Category Archives: Schools

Fort Scott, Schools

Eight FSHS Debate Forensics Students Qualify For Nationals

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Submitted by Angella Curran

 

The results are in and Fort Scott has qualified EIGHT students to Nationals in debate and Forensics!

First of all, Everyone did their very best and really showed up and showed out for the qualifying tournaments. I’m very proud of all of you!
Your 2022 NSDA National Qualifiers headed to Louisville, KY in June are:
Lillian Collins and Kinsley Davis – Policy Debate
Shekhar Gugnani – House
Berkley Wood and Khris Patel -Punlic Forum
Thade Yates – Foreign Extemp
Neil Gugnani- US Extemp
Silvia Moreno- POI
Congratulations!!
The final leg of the tournament was Saturday in Coffeyville. The Results:
Jase Anderson (Fr)- 2nd alternate Oratory
Caitlynn Tate (So)-5th Oratory
Caroline Barnes (Fr) – 2nd alternate HI
Joy Self (Fr) – 5th HI
Silvia Moreno (So)- 2nd alternate POI
Kinsley Davis (Jr) – 5th place POI
Lillian Collins (Jr) – 6th place POI
Shekhar Gugnani (Sr) – District Champ FX
Thade Yates (Sr) – 1st alternate FX
Neil Gugnani (Sr)- District Champ USX
Joy Self/Caroline Barnes (Fr) – 1st alternates DUO
Anna Laubenstein (Jr)/Regen Wells (So) – 2nd alternates DUO
Fort Scott – 2nd place in debate sweeps!
What a way to complete the Districts! Go Tigers!!!
Fort Scott, Government, Schools

USD234 Press Release

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NEWS RELEASE

 

Thursday, April 21, 2022

 

Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at 424 S. Main for a special board meeting on Thursday, April 21, 2022, at 5:30 p.m.

The board went into executive session to discuss personnel matters for nonelected personnel and returned to open meeting.  Board members approved the following employment matters:

 

A.    Retirement of David Brown, Fort Scott Middle School Principal, effective July 1, 2022

B.    Resignation of Ted Hessong, Superintendent, effective June 30, 2022

C.    Resignation of Nina Merriman-Reed, middle school paraprofessional, effective at the end of the 2021-22 school year

D.    Change of title for Dalaina Smith, Director of Academics, to Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment for the 2022-23 school year

E.    Work schedule adjustment for Staci Sinn-Black, technician, to include two periods of teaching middle school Business Essentials for the 2022-23 school year

F.     Addition of a special education early childhood teaching position for the 2022-23 school year

G.    Adjustment in a middle school half-time teacher aide position to a full-time teacher aide position for the 2022-23 school year

 

The board adjourned.

 

 

Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at 424 S. Main for a second special board meeting on Thursday, April 21, 2022, at 6:48 p.m.

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

The board adjourned.

 

Fort Scott, Schools

Ted Hessong Resigns as Superintendent

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USD 234 Superintendent Ted Hessong resigned last evening at a special meeting of the board of education, effective the end of the school year, June 30, 2022.
A search is underway by the district for a new superintendent.
“The Kansas Association of School Boards in coordination with the Ft. Scott school district is conducting an online survey to seek community input on desired characteristics of the next superintendent. The survey will take approximately five minutes to complete and can be accessed at the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TX2MW7Z
The survey will close at 12:00 Noon on Wednesday, April 27,’ according to a press release from board clerk Gina Shelton.
Bourbon County, Exercise, Schools

Uniontown School Reopens Fitness Center

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Uniontown High School.
The USD 235 School District reopened Uniontown Fitness Center to the public. The fitness center is located on the southeast corner of the junior/senior high school, and has its’ own door with a key entry.
It re-opened to the public April 13.
The fitness center was closed to the public by the administration in November 2021, because of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
It  also was closed from November 2021 through March 2022 for the junior high, high school, and Kids Club Wrestling season.  They previously had used the fitness center as a practice room, Superintendent Bret Howard said. The room was the former library room.
The center is open before and after school.

“The fitness center is available to our physical education classes,” he said. “Our junior high and high school classes really don’t use it as they have the weight room. Our elementary PE classes used it on Friday’s before COVID. That hasn’t resumed post-Covid at this time.”

The Uniontown Fitness Center has a separate door to the district’s building, on the southeast side of the building.
Bret Howard, Superintendent of USD 235. Submitted. photo.

A keycard is sold to USD235 District residents for $10, a one time fee, unless the card is lost.

“For those of you who have a keycard, those should still work,”  Howard said. “To obtain a key card to access the fitness center you will need to contact Mr. Vance Eden, Principal at West Bourbon Elementary School.”
For any additional questions, contact  Eden at (620) 756-4335 or Howard at (620) 756-4302.

“You will be required to sign a sheet acknowledging you will agree to follow the rules and regulations for the Uniontown Fitness Center,” he said.  “You will also need to pay a one-time fee of $10. Once you have done those two things, you will be given a keycard and may begin using the Uniontown Fitness Center.”

Hours of availability to the public: Monday – Friday from 5 to 7 AM and 5:30 to 9:30 PM.  Saturday and Sunday from 6 AM to 7 PM.
Picture of the Rules and Regulations to the USD 235 Uniontown Fitness Center
The fitness center first opened in 2018 following the receiving of a grant.
U235 Students were trained how to use the equipment in this 2018 photo. Four students from each grade, 4th through 12th, were randomly selected to be student fitness ambassadors. They were given prior training in the weeks leading up to the official ribbon cutting.Submitted.
To learn more about the history of the center:

 

Fort Scott, Government, Schools

U234 Board of Education: New Principals, New Teachers

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NEWS RELEASE

 

Monday, April 11, 2022

 

Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at the Board of Education office on Monday, April 11, 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 as follows:

 

A.    Minutes

B.    Bills and Claims

C.    Payroll – March 10, 2022 – $1,437,997.40

D.    Financial Report

E.     Activity fund accounts­­­­­­

F.     FCCLA Fundraiser Application

G.    Parent/Teacher Conference statistics

H.    KASB Dues and Legal Assistance Fund

I.      Negotiations lists for 2022-23

J.      Use of a school bus for the Class of 1966 for June 25

K.    Memorandum of Understanding with Greenbush Food Purchasing Consortium

L.     Extended Trip Application – Film Festival Competition

 

The Fort Scott High School Sociology students gave a presentation on Hats in School.  They reported their research, observations, and surveys for allowing students to wear hats to school.

Board members approved Resolution 21-12 Authorizing and Providing for the Sale, Issuance, and Delivery of Taxable General Obligation Refunding Bonds.

Brenda Hill, Fort Scott KNEA President, gave a report on year-end activities.

Written reports were shared by principals.

In addition, the board heard a report from Dalaina Smith, Academics Director.  Board members approved a PLC Summer Institute for teachers.

Ted Hessong, Superintendent; and Gina Shelton, Finance Director/Board Clerk. presented reports.

Board members approved the following items:

·       Academic calendar for the 2022-23 school year

·       High School course changes/additions for the 2022-23 school year

·       Make-up snow days

·       Virtual Academy Memorandum of Understanding with Greenbush

 

Superintendent Hessong gave an ESSER III update.

The board approved a Benchmark change order to add Winfield Scott roofing to the bid documents.

Board members shared comments and then went into executive session to discuss personnel matters for nonelected personnel.  The board returned to open meeting and amended the agenda.  Board members approved the creation of a board-member committee to have exit interviews with administrators.  The committee would consist of four board members in a special meeting with an executive session.  The board approved the following employment matters:

 

A.    Resignation of Melissa Miller, Winfield Scott Principal, effective at the end of the 2021-22 school year

B.    Resignation of Martin Altieri, Winfield Scott Assistant Principal, effective at the end of the 2021-22 school year

C.    Resignation of Andrea Scott, Fort Scott Preschool Principal/Special Education Coordinator, effective at the end of the 2021-22 school year

D.    Resignation of Abby Dixon, Eugene Ware fifth grade teacher, effective at the end of the 2021-22 school year

E.     Resignation of Kerry Pommier, Eugene Ware counselor, effective at the end of the 2021-22 school year

F.     Resignation of Torrie Singmaster, Winfield Scott first grade teacher, effective at the end of the 2021-22 school year

G.    Resignation of Kelcy Schnaufer, preschool teacher, effective at the end of the 2021-22 school year

H.    Resignation of Travis Toth, high school social science teacher, effective at the end of the 2021-22 school year

I.      Resignation of Renee Scales, middle school special education teacher, effective May 17, 2022

J.      Resignation of Lindsay Knopp, Winfield Scott second grade teacher, effective May 13, 2022

K.    Resignation of Shytanna Reed, middle school paraprofessional, effective March 15, 2022

L.     Resignation of Elizabeth Rose, preschool paraprofessional, effective May 13, 2022

M.   Resignation of Shana Staton, preschool paraprofessional, effective at the end of the 2021-22 school year

N.    Resignation of Afton Brown, Winfield Scott paraprofessional, effective at the end of the 2021-22 school year

O.    Termination of Adrianne Wisdom, high school paraprofessional, effective February 17, 2022

P.     Transfer of Jamie Rogers, middle school math teacher, to high school math teacher for the 2022-23 school year

Q.    Transfer of Ashlea Taylor, Winfield Scott special education teacher, to first grade teacher for the 2022-23 school year; transfer of Kaitlin Arnold, Winfield Scott first grade teacher, to second grade teacher for the 2022-23 school year; transfer of Tyler Ericson, Winfield Scott first grade teacher, to second grade teacher for the 2022-23 school year

R.    Transfer of Kim Eastwood, Winfield Scott second grade teacher, to Eugene Ware music teacher for the 2022-23 school year

S.     Transfer of Madeline Martin to the high school counselor position for the 2022-23 school year

T.     Transfer of Angie DeLaTorre, Eugene Ware secretary, to high school secretary/registrar for the 2022-23 school year

U.    Transfer of Brandi Pitts, high school custodian, to central office head custodian, effective May 13, 2022

V.    Employment of David Heidrick as a middle school special education teacher for the 2022-23 school year

W.  Employment of Michael Durnell as a high school math teacher for the 2022-23 school year

X.    Employment of Sydney Crapson as a Winfield Scott first grade teacher for the 2022-23 school year

Y.    Employment of Evangelina Korinke as a Winfield Scott first grade teacher for the 2022-23 school year

Z.     Employment of Anna Kim as a Eugene Ware fifth grade teacher for the 2022-23 school year

AA.                   Employment of Abigail Duffy as a Eugene Ware fifth grade teacher for the 2022-23 school year

BB.                    Employment of Kim Carpenter as a Eugene Ware fifth grade teacher for the 2022-23 school year

CC.                    Employment of Toni Burton as a middle school part-time teacher aide for the remainder of the 2021-22 school year

DD.                               Employment of Angela Colvin as a middle school paraprofessional for the remainder of the 2021-22 school year

EE.            Employment of Sean Herring as a Eugene Ware 6.5-hour cook for the 2022-23 school year

FF. Employment of Fort Scott Preschool Center licensed staff for the 2022-23 school year

GG.                   Employment of Winfield Scott licensed staff for the 2022-23 school year

HH.                               Employment of Eugene Ware licensed staff for the 2022-23 school year

II.                Employment of Fort Scott Middle School licensed staff for the 2022-23 school year

JJ.   Employment of Fort Scott High School licensed staff for the 2022-23 school year

KK.                               Employment of licensed special education and technology staff for the 2022-23 school year

LL.Transfer of Erin Campbell, Winfield Scott paraprofessional, to Eugene Ware paraprofessional for the remainder of the 2021-22 school year

MM.                 Transfer of Tiffnie Spears, Eugene Ware fifth grade teacher, to Eugene Ware fourth grade teacher for the 2022-23 school year

NN.                   Transfer of Jeffery Pommier, Eugene Ware fourth grade teacher, to Eugene Ware fifth grade teacher for the 2022-23 school year

OO.                               Transfer of Danielle Cavin, Eugene Ware special education teacher, to Fort Scott Middle School special education teacher for the 2022-23 school year

PP.             Employment of Dale Brauer as a middle school math teacher for the 2022-23 school year

QQ.                   Employment of Lienna Upchurch as a Eugene Ware special education teacher for the 2022-23 school year

RR.                                Employment of Karen Gordon as Eugene Ware counselor for the 2022-23 school year

SS.             Employment of Sierra Muellner as a Winfield Scott low incidence special education teacher for the 2022-23 school year

TT.            Employment of Cynthia Hemphill-Witham as a preschool center paraprofessional for the 2022-23 school year

UU.                   Employment of Angelica Gonzalez as a middle school paraprofessional for the remainder of the 2021-22 school year

VV.                   Termination of Susan Karleskint, high school one-day-a-week ESOL teacher, effective at the end of the 2021-22 school year

WW.                Addition of After-School Program coordinator positions for Winfield Scott, Eugene Ware, and Fort Scott Middle School for the 2022-23 school year

 

The board adjourned.

Fort Scott, Schools

FSHS Talking Tigers Take First In Sweeps

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Submitted by Angella Curran
FSHS Talking Tigers competed at Paola on Saturday April 9.  The Tigers took 1st place in Sweeps!!!
POE: Anna Laubenstein 4th, Regen Wells 6th
HI: Joy Self 3rd, Caroline Barnes 6th
DI: Regen Wells 5th
DUO: Caroline Barnes and Joy Self 3rd, Anna        Laubenstein and Regen Wells 4th
INFO: Neil Gugnani 1st*, Shekhar Gugnani 2nd*, Thade Yates 3rd
DX: Neil Gugnani 1st*
FX: Thade Yates 3rd
IMP: Shekhar Gugnani 1st*
Tabloid Extemp: Shekhar Gugnani 1st, Thade Yates 3rd
POI: Silvia Moreno 1st*
*Indicates state qualifier
Bourbon County, Schools

Seventeen New Teachers, 3 New Administrators in Bourbon County Schools Next Year

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There will be many new faces in school districts in Bourbon County for the upcoming school year.
St. Mary’s Catholic School
For St. Mary’s Catholic Elementary School there are no resignations, according to Principal Josh Regan.
USD 234 Board of Education Building, 424 S. Main
USD 234 has received 10 resignations thus far.
Connie Billionis, U234 Board Clerk sent the following:
From Fort Scott High School:
Math Teacher – William Hall
Math Teacher – Jeff Armstrong
Social Science Teacher – Tami Campbell and the district has hired Jonathon Barnes to fill the position.
English Teacher – Jennifer Hartman
From Fort Scott Middle School:
Science Teacher – Kelly Toll
Special Education Teacher – Shelly Sanborn
From Eugene Ware Elementary School:
5th Grade Teacher – Mary Mauer
Music Teacher – Mary Jo Harper
5th Grade Teacher – Kristin Duffy
3rd Grade Teacher – Carrie Southwell
“We have hired an elementary Instructional Coach, Suzan Durnell,” Billionis said .  “This position was vacant this year.”
Uniontown High School.
USD 235 2021–22 Resignations and New Hires for 2022–23
Three administrative positions will have new people in the Uniontown School District, U235, according to the school superintendent. In addition there will be five teachers for current vacancies and  two more added because of COVID-19 funding.
Bret Howard resigned as Superintendent and will be replaced by Vance Eden, who is currently the elementary school principal.
Eden,  West Bourbon Elementary Principal, resigned and will be replaced by Tema Gilion.
Jim Lambert,  UJH/HS Principal, resigned and will be replaced by Dalaina Smith
Five teachers have resigned in this school district.
Neva Rowland, Uniontown High School Band and Choir teacher will be replaced by  Morgan Egidy.

Johnathan Stark, Uniontown Junior High and UHS Physical Education Teacher will be replaced by Zach Mason. Mason will also be the new head high school football coach.

Andrew Ables, UHS Science, resigned and the district is  taking applications.

Mike Durnell, UJH/UHS Math, resigned and the district is taking applications.
Linda Rogers resigned from first/second grade and the ESSER 2 Funded position will not be refilled.
There are two newly created teaching positions, funded by ESSER Funds.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was enacted on March 27, 2020, and included Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Funds for K-12 schools, according to the Kansas Department of Education website: https://www.ksde.org/Agency/Division-of-Learning-Services/Special-Education-and-Title-Services/Federal-Disaster-and-Pandemic-Relief
These ESSER grants provide school districts with emergency relief funds to address the impact COVID-19 has had elementary and secondary schools.

 A UJH/UHS Language Arts Teacher position is filled by Brianna (Hampton) Taylor. This is a new position using ESSER 3 Funding.

In 4th/5th Grade, Kaitlyn Bradbury is a new 4th/5th grade teacher, using ESSER 3 Funding.


Bourbon County, Schools

Free Developmental Screenings For Children 3-5 at Uniontown April 4

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Developmental screenings will be available for children ages 3-5 who may need special education and related services on Monday, April 4, 2022 at West Bourbon Elementary, Uniontown, KS.

 

Vision, hearing, speech, and developmental screenings can be conducted for children ages 3-5 at no cost. This free screening is sponsored by the Southeast Kansas Interlocal #637 and USD 235.

Appointments are necessary and can be arranged by contacting Jennifer Vaughn at (620) 704-6549.

Entertainment, Fort Scott, Schools

FSHS Hosts Annual Talent Show and Pageant

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The FSHS Improv Troupe performs “Late for Work.” L to R: Anthony Russo, Mykael Lewis, Jackson Elton, Jaedyn Lewis. Photos are courtesy of Megan Conner.

The annual FSHS Talent Show and Miss(ter) FSHS Pageant occurred March 25 at Fort Scott High School.

The event, hosted by Thespians and emceed by seniors Christina King and Ashlynn Bagnall, awarded cash prizes to the top three competitors. Senior Tina Ramirez won first place for singing “She Used to Be Mine” from the musical “Waitress.” Junior Ella McElroy won second for her original song accompanied by ukulele. Third place went to sophomore Jericho Jones for his original piano performance of a medley of Elton John songs.

Shakira Shakira (Shekhar Gugnani) wins Miss(ter) FSHS representing Future Business Leaders of America. Pageant emcee – Zaria Byrd.

Eleven senior males represented clubs and athletic teams in the Miss(ter) FSHS Pageant. The winner, by round of applause, was Shakira Shakira (Shekhar Gugnani) representing Future Business Leaders of America.

Talent Show winners and emcees: L to R – Ella McElroy, Jericho Jones, Tina Ramirez, Ashlynn Bagnall, Christina King.

Proceeds from the event will assist Thespians in attending the International Thespian Festival on June 20-24 at Indiana University. Senior Christina King and sophomore Regen Wells will both compete in the monologue category at the Festival.

 

Casey Gomez performs “Yakko’s World” where he recited and pointed to every nation in the world.

 

Fort Scott, Schools

FSHS Talking Tigers Place Second in Parsons Sweep

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Submitted photo.
On March 26, four Fort Scott High School Talking Tigers competed in the Parsons invitational.
Fort Scott placed 2nd in Sweeps!
Cadence Tuck: prose -4th, DX-5th, and Informative-2nd (State qualifier!)
Alyssa Popp: poetry – 6th
Joy Self: HI – 1st (State qualifier!), FX – 3rd,
Impromptu – 3rd
Kinsley Davis: OO – 5th, POI – 5th, Impromptu – 5th
Congratulations Talking Tigers!
Submitted by Angella Curran
Fort Scott, Schools, Sports

Stepps Named SEK Girls Basketball Coach of the Year

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Submitted photo. Pechone Stepps coaches the Fort Scott High School Lady Tigers Basketball Team.
Pechone Stepps is a Credit Recovery Teacher Aide at
Fort Scott High School and also a girls basketball coach.
This week, Coach Stepps was named the Southeast Kansas Girls Basketball Coach of the Year for the 21-22 season.
“The seven head coaches in the league vote for who they think deserves the award for that season,” Fort Scott High School Activities Director Jeff DeLatorre said. “The coach with the most votes is named Coach of the Year.”
FSHS Activities Director Jeff DeLaTorre.
With Stepps as a coach, the Lady Tigers finished the season with a record of 17-5 and finished as SEK League champions.
“There is a coach of the year selected for each sport in the SEK League each season,” DeLaTorre said.
“Through the years, Fort Scott High School has had several recipients of this award including Tracey Bogina for Boys Cross Country in the fall last year,” he said.  “Last school year (20-21) we had Bo Graham, football coach Tracey Bogina, girls cross country coach, Clint Heffern, boys basketball coach, and Josh Regan, baseball coach were recipients.

 

Tracy Bogina from the USD234 Online Staff Directory.
Bo Graham from the USD234 Online Staff Directory.
Clint Heffern.
Josh Regan. Submitted.
Josh Regan.