Category Archives: Schools
FSHS Alumni: Parade
The Fort Scott High School Alumni Association will honor two Fort Scottians during the all-class reunion parade. Fred Campbell and Don Miller were selected to be honored.
The parade starts at 5 p.m. on June 24 from the location of 4th and Judson Street to travel the typical parade route EXCEPT in light of past memories – it will be going backwards and will finish up at the high school. Classes will be displaying their class spirit as they travel south on Main Street.
The Alumni Association encourages citizens to line the parade route to welcome the alumni home.
Craig Campbell, Class of 1977, is the Parade Chairman.
U234 Board News Release
NEWS RELEASE
Tuesday, June 21, 2022
Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at 5:30 p.m. on June 21, 2022, for a special board meeting.
President James Wood opened the meeting and budget hearing. There were no comments, and the budget hearing was closed. Board members approved republishing the budget.
The board went into executive session to discuss personnel matters for nonelected personnel and returned to open meeting. Board members approved the following employment items:
A. Resignation of James Harrison, high school paraprofessional, effective at the end of the 2021-22 school year
B. Employment of Michael Freeze as a high school paraprofessional for the 2022-23 school year
C. Employment of Lacey Miles as a 6.5-hour Eugene Ware cook for the 2022-23 school year
D. Employment of Janet Fairbanks as a middle school teacher for the 2022-23 school year
The board adjourned.
FSHS Justin Miles To Play At Independence Community College
FSHS All Classes Reunion June 24-26
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New School Administrator Series: Tema Gilion
This is part of a series helping the public get to know the new school administrators in Bourbon County.
News Release from USD 234
NEWS RELEASE
Monday, June 13, 2022
Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at their offices on Monday, June 13, 2022, for their regular monthly meeting.
President James Wood opened the meeting. The board approved the official agenda. The board also approved the consent agenda:
A. Minutes
B. Bills and Claims
C. Payroll – May 20, 2022 – $1,554,551.40
D. Financial Report
E. Activity fund accounts
F. Fundraiser applications
G. Extended trip applications
H. Site Council reports
I. 2022-23 Site Council members; dates and times of meetings
J. 2021-22 Gifts
K. Point of Information – Special Board Meeting – June 21 – 5:30 p.m – Budget hearing
Mike Trim, SRO Officer, spoke in the public forum section of the meeting. Dalaina Smith, Academic Director; and Gina Shelton, Board Clerk/Finance Director, shared reports with board members.
The board approved the following
· Renewal of property, general liability, employment, cyber, and automobile insurance with KERMP
· Computer pre-bid purchase
· 2022-23 MAP renewal for math, reading, and science
· Eureka math proposal
· PLC Professional Development proposal for 2022-23
· 1,116-hour calendar for the 2022-23 school year
· KASB Board Policy updates
The board tabled approval of handbooks. The board reviewed the Last Day Enrollment Count report. Board members shared comments and then went into an executive session to discuss employer-employee negotiations. The board returned to open session and then went into executive session to discuss personnel matters for nonelected personnel. The board returned to open meeting and approved ratification of the 2022-23 negotiated agreement, Resolution 21-14 – final action on the nonrenewal of a teacher’s contract, and the following employment matters:
a. Retirement of Sue Ann Fredericksen, high school special education teacher, effective July 1, 2022
b. Resignation of Lora Jett as a high school English teacher for the 2022-23 school year
c. Resignation of Angelica Gonzales, middle school paraprofessional, effective at the end of the 2021-22 school year
d. Resignation of Sarah Long as a high school paraprofessional for the 2022-23 school year
e. Fort Scott Middle School content positions for 2022-23
f. Resignation of Andon Prestley, Eugene Ware paraprofessional, effective at the end of the 2021-22 school year
g. Transfer of Moriah Dillow, Winfield Scott focus room teacher, to Winfield Scott kindergarten teacher for the 2022-23 school year
h. Transfer of John Metcalf, middle school Student Success Center teacher, to middle school elective teacher for the 2022-23 school year
i. Transfer of Brendon Blackburn, middle school elective teacher, to middle school Student Success Center teacher for the 2022-23 school year
j. Leave of absence request from Peyton Guiles, Eugene Ware special education teacher
k. Clarification for Assistant Superintendent position
l. Change in work agreement for Rhonda Dawson, high school activities secretary/district treasurer, and Angie DeLaTorre, high school secretary/registrar for the 2022-23 school year
m. Addition of a district ESOL Coordinator for the 2022-23 school year
n. Employment of Sarah Hendricks as a Eugene Ware fourth grade teacher for the 2022-23 school year
o. Employment of Samantha Short as a middle school teacher for the 2022-23 school year
p. Employment of Michael Krull as a high school physical education teacher and head boys’ basketball coach for the 2022-23 school year
q. Employment of Chad Ruddick as a high school English teacher for the 2022-23 school year
r. Employment of Sarah Shaw as a preschool paraprofessional for the 2022-23 school year
s. Employment of central office classified personnel for the 2022-23 school year
t. Employment of technology classified personnel for the 2022-23 school year
u. Employment of food service classified personnel for the 2022-23 school year
v. Employment of transportation classified personnel for the 2022-23 school year
w. Employment of maintenance classified personnel for the 2022-23 school year
x. Employment of Fort Scott High School classified personnel for the 2022-23 school year
y. Employment of Fort Scott Middle School classified personnel for the 2022-23 school year
z. Employment of Eugene Ware classified personnel for the 2022-23 school year
aa. Employment of Winfield Scott classified personnel for the 2022-23 school year
bb. Employment of Fort Scott Preschool Center classified personnel for the 2022-23 school year
cc. Employment of district supplemental personnel for the 2022-23 school year
dd. Employment of Fort Scott High School supplemental personnel for the 2022-23 school year
ee. Employment of Fort Scott Middle School supplemental personnel for the 2022-23 school year
ff. Employment of Eugene Ware supplemental personnel for the 2022-23 school year
gg. Employment of Fort Scott Preschool Center supplemental personnel for the 2022-23 schoolyear
hh. Resignation of Whitley Chesney as the director of the high school musical, effective at the end of the 2021-22 school year
ii. Rescinded resignation from Elizabeth Rose, preschool paraprofessional
jj. Transfer of Elizabeth Rose, preschool paraprofessional, to high school paraprofessional for the 2022-23 school year
kk. Transfer of Dixie Jackson, high school paraprofessional, to a 12-month custodian position for the 2022-23 school year
ll. Employment of Anthony Ogle as a 12-month custodian for the 2022-23 school year
mm. Transfer of Nick Johnson, middle school teacher, to Fort Scott Preschool Principal for the 2022-23 school year, and the resignation of Nick Johnson as a middle school assistant football and middle school assistant basketball coach for the 2022-23 school year
The board adjourned
Smith Returns As Uniontown Junior/Senior High School Principal
This is part of a series helping the public get to know the new school administrators in Bourbon County.
New School Admin Series: Zach Johnson
Communities In Schools Programs Receives Grant to Assist Students
Two Bourbon County school districts recently received a $10,000 grant each for student support from Walmart to help with the Communities In Schools programs.
The mission of Communities In Schools is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life, according to https://www.communitiesinschools.org/.
The name of the grant is the Walmart Community Grant – Communities In Schools Programming in Uniontown and Fort Scott, Kansas
Rhonda Hoener is the Student Support Coordinator for Communities In Schools at Uniontown, and wrote the grant proposal.
Her counterparts in USD 234, are Lewis Dunkeson at Fort Scott High School and Winter Moore at Fort Scott Middle School.
Walmart presented the check for $20,000 to Communities In Schools via Hoener, recently.
“This grant will support our work helping more than 1,400 students and their families served by Communities In Schools of Mid-America programming in Uniontown and Fort Scott, Kansas,” according to a press release, from Cheri Faunce, Vice President of Resource Development for Communities in School of Mid-America and Victoria Partidge, Vice President of Communications.
“Communities In Schools of Mid-America is addressing the academic and non-academic impacts due to the extended time out of school buildings from the COVID-19 pandemic,” according to the press release. “Our program works by building trusting relationships, re-engaging students in the learning process, and helping students identify and break down barriers preventing them from reaching their goals.”
The Student Support Coordinators (SSCs) provide whole-school programming to promote a positive school climate and combat risk factors.
Youth risk factors include low attendance, student and parent disengagement, and access to basic needs such as food, clothing, school supplies, hygiene products.
SSCs also work one-to-one with a minimum of 55 caseload students per school to help with academic, attendance, and/or behavior/social-emotional concerns and the students are at high risk for dropping out.
Examples of programming include, but are not limited to, lunch hour mentoring, life/social skills, behavioral interventions, resource referrals to other social service providers, and grief support.
In the Uniontown program, Hoener has helped with:
- Family Engagement Night at West Bourbon Elementary School
- Guest speaker Julia Cook at WBE
- Attendance incentives at Uniontown Junior and Senior High School
- Guest speaker Mark Potter at UHS/UJH
- Both buildings provided are provided with basic need items
For caseload students only, she has helped wit:
- Academic support
- Behavior support
- Social emotional learning support
- Attendance support
- Referrals to other agencies
- Utility/rent/ grocery/gas assistance to families
- College visit
- College/career conversations with outside agencies
At Fort Scott Middle School, Winter has helped with:
- – School-wide academic incentives
- – One-on-one behavior intervention
- – Homework assistance
- – Individual grade and attendance checks
- – Basic needs distribution (school supplies, food, snacks, hygiene products)
At Fort Scott High School, Dunkeson has helped with:
- – FutureNow: Finance
- – Career Fair
- – Homework assistance
- – Individual grade and credit checks
- – Mentoring program
- – Basic needs distribution (school supplies, food, snacks, hygiene products)
New School Administrator Series: Shelly Charter
This is part of a series of helping the public get to know the new school administrators in Bourbon County.
Shelly Charter, 48, is the new principal of Winfield Scott Elementary School, Fort Scott.
Charter earned her Bachelor of Science in Education and a Master’s Degree in Gifted Education at Emporia State University, and a Building Leadership Certificate at Pittsburg State University.
She has been the Tri-County Interlocal #607 Gifted Facilitator for three years, a 3rd grade elementary teacher for 20 years, and a Title 1 Math instructor for 2 years.
Charter has two sons, AJ (23) and Aiden (22) and one daughter, Lynnsey (20), and Dexter, her Golden Retriever dog.
In her community she has been involved in various church activities, was a FabLab instructor and head director of the Verizon Innovative Learning STEM camp for middle schoolers, a Zumba class, and she loves to travel to new places.
Her hometown is Independence, Kansas.
Why did you become an educator?
“I became an educator to make a difference in the lives of my students. I wanted to teach them that anything is possible if you believe in yourself.”
Did someone inspire you?
“I was inspired by my 3rd grade teacher, Mrs. Wanda Rush. She made every student feel important.”
What is the best thing about being an educator?
“The best thing about being an educator is knowing that I could be the one person that inspired a student to do their best and never give up on their dreams.”
What is a challenge?
“Not being able to change circumstances that affect a child’s life outside of the school environment.”
Changes for U234 in 2022-23
Dalaina Smith, who has served as the Fort Scott High School Director of Academics will become USD 234 Assistant Superintendent, as of July 1.
Although she will maintain many of her previous duties, she is “excited to move into an administrative role and get more involved with staff and students in the classroom,” she said.
She highlighted some of the changes in the district as of this date.
New Teaching Model
“This past academic year, the district embraced the Professional Learning Community model and began training teachers and administrators,” Smith said. “A group of twenty, including staff and a board member, had the opportunity to attend the PLC Summit in Phoenix, Arizona in February and returned excited for the direction the district is moving.”
At this summit there were keynote speakers and breakout sessions designed to help infuse the PLC at Work process into every aspect of the district, according to information from Smith.
The group returned to their school system ready to work in collaborative teams to achieve results for the students, according to the information from Smith.
“In May, the district was able to bring in Regina Owen from Solution Tree, to speak to the certified staff about the PLC framework and the district’s continued commitment to giving all students the best,” she said.
“The Professional Learning Community model focuses on four questions,” she said. “1. What do we want students to know? (Essential Standards); 2. How do we know that they know it? (Common Assessments); 3. What do we do when they don’t know it? (Remediation) and 4. What do we do when they already know it? (Extension).”
“Through this framework, the district is committing to giving teachers time to ensure that there are clear expectations, data driven decisions, and appropriate interventions for all students,” Smith said.
COVID-19 Effects Student Achievement
“Since the Covid-19 Pandemic, we have seen an increase in student achievement gaps,” Smith said. “Although Spring 2020 affected all students, we see the greatest impact in our elementary students who missed out on fundamental skills. Continuing into the 2020-21 academic year, numerous students had their learning interrupted when they were out ill or for quarantine. For many they were able to participate remotely while absent, however, for others they were unable to continue their learning during the time they were offsite.”
“Additionally, we must consider the social emotional effects we’ve seen in the students,” Smith said. “I don’t know that we still truly know the impact. From feelings of isolation and loneliness to students who struggled to learn to identify emotions and facial expressions through masking, it’s hard to say that many were untouched. Thankfully students are resilient and our teachers are rock stars! Together they’re working to overcome the gaps that Covid created, however, it is a process.”
“Through the use of PLCs, the district will provide a structured environment for teachers to make the necessary changes to approaching student learning. USD 234 is excited for the impact to come,” she said.
Early Release on Wednesdays
For parents these PLC days will mean students will be released early nearly every Wednesday through the USD 234 2022-23 school calendar.
“During Early Release, teachers will be meeting in grade levels or departments (depending on their building) to work collaboratively as professionals,” Smith said. “It’s during this time that they will determine their essential standards, build and refine common assessments, review student data, and plan for interventions.”
“Preschool will operate in a different manner, to ensure they are in compliance with their required minutes,” she said. “More details related to preschool will come following the approval of a new preschool principal.”
“This time will allow teachers to participate in their PLCs and ensure the grade levels and departments can give their best to all students,” Smith said. “The district recognizes that not all families have the ability to pick up their students early on Wednesdays and will have age appropriate opportunities for students to stay in a fun, safe, and educational environment until the regular dismissal time.
“At this time, students K-8 will have supervised activities/areas in place during the early release (Wednesday until 3:15),” she said. “Additionally, the elementary schools will both offer a daily After School Program that will run until 5:15 p.m. More information about each of these opportunities will be shared as the district administrative team solidifies the necessary details.”
New Faces at USD 234
“Each school year brings new faces as some retire and others explore new opportunities, and this year is no different,” Smith said.
“Mr. Destry Brown will be joining Fort Scott from Clinton, MO and serving as the USD 234 Superintendent,” she said. “Brown brings numerous years of experience, as he returns home to Fort Scott. Although he doesn’t officially start until July 1st, he has already begun working with staff in a variety of capacities to ensure a smooth transition and clear direction for USD 234. Not only will Brown be seen within the district, but also within the community as he works to encourage the relationship between the school and local organizations.”
“Mrs. Shelly Charter will be serving as the Winfield Scott Principal. Charter comes from Independence, where she has taught gifted, third grade, and Title for over 20 years,” Smith said. “In addition to her years of experience in education, she also has served in a variety of leadership roles and is excited to begin her work with her staff and students.”
“Mrs. Krystle Griem will be coming to Winfield Scott from Junction City, KS,” Smith said. “Griem will be serving as the Assistant Principal, where her licensure as a Registered Behavioral Technician and summer work at children’s camp will serve as valuable experiences. In addition, Griem has taught English Language Arts at the middle and high school level. Griem and Charter have already been collaborating on ideas for next school year.”
“Dr. Zach Johnson will be joining the Tiger Team at Fort Scott Middle School,” she said. “Johnson has been the assistant principal and athletic director for Coffeyville’s Field Kindley High School for the past four years. Previously, Johnson was a physical education teacher. Johnson brings experience with the PLC process, as well as a student-centered approach to education. Johnson began his first day of summer joining the current administration to learn more about becoming a Tiger!”
“The district is still in the process of hiring a preschool principal and will be sharing information once a candidate is board approved,” she said.
Familiar Admin Faces
“Although there are many new faces, there will also be familiar ones returning next year Mina Query (Eugene Ware Principal), Brandon Boyd (Eugene Ware Assistant Principal), Matt Harris (Fort Scott Middle School Assistant Principal), Scott Kimble (FSHS Principal), Alex Specht (FSHS Assistant Principal), and Jeff DeLaTorre (FSHS Athletic/Activities Director),” Smith said. “USD 234 is excited for another great year.”