 in grants will support health care providers in their efforts to vaccinate Kansans across the state.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment will provide the Kansas Association of Family Physicians and the Kansas Association of Pediatricians each with a three-year, $450,000 grant, totaling $900,000, for primary care providers in Kansas to hire staff members to support their ongoing efforts to onboard, administer, and advocate for vaccinations.

“With more than 60 percent of Kansans over the age of 18 having received at least one dose of the vaccine, our state is steadily making progress,” Governor Kelly said. “These grants are part of our state’s all-of-the-above approach to pursue every initiative and use every resource to get vaccines into arms, and protect our families, our economy, and our schools.”

The grants will allow primary care providers (PCPs) to hire dedicated staff who will serve as a liaison to the KDHE immunization team, specifically supporting providers in on-boarding, administering, and advocating for vaccinations. The liaison officer’s responsibilities will include:

  • Reaching out to PCPs and host webinars to encourage them to get their patients vaccinated
  • Increasing COVID-19 vaccine provider enrollment among PCPs and pediatricians
  • Providing a “customer service” operation for PCPs facing problems to enroll as COVID-19 vaccine providers and order vaccines
  • Facilitating access to traditional and digital communications capabilities which PCPs can leverage to effectively motivate their patients to get a vaccine
  • Hosting regular webinars for enrolled PCPs and Pediatricians, where those providers can share best practices and request additional support

As part of the announcement, Governor Kelly today talked with health care stakeholders about the challenges they face in their efforts to vaccinate their communities, and how Kansas can be a better partner in those efforts.

“Our state’s primary care providers are critical to providing broad, ongoing access to vaccines, and play essential roles as trusted advisors to vaccine-hesitant communities,” Governor Kelly said. “I appreciate today’s participants for the meaningful discussion about how Kansas can support providers in their continued vaccination efforts.”

The below photos from the roundtable discussion are available for media use:

https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Primary2.jpg

https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Primary3.jpg

https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Primary4.jpg

https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Primary5.jpg

https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Primary1.jpg

Also Pictured: Governor Laura Kelly; Dr. Marci Nielsen, Chief Advisor for COVID-19 Coordination; Tarah Remington-Brown, CEO of Kansas Academy of Family Physicians; Melissa Hudelson, Executive Director of the Kansas Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Kansas Pediatric Foundation; Alice Weingartner, Chief Strategy Officer of the Community Care Network of Kansas; Dr. Jen Bacani-McKenney, Family Physician and President Elect of the Kansas Chapter of the American Academy of Family Physicians; Dr. Kristie Clark, Board-Certified Pediatrician and President-Elect of the Kansas Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics; Dr. Allen Greiner, Family Physician and Medical Officer for the Wyandotte County Unified Government Health Department; Dan Leong, Chair of the Immunize Kansas Coalition; and Connie Satzler, Project Support Employee at the Immunize Kansas Coalition.

Government, Jobs, Kansas

Support Program For Kansans Seeking Employment Announced

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Governor Laura Kelly Announces Launch of My Reemployment Plan

~Program offers support, resources to Kansans seeking employment~

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today announced the launch of My Reemployment Plan, a program designed to support Kansans with job-search efforts.

“My Reemployment Plan is a great tool to provide Kansans with the resources needed to secure high-quality, in-demand jobs,” Governor Kelly said. “While it’s welcome news that our state’s unemployment rate is back to 3.5%, we want to keep pursuing programs and resources that support getting every Kansan on the right career track. This is how we grow our workforce and build a better, more resilient economy for future generations.”

The program, developed with collaboration between the Kansas Department of Commerce, Kansas Department of Labor, and KANSASWORKS Workforce System, will connect unemployment recipients with workforce service professionals in their area. The personalized job-search assistance they will receive free of charge will include:

  • Creation of a personalized My Reemployment Plan that focuses on goals and accountability.
  • Skills assessment to match interests and skills with occupations.
  • Resume, interview and networking assistance.
  • Labor market information highlighting current in-demand jobs.

“Our team is working hard to drive the Kansas economy forward,” Lieutenant Governor and Commerce Secretary David Toland said. “This is why the Kelly administration is focused on helping the people of our state find jobs, helping Kansas companies fill vital positions and helping our communities get back to normal. My Reemployment Plan will be a powerful tool in achieving these goals.”

Current unemployment claimants who have received three or more consecutive unemployment payments will automatically be enrolled in My Reemployment Plan.

The process of sending notifications will begin on the evening of Tuesday, June 22. Participants will receive an email from an “@ks.gov” account. Recipients without access to an email account will receive information in the mail.

Claimants will have seven days from the date the email was sent to complete the following tasks:

  1. Upload/build a resume at KANSASWORKS.com (resume must be in active status).
  2. Complete the online job search form (including the O*Net Interest Profiler) attached to the email/included with the mailed information.
  3. Email completed form to the Kansas Department of Commerce at [email protected].

Failure to submit this information before the deadline may result in suspension of unemployment benefits. Suspended claimants must submit this information to have the hold lifted.

Kansans receiving unemployment benefits who are eligible to be enrolled in MyReemployment are encouraged to prepare for the launch of the program:

  1. Log into your KANSASWORKS.com account and ensure that your account information is up to date.
  2. Create/build your online resume.
  3. Contact your local Workforce Center for immediate assistance with your job search.

Questions on the launch of this program should be directed to the team at KANSASWORKS:

To learn more about the MyReemployment Plan program, visit kansascommerce.gov/mrp.

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.

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.

Ascension Via Christi, Bourbon County, Fort Scott, Government, Health Care, Mercy Hospital

Bourbon County Government to Receive Former Mercy Building

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The Bourbon County Commission room in the courthouse, September 2018.

The Bourbon County Commission will be receiving the former Mercy Hospital building at 401 Woodland Hills Blvd. and $600,000 from Mercy as a donation to the county, Rob Harrington, Bourbon County Economic Development Director said in an email.

Robert Harrington. Submitted photo.

Mercy Hospital Fort Scott closed in October 2018.

The Sisters of Mercy had served the community since 1886.

Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas has had a clinic at the building since Mercy closed, but is moving when its’ lease is up at the end of 2022.

They have purchased the former Price Chopper store, 2322 Main Street, for their new facility.

The emergency department at the former hospital building also has a lease that will be up in 2022.

The county commission has been working on a solution to keep the building viable, as opposed to tearing the two-decades-old building down.

“Today is the beginning of a process, “Bourbon County Commissioner Clifton Beth said. “The attorneys will be going through the process of accepting the donation and the $600,000.”

Clifton Beth represents District 3. Photo from Facebook.

“We are in conversation with different entities that could potentially have use for that building,” Beth said.

The Bourbon County Commission is comprised of Beth, Lynne Oharah and Jim Harris.

First District Bourbon County Commissioner Lynne Oharah.
Jim Harris, Bourbon County Commissioner, District 2.

Beth said credit needs to go to Harrington who has been working to find entities that are interested.

“A lot of behind-the-scenes work is going on,” Beth said.

“We are trying to save the building,” Beth said. “My main priority is to have an Emergency Room in Bourbon County.”

“At the end of the day, the end users for that building, if they can use it, great,” Beth said. “If not, we’ll look at other options.”

“My goal is to be sure we have an ER,” Beth said. “Ascension Via Christi has one-and-one-half years left on their (current) lease. In conversations with them, they are planning to stay.”

Ascension Via Christi operates the emergency department at the former Mercy Hospital building.

To see more info on Ascension Via Christi:

Via Christi To Operate Fort Scott Emergency Room

Ascension Via Christi/Fort Scott Celebrates Opening of Emergency Department

Fort Scott, Government, Schools

USD234 Press Release

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NEWS RELEASE

 

Monday, June 14, 2021

 

Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at the Fort Scott Middle School Commons on Monday, June 14, 2021, for their regular monthly meeting.

President David Stewart opened the meeting.  The board approved the official agenda.  The board also approved the consent agenda as follows:

 

A.    Minutes

B.    Bills and Claims

C.    Payroll – May 20, 2021 – $1,495,472.51

D.    Financial Report

E.    Activity fund accounts

F.     Fundraising Applications

G.    Site Council Reports

H.    2021-22 Site Council Members; dates and times of meetings

I.      2020-21 Gifts

J.      Communities in School Progress Reports

 

Fort Scott High School Swim Teams gave a presentation to the board.  There were no comments in the public forum section.  Board members heard reports from the Director of Academics, Dalaina Smith; Superintendent Ted Hessong; and Gina Shelton, Business Manager/Board Clerk

Board members approved the following:

 

·       Fort Scott Virtual School

·       1,116 hour calendar for the 2021-22 school year

·       KASB Board Policy updates

·       Handbook changes for the 2021-22 school year

·       NWEA MAP Renewal

·       FastBridge Implementation

·       McGraw Hill final quote

·       Eureka final quote

·       Purchase of science textbooks

·       KERMP Insurance renewal for 2021-22

·       iBoss Renewal

·       Pursuit of a grant application for a second SRO officer

·       Donation of unused Winfield Scott books to Altoona-Midway

Board members reviewed the last day Enrollment Count Report and shared comments.

Board members 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 an upcoming negotiations meeting and returned to open meeting.

The board approved the following employment matters:

 

A.    Retirement of Clifford Lyman, middle school five-hour custodian, effective May 24, 2021

B.    Resignation of Aaron Shockley, high school/middle school band teacher, effective at the end of the 2020-21 school year

C.    Resignation of Angela Mix, Winfield Scott paraprofessional, effective at the end of the 2020-21 school year

D.    Resignation of Mary Cole, high school paraprofessional, effective at the end of the 2020-21 school year

E.    Transfer of Moriah Dillow, Winfield Scott paraprofessional, to Winfield Scott Focus room teacher for the 2021-22 school year

F.     Work agreement adjustment for Randi Witt, special education secretary/MIS Clerk, from 12 months to 11 months

G.    Addition of a preschool teaching position for the 2021-22 school year

H.    Employment of Alex Specht as high school assistant principal for the 2021-22 school year

I.      Employment of Amy Keeton as a Eugene Ware paraprofessional for the 2021-22 school year

J.      Employment of Frances Sharp as a high school cook for the 2021-22 school year

K.    Employment of teacher mentors for 2020-21

L.    Employment of Terra Kegler as a high school paraprofessional for the 2021-22 school year

M.   Employment of central office classified employees for the 2021-22 school year

N.    Employment of a technology classified employee for the 2021-22 school year

O.    Employment of food service classified employees for the 2021-22 school year

P.     Employment of transportation classified employees for the 2021-22 school year

Q.    Employment of maintenance classified employees for the 2021-22 school year

R.    Employment of high school classified employees for the 2021-22 school year

S.     Employment of middle school classified employees for the 2021-22 school year

T.    Employment of Eugene Ware classified employees for the 2021-22 school year

U.    Employment of Winfield Scott classified employees for the 2021-22 school year

V.    Employment of Fort Scott Preschool Center classified employees for the 2021-22 school year

W.  Employment of district supplemental employees for the 2021-22 school year

X.    Employment of middle school supplemental employees for the 2021-22 school year

Y.    Employment of Eugene Ware supplemental employees for the 2021-22 school year

Z.    Employment of Winfield Scott supplemental employees for the 2021-22 school year

 

The board approved a modification of Resolution 20-06 Bank Account Signers.  In addition, the board approved a COVID stipend of $500 for each employee.  The board adjourned.