Huge congratulations to the Fort Scott High School Debate team on an outstanding performance at the 4A 2-speaker State Debate Tournament this weekend in Wichita!
The team of Kinsley Davis and Joy Self finished in 2nd place!
The team of Cadence Tuck and Regen Wells brought home the 3rd place trophy!
Anna Hall and Silvia Moreno also won 2 rounds.
Congratulations to the entire team and their first-year coach, Tyler Slinkard!
Historian Cooper George with the KS Gold Honor Troupe Award. Submitted photo.
The Fort Scott High School Thespian Troupe #7365 attended the KS State Thespian Festival on Jan. 5-7 in Wichita, KS and received a number of honors.
The troupe received the highest honor a troupe can receive, the Gold Honor Troupe Award, for the seventh consecutive year. The honor reflects the performances, community involvement, student leadership, and high standards a troupe achieves throughout the year. Troupe Historian Cooper George, a sophomore, created the honor troupe presentation that earned the award.
Kinsley Davis and Regen Wells received Superior ratings in Monologue qualifying them for the International Thespian Festival in June. Submitted photo.
Senior Kinsley Davis and Junior Regen Wells both received a Superior rating on their Monologue performances. This qualifies them to compete in the International Thespian Festival at Indiana University in June. Other students who competed in Individual Thespy Performance events include: sophomores Mykael Lewis and Kaiden Clary in Duet Acting, senior Karen Primeaux and junior Josiah Eisenbrandt in Duet Acting, freshman Chris Newman with Monologue, freshman Junie Fisher in Vocal Solo, juniors Lexi Hill and Casey Gomez in Vocal Solo, sophomore Emma Guns and junior Jaedyn Lewis in Duet Acting, sophomore Alyssa Popp in Playwriting, senior Luke Majors in Vocal Solo, and junior Jericho Jones with Monologue.
For the second year in a row, FSHS had a team advance to the Finals Round of Competitive Improvisational Acting. The team included Majors, Hill, Wells, Eisenbrandt, and Mykael Lewis.
The Advanced Drama class competed in the One-Act Play category with the play “There is No Play” by Arthur M. Jolly. The performance was the world premiere of the one-act and the class was able to video conference with Jolly from Los Angeles and workshop the play as they rehearsed. This original cast will be published in the printed version of the script set for publication in the near future.
Thespian Director Angie Bin also received the Director of the Year Award for Southeast KS. Submitted photo.
In addition to performing, the troupe experienced three days of workshops with professional actors and theatre technicians, main stage musical and play performances, meetings with colleges and performing arts conservatories, and fellowship with Thespians from schools across the state.
Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, January 9, 2023, for their regular monthly meeting at the board office.
President Danny Brown opened the meeting.
The board approved the official agenda, and the consent agenda as follows:
Minutes from December 12, 2022, Board of Education meeting
Financials – Cash Flow Report
Check Register
Payroll – December 16, 2022 – $1,571,721.90
Activity Fund accounts
Second Semester Enrollment Count Report
Board Policy Additions/Changes
Resolution 22-10 – To Establish Election of School Board Officers
Resolution 22-11 – To Establish Regular Meeting Dates
Shelly Charter, Winfield Scott Elementary principal, introduced two students from Winfield Scott. The first student recognized was Sadie Keylon who demonstrates mindfulness by being polite and helpful to friends. The second student was Megan Hunsaker who demonstrates mindfulness by being humble and leadership through leading by example. Megan was selected by Peerless Products to have a paint chip named after her.
Licensed Tiger Team Member – Superintendent Destry Brown recognized Allison Gorman as the Licensed Tiger Team Member of the Month.
Miss Gorman is a 7th grade math teacher at Fort Scott Middle School. She displays on a daily basis the excellence of teaching in our classrooms. She encourages students, teaches from the beginning of class to the end, and her students know they can be successful in her class. Miss Gorman has been with the district for 12 years.
Classified Tiger Team Members – Superintendent Destry Brown recognized Shawn O’Brien and Alisha Watkins as the Classified Tiger Team Members of the Month.
O’Brien is the payroll clerk for the district along with other payroll duties, helps employees upon hire, and schedules orientations. He also is active in the community with volunteering, as well as supporting our kids at school events. Mr. O’Brien has been with the district 3 years.
Watkins is a custodian at both the board office and the middle school, and also fills in around the district when help is needed. She is always willing to do what can to help, fixes things without having to be asked, and responds in a positive manner. Mrs. Watkins has been with the district for 3 years.
Superintendent Brown reported to the board that 98 students were enrolled in 166 courses with Fort Scott Community College for dual credit while attending high school. Mr. Brown presented a preliminary 2023-24 calendar for the board to review based upon the feedback he received from parents and staff.
Dalaina Smith, Assistant Superintendent, provided an update to the board on professional development, PLC conversations, and results of those conversations. For example, the anticipation is that by this summer, the district will have standards published by grade level that would show parents what their students(s) should learn each school year. Mrs. Smith also provided an update on resource adoptions, resources needed in reading, and assessments.
Gina Shelton, Finance Director, updated the board on the ESSER III application, the state audit, and salary schedule column advancement.
The board received an update from Superintendent Brown on the expansion of the Fort Scott Preschool Center to Woodland Hills Blvd. Mr. Brown presentation included information on why preschool should be expanded in the USD 234 school district and what that expansion would look like. There was discussion of funding, contracts, and alternative options. There was no action taken.
The board approved the following items:
Communications Investment Proposal with Trajectory Strategies, in the amount of $15,660
FSHS Course Additions for the 2023-24 school year
Revised Classified Pay Schedule to amend the Activity Driver Pay
Personnel Report – following
The board tabled a proposal for architectural and engineering design services for the preschool from h|d Architecture, LLC until more information was received. There was also discussion on a school district attorney.
The board went into an executive session for personnel matters.
President Danny Brown adjourned the meeting.
PERSONNEL REPORT – APPROVED EMPLOYMENT
RESIGNATIONS/TERMINATIONS/RETIREMENTS:
Michelle Martin – Retirement – FSHS Special Education teacher, effective at the end of the 2022-23 school year
Carol Bingesser – Retirement – FSMS Science teacher, effective at the end of the 2022-23 school year
Kelly Cox – Retirement – Winfield Scott Kindergarten teacher, effective at the end of the 2022-23 school year
Cristin Stark – Resignation – Winfield Scott Kindergarten teacher, effective at the end of the 2022-23 school year
Trent Johnson – Resignation – FSHS Agriculture teacher and FFA sponsor, effective December 19, 2022
Mark Gorman – Leave of Absence – Bus Driver
Connie Billionis – Leave of Absence – Deputy Clerk
Sarah Hendricks – Leave of Absence – Eugene Ware fourth grade teacher
EMPLOYMENT/REASSIGNMENTS – FOR THE 2022-23 SCHOOL YEAR
Tonya Barnes – Special Education Director for the 2023-24, 2024-25, and 2025-26 school years
Kyle Parks – Daily rate for the remainder of the semester as a FSHS Agriculture teacher and FFA sponsor
Judy Welch – Regular Route Bus Driver (4-hours)
Chelsea Killion – Winfield Scott 7.5-hour paraprofessional
Jana Walker – Winfield Scott 7.5-hour paraprofessional
Julius Hodges – Winfield Scott 7.5-hour paraprofessional
Destry Brown – Superintendent – Contract extension
The plans are getting close to being finalized for the Fort Scott Preschool move to the former Mercy Hospital building at 401 Woodland Hills. It currently is located at 409 S.
Judson.
“We are planning to open the preschool at the new site in August,” USD 234 Superintendent Destry Brown said.
The new preschool will be located in the lower level of the hospital, Brown said. “There is a secure entrance to the facility in that part of the building and we can secure the preschool wing on the other end of the hallway as well.”
Destry Brown. Submitted photo.
The Need For More Room
“Currently, we have around 100 students being served at the preschool,” Brown said. “We would like to double that in the near future.”
“We will be adding two more classrooms for preschool in this new building,” he said. Currently the school has four teachers and eight para-professionals.
“We also have a couple of other programs that support families with preschoolers who are housed at the preschool,” Brown said. “There is also one Head Start classroom that will be joining us at the new site.”
“We do not have any space to expand in our current location,” Brown said. ” We have two classrooms in the building on Judson and one at the Happy Kids Daycare Center. This will allow for growth and for all programs to be in one location.”
Remodel
“There will be remodeling to take place as soon as we get some financial estimates on the costs of the remodel, the mechanisms for funding, and board approval,” he said. “This should all come together in the next two months so construction can be under way. The Legacy Health Group (who received the Mercy building from the Bourbon County Commission) has told me they can meet the date of August.”
The Preschool Mission
The Fort Scott Preschool’s mission is to provide free preschool opportunities for all kids so that they are prepared to enter kindergarten successfully, Brown said.
Bourbon County schools are experiencing school and staff illness in the last few weeks before school is out for Christmas break.
USD 234 Board of Education Building, 424 S. Main
Fort Scott
“We have had a large number of students and staff out the last several weeks with the flu, RSV and COVID 19; mostly the Influenza A,” USD 234 Superintendent Destry Brown said.
Destry Brown. Submitted photo.
On Monday, the district had 204 students out sick, which is down from last week by around 100, he said. There were seven teachers out Monday with illness themselves or they have sick children.
The district has 1,856 students enrolled.
The district has had to postpone a music concert because of illness.
“The choir concert… has been rescheduled to January 11th at the Ellis Performing Arts Center at 7 p.m.,” Brown said.
“On Friday, the choir spent the day singing at different schools and other venues around town,” he said. “I suspect that they shared the bug with each other that day. Whatever the case, their concert is postponed because of illness.”
U234 will dismiss school on Dec. 15 with a teacher workday on Dec. 16 and school will resume on January 3.
Staff Positions
The district currently has openings that will be posted from retirements in the following areas:
Elementary Physical Education
Occupational Therapist
One teaching position
“I anticipate additional openings after the first of the year due to retirements,” Brown said.
Uniontown
Uniontown High School.
Uniontown School District had 63 students gone on Monday, with a “handful of staff,” Vance Eden, USD 235 Superintendent said. There are no postponements of school events at this time.
Vance Eden and family. Submitted photo.
“We have been able to cover all classes needing substitutes,” Eden said.
There are 479 students in this district.
The last day of school for this district is Friday, Dec. 16 for Christmas break. Staff will return on January 3 for professional development and students will return on January 4.
U235 Openings For Next Year
There are several openings being posted for U235 for the 2023-24 school year.
So far a junior/senior high school principal position, a jr./sr. English teacher and a high school science teacher.
Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, December 12, 2022, for their regular monthly meeting at the board office.
President Danny Brown opened the meeting.
The board approved the official agenda, and the consent agenda as follows:
Minutes from November 12, 2022, Board of Education meeting
Financials – Cash Flow Report
Check Register
Payroll – November 18, 2022 – $1,927,977.43
Activity Fund accounts
Orchestra Extended Trip Application
Band and Choir Fundraiser Application
Substitute Pay Schedule
Sale of Decommissioned Student Equipment
Yasmina Query, Eugene Ware Elementary, introduced six students from Eugene Ware Leadership Club. Students Landen Brown, Myah Chaplin, Logan Flanner, Georgia Hurd, Jentry Palmer, and Hunter Yarick shared information with the board about various projects the leadership club does to help the community, their school, and staff.
Classified Tiger Team Member – Superintendent Destry Brown recognized Tanya Lockwood as the Classified Tiger Team Member of the Month. Mrs. Lockwood is a custodian at the high school who demonstrates how to build great relationships with kids. She greets students, encourages them, and sets a great tone for them.
Licensed Tiger Team Member – Superintendent Destry Brown recognized Linda Minor as the Licensed Tiger Team Member of the Month. Mrs. Minor is a 2nd grade teacher at Winfield Scott Elementary and is the Leadership Club sponsor. She is very good at building relationships with kids, supporting other staff, and creating a positive environment. She is often heard telling students and staff to “Go Be Great!”
Superintendent Brown reported on an expansion of the Construction Trades Program at Fort Scott High School made possible with collaboration with Fort Scott Community College. This will allow students to achieve NCCR Certification, be OSHA certified, and graduate high school with 28 college credits.
Gina Shelton, Finance Director, updated the board on the ESSER submission, the investment of funds, and reported that the district had 57 employees complete the wellness stipend challenge. Mrs. Shelton discussed the importance of special education funding and provided the board with a handout explaining how special education funding works.
The board received an update on District Communications from Shawnee Lorenz with Trajectory Strategies, which is a strategic development firm. Mrs. Lorenz went over the assessment conducted, the major findings, and the recommendations to the board for next steps.
Merrill Atwater and Jennifer Massey with Legacy Health, along with Superintendent Brown updated the board on the progress of the preschool expansion at the old Mercy Hospital building.
The board approved the following items:
Agreement for Hourly Rate Professional Services for Preliminary Design for Special Education Department Spaces at Fort Scott High School in the amount of $2,960 that will be covered by the CHC grant
Delos Indoor Air Quality Research Program Quote in the amount of $24,411 that will be covered by the KDHE Test to Stay Grant
Workers Compensation Proposal from KASB Workers Compensation Fund, Inc.
Request to refund a donation contingent upon no concerns from KASB attorneys
Personnel Report – following
The board tabled a change to the Drug Testing Policy at FSHS until next month.
The board went into an executive session for personnel matters.
President Danny Brown adjourned the meeting.
PERSONNEL REPORT – APPROVED EMPLOYMENT
RESIGNATIONS/TERMINATIONS/RETIREMENTS:
Stewart Guss – Retirement – Eugene Ware custodian, effective January 31, 2023
Jessica Smith – Resignation – FSHS paraprofessional, effective December 16, 2022
Kristi Hartman – Resignation – Occupational Therapist, effective at the end of the 2022-23 school year
Russ Hughes – FSMS Track Assistant, effective December 12, 2022
EMPLOYMENT/REASSIGNMENTS – FOR THE 2022-23 SCHOOL YEAR
Sharonda Edwards – Winfield Scott 7.5-hour paraprofessional
Michelle Lisica – Eugene Ware 7.5-hour paraprofessional
Matthew Prock – Winfield Scott 7.5-hour teacher aide
Billi Jo Shoemaker – Winfield Scott paraprofessional to Eugene Ware behavior interventionist teacher, effective January 3, 2023
Amanda Jamison – Winfield Scott paraprofessional to Head Start teacher, effective January 3, 2023
4.1 Minutes from November 12, 2022, Board of Education Meeting
4.2Financials-Cash Flow Report
4.3 Check Register
4.4 Payroll – November 18, 2022 – $1,927,977.43
4.5 Activity Fund accounts
4.6 Orchestra Extended Trip Application
4.7Band and Choir Fundraiser Application
4.8Substitute Pay
4.9Sale of decommissioned student equipment
5.0 Employee Recognition – Linda Minor and Tanya Lockwood
6.0 Leadership Reports (Information/Discussion)
6.1 Fort Scott KNEA Report
6.2 Superintendent’s Report
6.3 Assistant Superintendent’s Report
6.4 Finance Director’s Report
7.0 Old Business
7.1 Communications Audit and Plan (Information/Discussion)
8.0 New Business
8.1 Legacy Health Representatives (Information/Discussion)
8.2 Agreement for Hourly Rate Professional Services for “Preliminary Design for Special Education Department Spaces at Fort Scott High School” (Action Item)
8.3 Delos Indoor Air Quality Research Program Quote (Action Item)
Manhattan, KS — Ms. Margaret Marino, K-2 Math and Reading Special Education Instructor, Winfield Scott Elementary School, USD 234, Fort Scott, was recently awarded a $500 Classroom Grant by the Kansas Association of American Educators (KANAAE), a non-union professional educators’ association serving Kansas educators. Ms. Marino will be using the grant to purchase supplies to supplement the Orton Gillingham training she attended this past summer!
“KANAAE is thrilled to be able to provide funding to purchase needed materials and supplies for Margaret’s classroom,” said Garry Sigle, KANAAE executive director. “As a professional association we are committed to helping educator’s purchase items through our scholarship and grant program they may not otherwise be able to obtain. We know it’s the students who ultimately benefit.”
The winners of the KANAAE Teacher Scholarships and Classroom Grants are selected by a committee of their peers from across Kansas. All educators are encouraged to apply.
KANAAE is an affordable, non-union professional education association that provides teacher scholarships and classroom grants exclusively for Kansas educators twice a year. The grants can help pay for a variety of materials for the classroom and scholarships can be used to cover a wide variety of expenses including tuition, books, conferences, and workshops. The next application deadline is March 1, 2023. For more information visit www.kanaae.org.
A shopper looks over wares of a vendor at a prior Fall Extravaganza. Submitted photo.
The season of craft and small business vendor sales is in full swing.
Monday November 21 from 5-8 p.m. at the Fort Scott Middle School will be the annual Fall Extravaganza, a 40-plus craft/vendor fair.
Fort Scott Middle School, 1105 E. 12th.
Madeline Martin, Fort Scott High School Counselor and swim coach, is organizing the event this year.
“We took it over from (Fort Scott Middle School Teacher) Stephanie George and the VIP’s (organization) at the middle school,” Martin said. “Stephanie knew that the swim team was looking for more fundraising opportunities so she reached out to us asking we were interested in organizing it for this year.”
“The purpose of this event is to continue the holiday shopping tradition,” Martin said. “This has been a popular event in the community for over 10 years and we want to keep this tradition going. We have 40+ vendors that are joining us this year and we are super excited.”
“The swim team hopes that the funds raised through this event will help us purchase swim parkas for each participant as well as help offset costs for the year,” she said.
The FSHS Swim Team will be selling a pulled pork dinner also as a fundraiser.
The vendors scheduled to set up are:
KNM Clay
One of a Kind Wood Creations
TSM Creations & Decor
Amy Maxwell
Better in Bourbon
Jessee Cox
Maria Whitson
Arbonne- Lindsay Hill
TFI Family Services
Donna Jo Beerbower
Mary Kay- Lauren Hardwick
Mmm Flavor Shop
Our Little Village
Redbud Farms & Nurseries
Desert Bloom
Gentry Warren Art
Twigs & Berries
Anita Moore
Sugar Bakery/Walker’s Bakery
WellSpring Acres Alpaca Farm
SOS Grad Party
Grazing Fort Scott
Perry’s Porkrinds
FSHS Industrial Arts
The Sister’s Oven
FSHS FCCLA
Tin Man Alley
JP Custom Leather
Tiiger Threads
Be-You-tiful Designs
The Lavender Patch Farm
Locust HIll Lamachas
Micki Kraft
Sunshine Boutique
Buckin A’ Ranch
Wilbur Fleming
Funky Junktiques
Paparazzi Jewelry & Norwex- Brenda Hunter
The Purse Lady
Happy Little Candle Factory
Tupperware- Shawn O’Brien
Sassy’s Grandmas Stencils
Bids & Dibs/ Angie Dawns
About the swim team:
The Fort Scott High School boys swim team had their first season in the winter of 2019. The girls swim started the spring of 2020, but their season was cancelled because of the COVID 19 Pandemic.
“This past year we grew as a team and added some members through a cooperative agreement with area schools,” Martin said. “Last year the boys team took 3rd in the league and Bobby Kemmerer went to state where he brought home two medals for the two events he swam. The boys have also sent one other swimmer, Oliver Witt, to state in the past.”
“Girls season last year hit a huge goal of winning the league and Fort Scott sent their first female swimmer, Avery Stewart, to state. Along the way we have had swimmers from Frontenac, Pittsburg, Chanute, Northeast-Arma, Humboldt, and this year we are adding St. Mary’s Colgan and Uniontown to our girls team. I love that Fort Scott is setting a standard of providing kids the opportunity to compete in a sport that they love.”
“This year, for boys season, we have three young men joining us from Pittsburg and four young men joining us from Frontenac,” she said. “Girls season we have individual swimmers joining us from Arma, Uniontown, Humboldt, and Colgan. We will have a few girls join us from Frontenac and Pittsburg as well.”
They drive each day to the Pittsburg YMCA to practice.
“Our swimmers are very dedicated and our out-of-town kids drive up to an hour just to get to practice each day,” she said. “I am looking forward to another successful season and for Fort Scott to continue to make a big splash in the SEK and in our League.”
