Governor Laura Kelly Announces Janet Stanek as Secretary for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today announced Janet Stanek as the new Secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). Stanek will serve in an acting capacity until the Kansas Senate confirms her as the new head of the agency. She had previously served as the Director of the State Employee Health Benefits Program (SEHBP).

“As we move to this next phase of the pandemic, from emergency response to steady state, it was important that we find a Secretary to oversee both the state’s COVID response and the many other services performed by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment,” Governor Kelly said. “With Janet’s decades of experience as well as the relationships she has built across the medical community in Kansas, I have no doubt that she will be able to step into this role immediately and continue the agency’s critical work.”

Prior to her role at SEHBP, Stanek spent more than 35 years in various healthcare leadership positions in Pennsylvania, western New York and Kansas, including 21 years of her career at Stormont Vail Health Topeka where she last served as chief operating officer and senior vice president. While with Stormont Vail, she oversaw a wide array of clinical and non-clinical functions and departments, as well as the strategic selection and rollout of a sophisticated electronic health record system across the region. Her most recent work involved focusing on population health, accountable care organization development and the transition to value-based care delivery.

“I’m honored to be selected by Governor Kelly to serve as the next Secretary for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment,” Stanek said. “Since the start of the pandemic, the agency has done a remarkable job helping lead the state’s response to this once-in-a-century crisis. I look forward to working with the entire KDHE team to build on their outstanding work.”

Stanek holds a graduate certificate in population health from Thomas Jefferson University, an MBA from Alfred University (NY) and a Bachelor of Science degree in health information management from the State University of New York Polytechnic Institute, Utica, New York. She is also a Fellow of  the American College of Healthcare Executives and the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, and is a Registered Health Information Administrator. Additionally, Stanek currently serves as the Chair of the Kansas Health Institute Board of Directors.

Governor Laura Kelly Announces Pay Raise for State Employees in 24/7 Facilities to Address Staffing Shortages

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today announced a series of new pay initiatives designed to address critical staffing shortages at several 24/7 State facilities, including Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) facilities, Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) state hospitals and the Kansas Commission of Veterans Affairs Office (KCVAO) veterans’ homes.

“My administration and the Kansas Department of Corrections have worked over the past three years to address staffing shortages and overcrowding that have impacted corrections facilities for years,” Governor Kelly said. “But even after implementing a pay increase for corrections officers in 2019, Kansas, like the rest of the country, faced new challenges caused by COVID-19. This new pay plan is a necessary step to address the ongoing challenges brought on by the pandemic,  support our efforts to prioritize public health and safety, and care for our most vulnerable populations.”

Kansas is not alone in staffing shortages. States across the U.S. have experienced critically low staffing levels in 24/7 facilities, including Nebraska, Florida, and Arkansas to name a few. Each of these states have implemented various pay plans designed to address similar staff shortages.

The Kansas plan is comprehensive and will provide both long-term and temporary pay increases, including a permanent base pay increase and temporary pay differentials, with “differential pay” defined as extra compensation for employees during extraordinary times of staff shortages.

The pay plan includes the following for state employees:

• Permanent Base Pay Increases for all KDOC Job Classes & Nursing Job Classes
• Temporary Pay Differentials for Hourly Employees in the following areas:
  • Differential #1: All 24/7 Facility Staff
  • Differential #2: Uniformed KDOC Security Staff at 24/7 Facilities
  • Differential #3: Nursing Staff at 24/7 Facilities
  • Differential #4: All Staff Working at 24/7 Facilities that are designated at “critical staffing levels” with 25% (or higher) vacancy rates.
• One-Time, $3,500 Bonuses for Salaried Staff at KDOC, KDADS and KCVAO 24/7 facilities.

“The staff in our 24/7 facilities are the frontline workers for some of the most necessary and, frankly, thankless work that we do for Kansans,” Governor Kelly said. “These pay increases are well deserved – and my administration will continue working to support our state employees and their families.”

“Employees of the Kansas Department of Corrections are committed to their service to promote safer communities throughout the state. Never has that been more evident than over the past several months when staff vacancies have required our employees to take on more responsibilities and work longer hours to satisfy the agency’s mission,” KDOC Secretary Jeff Zmuda said. “The Governor’s pay plan recognizes the incredible contributions of our employees to public safety and provides a great incentive to retain their experience and commitment within the organization while providing an opportunity for relief as more job seekers join them in our workforce.”

“Governor Kelly’s plan is an excellent step towards making workers and the communities they serve safer,” KOSE President Sarah LaFrenz said. “These raises and pay differentials mean frontline workers like corrections officers and state hospital staff could finally get the safe staffing levels they need and proper pay for their unthinkable sacrifices on behalf of Kansans. As facilities around the nation face a staffing crisis that endangers the public, workers and their families – this plan shows real leadership by making this crisis and addressing it an actual priority. We will continue, as we always have, to advocate directly to the Governor, her administration, and the Kansas Legislature towards a final, long-term solution.”

Kansas law prohibits several employment-related bonus tools, like retention bonuses, for state employees that are available to other states. The law also limits the amount that can be paid to staff in a single Fiscal Year. Governor Kelly’s plan recommends the maximum bonus for salaried staff that is allowed under the current law.

The pay increases will be phased in with the base-pay increases taking effect during the next pay period, beginning November 28. Governor Kelly will issue an Executive Directive authorizing the initial pay increases and will pay for them with existing agency funds. She will work with Legislative leadership to fund the rest of the pay plan and get it fully implemented as soon as possible.

The incentive program focuses on, but is not limited to: juvenile corrections officers, corrections officers, nurses, and others who provide direct care. Additionally, Governor Kelly is also ordering KDOC to purchase and provide Multi-Threat Tactical Safety Vests to all Corrections Officers who work in 24/7 facilities.

Please find the Kansas plan here.

PRATT – There’s no better deal than “free” and this Friday, there’s no better place to snag that deal than at a Kansas state park. This Black Friday, Nov. 26, 2021, entrance fees will be waived at all Kansas state parks as part of the nationwide #OptOutside initiative.

Those who visit any of Kansas’ 28 state parks on Nov. 26 will also have a chance to win a free night’s stay in a Kansas state park cabin of their choice. To enter, visitors must simply take a “selfie” within any Kansas state park and share it on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram with the tags #OptOutside and #MyKsStatePark.

#OptOutside – the brainchild of outdoor retail giant REI – began after REI executives closed all 150-plus stores for a day in 2015 and paid more than 13,000 employees to instead spend the day outside. It’s since become an annual event for REI, state parks across America and the millions of people who opt to spend the day outside and enjoy nature.

“We couldn’t be more excited to once again offer free entrance to Kansas’ state parks on Black Friday,” said Linda Lanterman, director of Kansas State Parks. “Being outside in nature does wonders for our physical and mental health, so I hope everyone opts to go outside this year and enjoy a Kansas state park as part of their holiday experience.”

To find a Kansas state park nearest you, and to make camping reservations year-round, visit www.ksoutdoors.com/State-Parks.

To connect with Kansas State Parks on social media, visit https://ksoutdoors.com/KDWP-Info/KDWP-Social-Media#facebook.

Governor Laura Kelly Directs Flags be Flown at Half-staff to Honor Baxter Springs Firefighter Lt. Malachi Brown

TOPEKA – In accordance with Executive Order #20-30, Governor Laura Kelly has ordered flags throughout the State of Kansas to be flown at half-staff from sunup to sundown on Sunday, November 21, 2021 in honor of Baxter Springs Firefighter Lt. Malachi Brown.

Lt. Brown was injured while battling a structure fire on October 15, 2021, and succumbed to his injuries on November 10, 2021.

“My thoughts are with Lt. Brown’s wife, children, loved ones, and the entire Baxter Springs community during this incredibly difficult time,” Governor Kelly said. “Lt. Brown lived in service to his community – and lost his life supporting his fellow firefighters. His bravery and compassion will not be forgotten.”

To receive email alerts when the governor orders flags to half-staff, please visit: https://governor.kansas.gov/newsroom/kansas-flag-honor.

Kansas Department of Transportation offices in southeast Kansas are committed to keeping the highways cleared whenever inclement weather occurs.

In line with workforce shortages across the nation, KDOT does not have enough equipment operators – the agency’s primary snowplow operators – in a number of areas across Kansas. These shortages create the potential for highways to not be cleared of snow and ice as quickly as in the past.

The agency has dealt with reduced staffing in the past, but the shortages are greater this year. Southeast KDOT offices are about 22% short of snowplow operators needed to be fully staffed, with a 30% shortage of needed equipment operators statewide.

“KDOT is facing significant staffing shortages in some areas and will work proactively to clear Kansas highways by shifting crews to affected areas and pretreating highways and bridges whenever possible,” said Secretary Julie Lorenz. “Our snowplow operators work 12-hour shifts and do their best to keep the roads open and the public moving.”

To help address the shortage, the agency will deploy all employees who have a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) to plow snow and hire seasonal workers. For people interested in working at KDOT, go to the state’s employment website at http://jobs.ks.gov/  KDOT will assist selected applicants in obtaining a CDL upon hiring, including paying for training.

“It will be more of a challenge for our crews in north-central Kansas to keep that same level of service this winter,” said District Engineer Wayne Gudmonson. “We encourage motorists to be aware before and during winter storms and possibly alter or delay travel plans if necessary.”

Before traveling, motorists can check www.KanDrive.org, KDOT’s road/weather condition website. It is updated 24/7 for highway conditions, overall weather information, short-term closures and general alerts.

PRATT – Local chapters of nonprofit organizations based or operating in Kansas – that actively promote wildlife conservation and the hunting and fishing heritage – have a special opportunity waiting for them with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) Commission. The Commission Big Game Permit program allows eligible organizations a chance to draw one of seven special big game permits, which can then be sold to raise funding for conservation-based projects. The official drawing will take place at the Commission’s January 13, 2022 public meeting. Applications, which can be obtained from Commission secretary Sheila Kemmis at [email protected], must be submitted no later than January 1, 2022. Organizations are not eligible to receive a Commission Big Game Permit more than once in a three-year period.