Category Archives: Schools

Fort Scott, Government, Schools

Meet and Greet For Second U234 Super Candidate Today

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The Board encourages the community to come meet the candidate at the Meet & Greet opportunity on Thursday, May 12th. This will be held at the Fort Scott Middle School Flex space from 4-5 pm and from 5:30-6:15 pm. Please enter through the south doors.

Those who attend the Meet & Greet receptions will be given a paper survey to provide feedback. Be sure to turn this in before you leave to provide your feedback. The responses will be tallied and provided to the board in summary.

The Board will then meet in executive session at the board office at 6:30 pm on Thursday evening for purposes of interviewing the candidate.

Submitted by
Gina Shelton, U234 Board Clerk

Fort Scott, Schools

U234 Press Release from May 9 Meeting

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NEWS RELEASE

 

Monday, May 9, 2022

 

Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at the Board of Education office on Monday, May 9, 2022, for their regular monthly meeting.

President James Wood opened the budget hearing.  There were no comments; the budget hearing was closed.  The board approved the official agenda.  The board also approved the consent agenda as follows:

 

A.    Minutes

B.    Bills and Claims

C.    Payroll – April 20, 2022 – $1,443,359.12

D.    Financial Report

E.     Activity fund accounts­­­­­­

F.     Point of Information

G.    LCP Assurances

H.    Greenbush Energy Group Participation Agreement and Hedging Authorization for 2022-23

 

There were no comments in the public forum. Representatives from HTK Architects presented ideas and concepts for the Fort Scott Preschool Center.

Board members reviewed the principals’ reports.  In addition, board members heard reports from Dalaina Smith, Academics Director; Ted Hessong, Superintendent; and Gina Shelton, Finance Director.

The board approved the budget adoption.  Dan Koppa, Facilities Director, reported on summer maintenance projects.  Superintendent Hessong gave a KESA update and ESSER III update.

The board approved the following

·       High school science curriculum recommendation

·       Summer camps

·       2022-23 lunch fees

·       2022-23 fees

 

Board members shared comments and then went into 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 session and approved Resolution 21-13 – Intent to nonrenew a teacher’s contract.  The board approved the following employment matters:

A.    Resignation of Jeff Dillow, central office HVAC maintenance, effective June 30, 2022

B.    Resignation of Raymond Allen, high school custodian, effective May 13, 2022

C.    Resignation of Amanda Jamison, Winfield Scott paraprofessional, effective at the end of the 2021-22 school year

D.    Transfer of Sabrina Keating, Eugene Ware fourth grade teacher, to high school/Eugene Ware gifted teacher for the 2022-23 school year

E.     Transfer of Moriah Dillow, Winfield Scott focus room teacher, to Winfield Scott kindergarten teacher for the 2022-23 school year

F.     Transfer of Stuart Troutman, central office maintenance, to central office technology help desk specialist beginning May 10, 2022

G.    Employment of Hannelie Smit as a district occupational therapist for the 2022-23 school year

H.    Employment of Jessica Johnson as a Eugene Ware secretary for the 2022-23 school year

I.      Extended contract request from Angella Curran, high school debate/forensics teacher

J.      Resignation of Torrie Singmaster, middle school girls’ basketball coach, effective at the end of the 2021-22 school year

K.    Resignation of Jared Martin as high school summer conditioning coordinator

L.     Addition of a middle school summer conditioning position for the upcoming summer

M.   Resignation of Reyna Valenzuela, high school English teacher, effective May 9, 2022

N.    Resignation of Clint Heffern, high school physical education teacher and high school head boys’ basketball coach, effective at the end of the 2021-22 school year

O.    Resignation of Laura Howard, middle school language arts teacher, effective at the end of the 2021-22 school year

P.     Resignation of Zach Hart, Winfield Scott paraprofessional, effective May 12, 2022

Q.    Employment of Shelly Charter as Winfield Scott Principal for the 2022-23 school year

R.    Employment of Krystle Griem as Winfield Scott Assistant Principal for the 2022-23 school year

S.     Employment of Colin Downey as a high school social studies teacher for the 2022-23 school year

T.     Employment of Christina Lutter-Smith as a speech/language pathologist for the 2022-23 school year

U.    Employment of Lori Jett as a high school English teacher for the 2022-23 school year

V.    Employment of Andrew Ables as a middle school seventh grade science teacher for the 2022-23 school year

W.  Employment of Sarah Long as a high school paraprofessional for the 2022-23 school year

X.    Employment of Bo Graham as high school summer conditioning coordinator for the 2022-23 school year

 

The board went into executive session to discuss personnel matters for nonelected personnel.  The board returned to open meeting and adjourned.

 

 

Fort Scott, Government, Schools

USD234 To Interview Superintendent Candidate Destry Brown

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The Fort Scott Board of Education encourages the community to come meet the candidates at the Meet & Greet opportunities on Tuesday (05/10) and Thursday (05/12).  These will be held at the Fort Scott Middle School Flex space from 4-5 pm and from 5:30-6:15 pm.  Please enter through the south doors.

Those who attend the Meet & Greet receptions will be given a paper survey to provide feedback.  Be sure to turn this in before you leave to provide your feedback.  The responses will be tallied and provided to the board in summary.  The Board will then meet in executive session at the board office for purposes of interviewing each candidate Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 6:30 pm.

Submitted by Gina Shelton, U234 Board Clerk

 

 

USD 234

Mr. Destry Brown will be interviewing for the position of superintendent with the board of education on May 10, 2022.

Mr. Destry Brown is the first of two candidates that the USD 234 Fort Scott board of education will be interviewing. Candidates were selected for interviews based on their fit with desired characteristics that were developed with input from focus groups and an online community survey utilized during the search process.

Mr. Destry Brown is currently serving as the Superintendent of the Clinton, Missouri schools.   Mr. Brown has also served as superintendent of schools in Pittsburg, KS, Frontenac, KS and has been an elementary principal.

 

Mr. Destry Brown’s Schedule

05/10/2022

 

12:00 p.m. – 12:25 p.m. Meet with district office staff, directors, and administrators
12:30 p.m. – 2:55 p.m. Tour of district school buildings with community host
3:00 p.m. – 3:55 p.m. Community tour with community host
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Meet & Greet with staff and community at FSMS Community Space
5:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Private time for candidate
5:30 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. Meet & Greet with staff and community at FSMS Community Space
6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Dinner followed by formal interview with the candidate and the board in executive session.

 

The board of education will conclude interviews on May 12, 2022. They will then determine which candidate is the best fit for the superintendent position in USD 234 Fort Scott.

 

Fort Scott, Government, Schools

Agenda For U234 Board Meeting May 9

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USD 234 Board Meeting Agenda

May 9, 2022 – 5:30 p.m.

 

  1. Open the meeting
  2. Flag Salute
  3. Open budget hearing
  4. Comments
  5. Close budget hearing
  6. Consider official agenda
  7. Consider consent agenda
  8. Public Forum
  9. HTK Architects
  10. Principals’ Reports
  11. Academic Director’s Report
  12. Superintendent’s Report
  13. Finance Director’s Report
  14. Consider budget adoption
  15. Summer Maintenance Projects
  16. KESA Update
  17. ESSER III Update
  18. Consider high school science curriculum recommendation
  19. Consider summer camps
  20. Consider 2022-23 lunch fees
  21. Consider 2022-23 fees
  22. Board Member Comments
  23. Executive session – to discuss employee-employer negotiations for the 2022-23 school year
  24. Executive session – to discuss personnel matters for nonelected personnel
  25. Consider Resolution 21-13 – Intent to Nonrenew a Teacher’s Contract
  26. Consider employment
  27. Executive session – to discuss personnel matters for nonelected personnel
  28. Adjourn

 

 

Clothing, Food, Fort Scott, Schools

Today’s Christian Heights Country Store Provides Needs of the School

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Christian Heights School, 1101 Barbee, Fort Scott.

Today is the annual big fundraiser for Christian Heights School, 1101 S. Barbee that helps provide necessities for the small Christian school.

“We’ve done Country Store for 56 years,” Principal Larry Davolt said. “It helps us with special projects for the school. In the past a new roof, a new floor, computers, you name it. It goes beyond our little budget for operations.”

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This year is it today, May 7 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is comprised of a flea market/ rummage sale, bakery, plant sale and a silent auction of donated items. And food: homemade ice cream, taco salads, hamburgers, malts, shakes, sodas, home made desserts and then the Chicken Annie’s Fried Chicken dinner at 4 p.m.

Ashton Pridey helps put out items in the general merchandise room of the Christian Heights Country Store on Friday. Pridey is a student at the school.

The dinner time lasts from 4 -6 p.m. and one can also order BBQ beef, salad, rolls and homemade pies for $6 for adults and $3 for children.

At 6 p.m. is a auction for merchandise supplied by area merchants and individuals.

Some of the items that will be auctioned off at 6 p.m. at Christian Heights.

The event is sponsored by the Fort Scott Christian Heights Parent-Teacher Fellowship.

 

About the school

The entrance to the school at 1101 S. Barbee.

Christian Heights is a pre-school through 12th grade Christian school.

“We’ve been here since 1947,” DaVolt said. “My motto is ‘We provide quality education in a Christian environment.'”

The school has 75 students and a staff of 10. DaVolt also teaches science classes in addition to being principal.

The pre-school is three days a week and all other school grades are Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.

 

 

Fort Scott, Schools

Graduation Season Starts: New Generation Preschool (For the Last Time)

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New Generation Preschool graduates sing “Moving Up To Kindergarten” for their parents and grandparents on May 3, 2022.

It’s May, the time for graduations throughout the county.

On May 3,  the 15 New Generation Preschool students performed songs for their loved ones during a graduation ceremony.

The graduates were featured on a bulletin board at the entrance to the preschool.
The list of all the preschool graduates.

Amy Boyd, director of the childcare facility, introduced the teachers and thanked them for all they have done for the children during the year. Preschool teachers are Cynthia Witham, Angel Harper and AnnaMarie Simon.

Just before the graduation program started, Linda Logan, a trainer and program coordinator for Kansas Association for the Education of Young Children, presented Boyd and Beth Nuss, administrator of the New Generation, with a recognition of their 32 years commitment to young children.

Amy Boyd, left and Beth Nuss, right, were given recognition from the Kansas Association for the Education of Young Children organization. Linda Logan, KAEYC coordinator and trainer, middle, presented the recognition before the final preschool graduating class program on May 3, 2022.

Boyd and Nuss are retiring.

“As of May 13, we are finished with this building,” Nuss said in an interview. “New owners will start in about a week after that.”

The New Generation staff offered a child-centered and developmentally appropriate program for children ages two weeks through grade school age.
“The last two years through the COVID-19 Pandemic have been challenging with children and staff continually in and out of care due to precaution, quarantine, and illness,” according to a sign on the door of the childcare facility at 1502 Scott Avenue in March.
“Workforce challenges, in general, have made it increasingly difficult to recruit and retain qualified employees.”
“We have appreciated the partnership with USD234 operating preschool out of our facility the past three years,” according to the sign.
New Generation, Inc. opened its doors on September 1, 1990, seeking to provide quality care of children and offered both daycare and preschool services.

 

New Generation Daycare and Preschool.

 

 

Bourbon County, Fort Scott, Schools

Fort Scott Christian Heights Country Store and Auction May 7

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Fort Scott Christian Heights
56th Annual
Country Store & Auction
Saturday, May 7th | Opens at 9am
Crusader Charge
5k and 2 Mile Fun Run
Saturday, May 7th
Register below.
Country Store: 9am-3pm
The entire gym and all of the classrooms will be filled with items for sale.
Also featuring a big bakery room with every treat imaginable.
Buffet Dinner: 4pm
Fried chicken, B-B-Q Beef, Salads, Rolls and Handmade Pies
Adults $6 | Children $3
Benefit Auction: 6pm
NEW & USED items from local businesses and individuals will be auctioned. All proceeds will be used to purchase needed equipment for the school.
EVERYONE IS WELCOME!
Race and fun walk will be conducted on Margrave Street.
Registration begins at 7A.M. on Margrave between 10th & 12th Streets.
Race and walk begin at 7:30A.M.
Entry Fee: $15.00
Categories:
Male- 12-18 years Female- 12-18 years
Male- 19-30 years Female- 19-31 years
Male- 31years & up Female- 31 years & up
Fort Scott, Schools, Youth

FSHS Prom This Saturday, May 7

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Front from right to left, Abby Altic, Alexa Bukowski, Elli Milburn
Back:  Dominic Bishop, Shekhar Gugnani, Thade Yates.
The Fort Scott High School Junior and Senior Prom will be on May 7th, 2022 from 8:00 to 11:00 PM, at Liberty Theater.   Walk-in will begin at 6:30 that night.


Submitted by Bert Lewis FSHS Student Council Sponsor, Senior & Junior Class Sponsor, Key Club Sponsor, Ed Rising Sponsor,  and Scholars’ Bowl Coach.
Fort Scott, Schools

USD234 News Release

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NEWS RELEASE

 

Friday, April 29, 2022

 

Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at 424 S. Main for a special board meeting on Friday, April 29, 2022, at 5:00 p.m.

The board approved participation in the KanAWARE Grant.

Board members discussed the timeline and process of the superintendent search.

Board members approved removing the following agenda items:

 

·       An executive session to discuss personnel matters for nonelected personnel

·       Consider employment

 

The board adjourned