Category Archives: Schools
Agenda for the USD234 Board of Education Meeting on Feb. 10
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
February 10, 2025 – 5:30 P.M.
AGENDA SUMMARY PUBLIC
1.0 Call Meeting to Order David Stewart, President
2.0 Flag Salute
3.0 Approval of the Official Agenda (Action Item)
4.0 Appoint New Members (Action Item)
5.0 Approval of the Consent Agenda (Action Item)
5.1 Board Minutes
a. 01-13-25
b. 01-20-25
5.2 Financials – Cash Flow Report
5.3 Check Register
5.4 Payroll – January 20, 2025 – $1,682,710.56
5.5 Activity Funds Accounts
5.6 USD 234 Gifts
5.7 UMB Credit Card Agreement
5.8 Zero Reasons Why Fundraising
6.0 Student Recognition
7.0 Leadership Reports (Information/Discussion Item)
7.1 Superintendent’s Report
7.2 Assistant Superintendent’s Report
7.3 Special Education Director’s Report
7.4 Winfield Scott Presentation
8.0 Old Business
8.1 TowerPoint Acquisitions Letter of Intent to Purchase Interest in Wireless Site (Action)
8.2 10 Passenger Van Purchase (Action)
9.0 New Business
9.1 Eugene Ware Event Date Changes (Action)
10.0 Public Forum
11.0 Other Business – Time ____
11.1 Enter Executive Session – Personnel Matters (Action Item)
11.2 Exit Executive Session – _______ (Time)
11.3 Approval of Personnel Report (Action Item)
12.0 Adjourn Meeting _____ (Time) David Stewart, President
Rembering the World of Anne Frank: Fort Scott High School Thespians on Feb. 20-22
Feb. 4, 2025
FSHS Thespians presents “And Then They Came for Me – Remembering the World of Anne Frank”
Fort Scott High School Thespians presents the play “And Then They Came for Me – Remembering the World of Anne Frank” by James Still.
Performances are at 7 p.m. on Feb. 20-22 in the FSHS Auditorium.
The production is a multi-media performance with live sound bytes and videos from the actual Holocaust survivors portrayed in the play as well as real video footage from the time period.
In addition to the performance, the lobby will feature many items of interest to the audience. A collection of Holocaust memorabilia from local historians Ronda and Rob Hassig will be on display in the Art Gallery. Students in the Advanced Drama class are displaying research on groups of oppressed peoples and plays that have been written to speak up for those groups, much like how “And Then They Came for Me” speaks for victims and survivors of the Holocaust. Students in Jon Barnes’ Government and Current Events classes, after reading and listening to Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter From a Birmingham Jail,” wrote “A Letter From a Fort Scott Classroom” about a time in their lives that they felt discriminated against. Many of these letters will be available to read. The Technical Theatre class also built white models of set designs for the play that are on display.
Cast and crew members of the play were educated about the real lives of their characters through research and a presentation by Ronda Hassig. Hassig has personally visited sixty concentration camps and she shared her knowledge and photos with the students to help them better understand their characters and the world of the play.
Senior Kaiden Clary plays one of the Holocaust survivors, “Performing Young Ed gave me a chance to look into how a Jewish person was treated during WWll, how this person had to hide from SS guards to even be with his grandparents, how he had to try to escape time and time again. After learning about and discussing him, it is hard to believe that people actually had to go through many of these things, especially not seeing his parents for almost four years.”
Tickets for “And Then They Came for Me: Remembering the Life of Anne Frank” are $5 for students and $7 for adults and available at fortscotthighschool.ludus.com or at the door. Doors open thirty minutes prior to showtime.
The play is directed by FSHS Theatre Director Angie Bin with Mesa Jones serving as Assistant Director. It is produced by special arrangement with The Dramatic Publishing Company of Woodstock, Illinois. Please contact Bin at angela.bin@usd234.org or at 620-719-9622 with questions.
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Dangerous Game At Fort Scott: One Local Family’s Story of Tap-Out Challenge
A warning to parents appeared on the Fort Scott Middle School Facebook page on January 31 of a Choke Out Game or Tap-Out Challenge that has been happening at the school.
“The Choke Out Game, also known as the Tap-Out Challenge, is a dangerous activity where individuals intentionally restrict their breathing or blood flow to the brain in an attempt to achieve a brief sense of euphoria or dizziness,” said USD 234 Assistant Superintendent Terry Mayfield. “This practice can cause serious harm, including unconsciousness, brain damage, and even death.”
“It is also known as many other things, chicken, redneck, tap out, blackout, etc.,” said Beth Worthing whose Fort Scott Middle School child participated and was taken to the hospital. “We need to let every child know not to play or accept this challenge…That you win the challenge when you walk away from it.”
“The challenge has been noticed in various schools and communities, with reports indicating it has gained some attention in social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. The post on the Fort Scott Middle School page serves as a warning to parents and caregivers, as this dangerous activity has surfaced among students.”
“While the challenge has been noticed primarily at the middle school level, it is important to understand that it can potentially affect students in different age groups. The influence of social media platforms, especially TikTok and Instagram, has made it easier for these kinds of trends to spread quickly among young people.”
Mayfield sent the following to help parents/caregivers in working with their children on this matter.
- “Open Communication: Talk to your children about the dangers of participating in challenges like these and encourage them to speak up if they come across harmful trends.
- Monitor Social Media: Keep an eye on the apps and content your children are engaging with, and consider using parental control features to limit exposure to risky content.
- Educational Discussions: Discuss the potential consequences of these dangerous behaviors, and provide information about safer, healthier alternatives.
- Encourage Peer Support: Empower children to look out for each other. If they see peers engaging in harmful challenges, they should know how to intervene and seek adult help if needed.”
One incident
The following is an account of a Fort Scott Middle School student’s mother, Beth Worthing.
“On January 22, I received a call from the school that Tyler had been choked by another student, but that he had agreed to it. Tyler was supposed to ‘tap out’ when he had enough,” Worthing said.
“The other student had choked out another peer prior and that student ‘tapped out’ of the challenge. Tyler said he doesn’t ‘Tap out’ so the child came over and choked him too.”
“Tyler did not ‘Tap Out’ he, in turn, blacked out. The child that choked him said he waited around 16 seconds or so when he thought he heard Tyler say something.”
“Tyler didn’t say a word, he couldn’t, he was out cold. When the child let go, Tyler landed flat on his face. He lost all consciousness, he could not recall things from before the event or after.”
“My husband picked Tyler up from school and took him to Nevada Regional Medical Center. I arrived about 30 minutes after they got to the Emergency Room. Tyler was in and out of fogginess all afternoon. He had no idea how he got from the school to NRMC, and bits and pieces of the event were coming back to him.”
“Tyler had a CT scan, and x-rays as they thought his nose may also be broken.”
“I asked Tyler if other kids were participating in this, and if it’s a challenge or something that’s going around. Tyler told me he had no clue it was a challenge.”
“I however had a hunch it was, and was a bigger thing than Tyler knew or understood.”
“I called the Superintendent as I felt God used Tyler for a greater good that day. I just had a hunch he was the wake-up call this community needed to raise awareness and hopefully end this.”
“I called (USD234 Superintendent) Destry Brown, and stated all my concerns. I could have blamed the school, or the child that choked him or went about this so many different ways, but that wouldn’t have put the right amount of urgency on this challenge.”
“I didn’t want another parent or child to go through what we did or worse, as I have a childhood friend, Jen Burns, who lost her son at age 9 about 9 or 10 years ago, so I was already aware of the dangers.”
“I told Destry Brown what I wanted to come from this was awareness to all the parents and children in every school in our community.”
“I said Tyler is your wake-up call. This happened this way for a reason. The fact that he didn’t die from being choked, or the fall that day, and that the event took place at school tells me this is a bigger deal than we think, and we need to do our part to protect the children and families.”
“He agreed but stated an investigation needed to take place first.
“The Principal at the Middle School and Mr. Brown did their part. I got a phone call about a week later and Destry Brown notified me that this was a bigger deal than they thought, and that young children were allowing older kids to choke them, and asked them to ‘tap out’ when it was too much.”
“The young kids will think it’s cool to be doing a challenge or playing a game with the older kids.”
Special Board Meeting Agenda For USD234 Board of Education on January 20
Unified School District 234
424 South Main
Fort Scott, KS 66701-2697
620-223-0800 Fax 620-223-2760
DESTRY BROWN
Superintendent
BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING
January 20, 2025 – 5:30 P.M.
AGENDA SUMMARY PUBLIC
1.0 Call Meeting to Order David Stewart, President
2.0 Flag Salute
3.0 Approval of the Official Agenda (Action Item)
4.0 Interview with Board
5.0 Discussion
6.0 Adjourn Meeting _______ (Time) David Stewart, Board President
News Release of USD234 Board Meeting on Jan. 13
Unified School District 234
424 South Main
Fort Scott, KS 66701-2697
620-223-0800 Fax 620-223-2760
DESTRY BROWN
Superintendent
BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING
NEWS RELEASE
Monday, January 13, 2025
Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, January 13, 2025, for their regular monthly meeting at the board office.
President David Stewart opened the meeting.
The board approved the official agenda, and the consent agenda as follows:
Board Minutes
12-09-24
Financials – Cash Flow Report
Check Register
Payroll – December 20, 2024 – $1,735,450.74
Activity Funds Accounts
USD 234 Gifts
Terry Mayfield, Assistant Superintendent, recognized the District Tech Team. Stephen Mitchell, Bryce Daly, Joe Foulk, and Landon Hill were thanked for them for their role in keeping the district running smoothly. They are behind the scenes a lot of the time, but they are hardworking and are able to help in an effective and timely matter.
Superintendent Destry Brown reported on a PowerSchool data breech that occurred earlier but thanks to our security there was not any data that has been accessed.
The Hydroponics Farm is being delivered this week to the High School. He also reported on a couple grants that the district will be working with area schools to complete.
Assistant Superintendent Terry Mayfield provided the Board with an update on the football field that is close to being completed. IT has been working hard on upgrading our district systems. He also updated on the Cell Tower Lease and Keyhole property. Wrestling has been moved to the Middle School until the heat can be fixed.
Tonya Barnes, Special Education Director, updated the Board on starting a monthly new employee orientation that will begin this week.
Dr. Johnson, the Middle School Principal, brought an update to the Board about all the remarkable things happening at the Middle School. He reported and thanked the staff for their dedication and hard work. Through this, they have seen great growth in the students. Tracy Homan reported on STUCCO and how they are learning to become leaders. They have helped with teacher appreciation, and Veterans’ Day Assembly, and are going to be working on the yearbook. She said the students are excited and have attended the Greenbush Leadership Conference. Kerri Hanson gave an update on the social emotion aspect and how they were able to have a Career Fair in October with thirty-one presenters. Whitney Beth and Jessica Steury talked about the AP schedule and the advantage of being able to help those students who may be behind. They are excited about the growth in confidence that this schedule has given the students. Staci Black and Adam Feagins presented about Project Lead the Way (PLTW). PLTW is an activity, project, problem-based learning approach. This is a hands-on experience that will build on different subjects as they head toward high school. Overall Middle School students are working extremely hard and there are many exciting things that are taking place for the growth of the students.
There are two open board seats that have been posted. Applications will be taken until the Board Meeting held on January 20, 2025. At this meeting the board will interview those interested.
The Board Approved the following items:
- Maintenance Truck Purchase
- Hinton Creek Solar Contribution Agreement
- Resolution 24-08 To Establish Regular Board Meetings 2025
- Resolution 24-09 To Establish Election of School Board Officers
There were a few present during public forum.
Jerri Smith, Jessica Smith, Leslie Gordan, Erin Vann, and Kenna Miles were present to speak on behalf of wrestling members and parents. They are concerned about conditions where the wrestlers are practicing. Wrestling is a growing sport, and they are asking for more support and recognition. The Board heard the concerns and there was no further discussion at this time. Mr. Mayfield had in his report that they will be practicing in the Middle School until the heat is fixed or another solution is found.
The Board went into an executive session for personnel matters.
President David Stewart adjourned the meeting.
PERSONNEL REPORT – APPROVED
January 14, 2025
RESIGNATIONS/TERMINATIONS/RETIREMENTS:
Chaplin, Mercedes – Resignation – Paraprofessional – Eugene Ware
Drake, Amy – Supplemental Retirement – Dance Coach – High School
Heenan, Kristen – Resignation – Paraprofessional – High School
Large, Lahanna – Resignation – Paraprofessional – Winfield Scott
Martin, Dave – Assistant Swimming Coach – High School
Murrow, Janelle – Retirement – Title 1 Reading – Eugene Ware
EMPLOYMENT:
Classified Recommendations for the 2024-25 school year:
Brown, Afton – .5 Para Middle School/.5 Para General Ed –
Newman, Ronna – Paraprofessional – High School
Roberts, Victoria – Paraprofessional – Preschool
Rowe, Cynthia – Mental Health Intervention Liaison
Wright, Stacey – Paraprofessional – High School
Supplemental Recommendations for the 2024-25 school year:
Corbitt, Cheyenne – Assistant Intramural Coach for 3rd quarter
Lancaster, Bridgett – Assistant Track Coach
Child Find Screenings Will Be On January 22 at West Bourbon Elementary, Uniontown
USD 235 and SEK Interlocal 637 offer Child Find screenings to locate, identify, and evaluate all children who may have a disability in the areas of fine motor, gross motor, cognitive, communication, adaptive, and personal/social skills development.
For children ages 3-5, developmental screenings clinics will be offered at West Bourbon Elementary the morning of Wednesday, January 22, 2025. Appointments can also be made as needed in the months of September, December, February, and April.
If you would like to schedule an appointment for this screening clinic, please contact either Julie Akins or Jennifer Vaughn at (620) 235-3155.
USD 235 Agenda for Jan. 13 Meeting and Minutes of Dec. 9 Meeting
USD 234 Agenda for Jan. 13
Unified School District 234
424 South Main
Fort Scott, KS 66701-2697
620-223-0800 Fax 620-223-2760
DESTRY BROWN
Superintendent
BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING
January 13, 2025 – 5:30 P.M.
PUBLIC
1.0 Call Meeting to Order David Stewart, President
2.0 Flag Salute
3.0 Approval of the Official Agenda (Action Item)
4.0 Approval of the Consent Agenda (Action Item)
4.1 Board Minutes
- 12-09-24
4.2 Financials – Cash Flow Report
4.3 Check Register
4.4 Payroll – December 20, 2024 – $1,735,450.74
4.5 Activity Funds Accounts
4.6 USD 234 Gifts
5.0 Employee Recognitions
6.0 Leadership Reports (Information/Discussion Item)
6.1 Superintendent’s Report
6.2 Assistant Superintendent’s Report
6.3 Special Education Director’s Report
6.4 Fort Scott Middle School Presentation
7.0 Old Business
7.1 Maintenance Truck Purchase – Final Approval (Action)
8.0 New Business
8.1 Hinton Creek Solar Contribution Agreement (Action)
8.2 Resolution 24-08 To Establish Regular Board Meetings 2025 (Action)
8.3 Resolution 24-09 To Establish Election of School Board Officers (Action)
9.0 Public Forum
10.0 Other Business – Time ____
10.1 Enter Executive Session – Personnel Matters (Action Item)
10.2 Exit Executive Session – _______ (Time)
10.3 Approval of Personnel Report (Action Item)
11.0 Adjourn Meeting _____ (Time) David Stewart, President
Former FSHS Music Teacher Meredith Reid Honored
Girard Music Teacher Hits All the Right Notes
with $25,000 Milken Award
Girard High School graduate Meredith Reid surprised with district’s first “Oscar of Teaching” for outstanding achievement and leadership in music education.
Reid formerly taught music at Fort Scott High School
BIO, PHOTOS AND VIDEO: https://www.
Girard, Kan. (January 8, 2025) —Girard native and choral teacher Meredith Reid received the surprise of a lifetime this morning when she was presented with a Milken Educator Award at an all-school assembly at Girard High School in front of cheering students, colleagues, dignitaries and media. Hailed as the “Oscar of Teaching,” the prestigious national honor created by philanthropist and education visionary Lowell Milken recognizes exceptional educators for their dedication to excellence in education and leadership. It includes an unrestricted $25,000 cash prize that the recipient may use however they choose. Milken Educator Awards Vice President Stephanie Bishop and Kansas Commissioner of Education Dr. Randy Watson presented the Award, the first-ever in Girard United School District 248 history.
“Today we celebrate Girard’s own Meredith Reid for her exceptional dedication to music education and the positive influence she brings to her students, school and community,” said Bishop, who herself received the Milken Educator Award as a fine arts teacher in Virginia. “Meredith cultivates artistic excellence in everyone she supports, nurturing hearts and minds and sustaining the love and appreciation of music in the community for generations to come. With Meredith as a guide, the possibilities are limitless! We look forward to her contributions to the national Milken Educator Network.”
Reid was honored as part of the Milken Family Foundation’s 2024-25 Milken Educator Awards season. The tour will honor up to 45 pioneering professionals coast to coast, marking the 3,000th Milken Educator in the Awards’ ranks and celebrating a history of changing lives in communities across America. Since the presentation of the first Awards in 1987, more than $75 million in individual cash prizes and over $145 million have been invested in the Milken Educator Award national network overall, empowering recipients to “Celebrate, Elevate, and Activate” the K-12 profession and encouraging young, capable people to consider a career in education.
“We are so pleased to see Meredith recognized for her tremendous contribution to her students and to the Girard community,” said Dr. Watson. “Her work not only to restore the school’s choral music program but to achieve state and national opportunities for her students and bring that pride to her community is what excellent teaching looks like.”
More about Meredith Reid
Revitalizing a Legacy While Inspiring Excellence: When Meredith Reid attended Girard High School as a student, the choral music program had no longer existed. When she returned to her alma mater as a teacher several years later, Reid reestablished the program which now produces an award-winning choir. They regularly perform throughout the community and compete at regional and state music events, where the group earned the “superior” rating this past school year.
In addition, nearly all her high school soloists receive top ratings at the regional and state competitions. Reid had six students chosen for the Kansas All-State Choirs, one of only two choral programs in southeast Kansas to achieve this honor. One of her choral students was selected to join the prestigious Kansas State University Summer Choral Institute, a highly selective program that admits only 48 students across the country each year.
In her classroom, Reid uses a positive rewards system to motivate her students to utilize good singing techniques. The system was so well-received she was asked to present the model at the Kansas Music Educators Association In-Service Workshop. For students in this rural community with little to no access to private vocal lessons, Reid opens a world of musical opportunities for her choral students.
A Hometown Leader: Outside of GHS, Reid is an engaged member of her hometown and beyond, serving as a local officer in P.E.O., a nonprofit organization that helps women pursue education; representing GHS at a national education conference; and serving as board secretary for the American Choral Directors Association. Reid has been involved with the Kansas Music Educators Association and served as Southeast Kansas choral chair. Her commitment to music education extends to her colleagues and young music teachers in the district and region who benefit from her friendship and mentorship. Her community choir, “Generations,” reflects her goals of having a sustained music program whose members serve as role models for young musicians and represent the importance of lifelong dedication to music appreciation.
Education: A Kansas State University graduate, Reid earned a Bachelor of Music Education in 2010 and a Master of Music in 2017.
The Milken Educator Award Reaps Lifelong Benefits
- The $25,000 cash Award is unrestricted. Recipients have used the money in diverse ways. Some recipients have spent the funds on their children’s or their own continuing education, financing dream field trips, establishing scholarships, and even adopting children.
- Honorees receive powerful mentorship opportunities for expanded leadership roles that strengthen education practice and policy. Milken Friends Forever (MFF) pairs a new recipient with a veteran Milken Educator mentor; the Expanding MFF Resource and Explorer Program fosters individual veteran Milken Educator partnerships around specific topic areas; and Activating Milken Educators promotes group collaboration in and across states to bring solutions to pressing educational needs.
- The honorees attend an all-expenses-paid Milken Educator Awards Forum in Los Angeles in April 2025, where they will network with their new colleagues as well as veteran Milken Educators and other education leaders about how to broaden their impact on K-12 education.
- Veteran Milken Educators demonstrate a wide range of leadership roles at state, national and international levels.
The Milken Educator Award might come to a community near you! Who will be next? Join us as we surprise these remarkable individuals and celebrate their dedication to excellence in education! Follow the tour and use the #MEA3K and #MilkenAward hashtags on: Facebook (MilkenEducatorAwards)| X (Milken)| YouTube (MilkenAward)| Instagram (MilkenFamilyFdn)| LinkedIn (MilkenFamilyFdn)| TikTok (MilkenAward).
Visit MilkenEducatorAwards.org or call the Milken Family Foundation at (310) 570-4772 for more information.
-MEA-
About the Milken Educator Awards: “The Future Belongs to the Educated”
The first Milken Educator Awards were presented by the Milken Family Foundation in 1987. Created by philanthropist and education visionary Lowell Milken, the Awards provide public recognition and individual financial rewards of $25,000 to K-12 teachers, principals, and specialists from around the country who are furthering excellence in education. Recipients are heralded in early to mid-career for what they have achieved and for the promise of what they will accomplish. The Milken Family Foundation celebrates more than 40 years of elevating education in America and around the world. Learn more at MFF.org.
FSHS Thespians Announce Spring Play Auditions
Fort Scott High School Thespians announce that auditions for the spring play “And Then They Came for Me – Remembering the World of Anne Frank” by James Still are from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Jan. 13 OR 14 in the FSHS Auditorium.
The production is a multimedia performance with live sound bytes and videos from the actual Holocaust survivors portrayed in the play as well as real video footage from the time period.
Auditions are open to any student at Fort Scott High School. Rehearsals are 6:30-9 p.m. Mon.-Thurs. Performances are at 7 p.m. on Feb. 20-22. Auditioners only need to attend one night of auditions and should bring a prepared 1-2 min. monologue to audition with.
The play is directed by FSHS Theatre Director Angie Bin with Mesa Jones serving as Assistant Director. It is produced by special arrangement with The Dramatic Publishing Company of Woodstock, Illinois. Please contact Bin at angela.bin@usd234.org or at 620-719-9622 with questions.
USD 234 Signs Agreement With a Solar Energy Company
At the recent USD234, Fort Scott School District Board of Education meeting, an agreement was signed with Kingbird Solar Energy LLC that will benefit the district for years.
Kingbird Solar Energy LLC is a Delaware limited liability company.
Kingbird Solar Energy approached the district regarding the agreement, Terry Mayfield, Assistant Superintendent said.
“Kingbird Solar intends to construct and operate a solar energy project in Bourbon County,” Mayfield said. “According to Kansas Statute, property used to produce and generate electricity using renewable energy resources (including solar) is exempt from all property or ad valorem taxation for a period of 10 years. The developer, as a new member of the local business community, wishes to demonstrate good citizenship by providing financial contributions to the district during the 10-year exemption.”
“The financial contribution begins with the commencement of construction by the developer,” Mayfield said. “There will be one initial payment of $300 per megawatt AC upon commencement of construction and for the following 9 years there will be an annual contribution of $450 per megawatt AC.”
“It is estimated that the contribution could be as much as $135,000 per year,” Mayfield said.
“It’s my understanding that for the 10-year exemption period that no taxes will be assessed on these solar farms, however, the developers still wish to make a financial contribution. Once that exemption period is over, the solar farms then become taxable and local entities would then receive tax revenue for any solar farms that are located within that entity’s boundaries (county, school district, etc.”
“The district is agreeing to accept the financial contribution from them,” Mayfield said. “By accepting this contribution, the district does not express support for or opposition to the establishment of solar farms in Bourbon County. The district remains neutral on this matter. By remaining neutral, the district can avoid taking a side in a debate that might involve conflicting viewpoints.”