Category Archives: Schools

Bourbon County, COVID-19, Schools

U235 Receives SPARK Funds To Clean Schools, Technology, Extra Staff and Help Bring Health Clinic to Town

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Uniontown High School.
USD 235, Uniontown’s school district, is the recipient of two SPARK grants.
The Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) Taskforce is charged with leading Kansas forward in recovery from the far-reaching effects of COVID-19, with funds distributed from the U.S. Federal Government.

The first USD235  grant is a collaborative project to bring a medical clinic to Uniontown.
“The collaborative project in the amount of $88,000 was for the rural health clinic in our old board of education building,” USD235 Superintendent Brett Howard said.  “The collaboration is between Girard Hospital, the Uniontown Ruritan Club, and USD 235.  The $88,000 will be used for remodeling the building into a rural health clinic.  The Uniontown Ruritan Club and Girard Hospital are working together and USD 235 is leasing the building to Girard Hospital for the Health Clinic.”
The building for the medical clinic is south of the Uniontown High School Football Field.
USD 235 also received $102,000 in SPARK funds, for a heating/air conditioning purification system, technology, and an extra custodian.
 “Those funds are being used to install an IWave purification system in our HVAC system,” Howard said. “IWave kills mold, bacteria, viruses, reduces odors, and even reduces allergens and static electricity. It requires no maintenance and has no harmful byproducts, safely cleaning the air in schools.”
“We are also purchasing technology for our teachers to help them work with our students who have chosen the remote learning option or who are quarantining and working from home during their quarantine,” he said.
Rose Gauthier’s kindergarten class could view each other on Zoom during lesson time in spring 2020 when the district was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Submitted photo.
“The money will also be used to purchase cleaning supplies and help pay for an extra custodian to clean buses and transportation vehicles,” Howard said.
Bourbon County, Schools, Sports

UNIONTOWN HS VB and FB WEEK 8 Results

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Adelay Martin. Submitted photo.

Submitted by Adelay Martin, UHS Student Sports Reporter

The Lady Eagle Volleyball season came to an end Saturday at the 2A Sub-State Tournament hosted at Uniontown.

In the first round, Uniontown defeated Pleasanton 25-19 and 25-15. Bri Stokes had 10 points and 10 assists. Danielle Howard was 14/18 on attacks with 7 kills and 5 solo blocks. Paige Mason was 11/11 on attacks with 2 kills.

The second round saw Erie defeat Uniontown 26-24 and 25-10. Bri Stokes had 5 points and 4 assists. Karleigh Schoenberger was 12/14 on attacks with one kill and Danielle Howard was 9/10 on attacks with 3 kills. Gwen Fry had 3 solo blocks.

“The team played hard,” Coach Hall says. “We just couldn’t shut down Erie’s middle hitter when she got to the front row, and she was on fire. I’m so proud of this team. The six seniors have shown great leadership throughout their career and this challenging season. I wish them the best in their future plans and look forward to the 2021 season.”

The Varsity squad finished the season with an overall record of 12-4 and were Co-Champions of the Three Rivers League, tied with St.Paul and Chetopa.

On Friday, the Varsity football team faced Lyndon and lost 41-0. Treden Buckman had 14 rushes for 61 yards, and Drew Perry had 20 rushes for 103 yards. Perry also completed 4/5 passes for 12 yards. and had 3 unassisted tackles. Jake Harvey had 5 assists and received two passes, and Luke Perry had 1 interception.

The first round of playoffs is Friday, October 30th at Uniontown, so let’s run down some cumulative stats…

Hunter Schaaf, SR – 111 carries, 532 yards, 4.79 ypc, 8 TDs (6 games)

Drew Perry, SR – 143 carries, 696 yards, 4.87 ypc, 5 TDs (8 games)

Treden Buckman, SO – 93 carries, 490 yards, 5.27 ypc, 4 TDs (8 games)

Hunter Schaaf, LB, SR – 68 tackles (6 games)

Jake Harvey, LB, SR – 57 tackles, 1 INT (8 games)

Drew Perry, DB, SR – 42 tackles (8 games)

Zach Franklin, DE, SR – 40 tackles (8 games)

Luke Perry, DB, JR – 30 tackles, 2 INTs (8 games)

Korbin Miller, DT, JR – 29 tackles, 2 sacks (8 games)

Bring a warm coat, some blankets, and hot cocoa, and come support your Uniontown Eagles in the playoffs on Friday, October 30!

Bourbon County, Schools, Sports

UNIONTOWN HS VB AND FB RESULTS WEEK 7

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Adelay Martin. Submitted photo.

Submitted by Adelay Martin, UHS Student Sports Reporter

The week of Homecoming was a busy one for the Eagles! The Varsity volleyball team defeated Oswego on October 13. They played 5 sets scoring 23-25, 23-25, 25-19, 25-19, and 15-10. Paige Mason scored 14 points and Bri Stokes scored 12 points with 28 assists. Libby Schaaf was 38/43 on attacks with 5 kills, Danielle Howard was 26/29 on attacks with 11 kills, Karleigh Schoenberger was 24/28 on attacks with 7 kills, and Gwen Fry was 23/26 on attacks with 5 kills. Danielle also had 13 solo blocks.

The Varsity team also traveled to Pleasanton on October 15 to play Pleasanton and Kansas City Christian. They came home having defeated both teams in two sets.

The Eagles defeated KCC 25-4 and 25-5. Karleigh Schoenberger scored 21 points and had 14 consecutive serves, and Paige Mason scored 19 points and had 15 consecutive serves. Danielle Howard was 18/19 on attacks with 8 kills and Paige Mason was 9/9 on attacks with 2 kills. Bri Stokes had 15 assists.

Uniontown also defeated Pleasanton, sets both scoring 25-12. Danielle Howard was 23/24 on attacks with 13 kills, and Paige Mason was 16/16 on attacks with 4 kills, Libby Schaaf was 11/11 on attacks with 4 kills. Danielle Howard and Gwen Fry each had 3 solo blocks and Bri Stokes had 19 assists.

Coach Hall said of the games, “The five-set match with Oswego on Tuesday showed a lot of character and determination from the team. Losing the first two sets and having to come back and win three: that is challenging, but the team rose to the occasion!

“The JV season has come to a close after Oswego’s match. The team finished with a 5-12 overall record. Varsity will be preparing for Class 2A Sub-State, which we will be hosting on Saturday, October 24.”

The football team also played an exciting game, facing Central Heights and defeating them 25-14. Drew Perry had 25 rushes for 119 yards and 6 tackles, as well as 1 completed 8-yard pass. Treden Buckman had 24 rushes for 127 yards. Zach Franklin had 9 tackles and Jake Harvey had 8 tackles. Drew Buckman had 5 tackles, 1 interception, and 1 pass deflected. Cayman Fewell and Korbin Miller each had 1 sack. Moving forward, Uniontown will host a playoff game at home on Friday October 30th, so come support your Eagles before preparing for some Halloween festivities of your own!

Fort Scott, Schools

FSHS singers audition for virtual choir

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Students from Left to Right: Karen Primeaux, Jerome Olson, Elizabeth Moore, Jordyn McGhee, Kassandra Farr, & Luke Majors

Six vocalists are preparing for SEKMEA District Choir and KMEA All-State Choir Auditions. Sophomores Kassandra Farr and Elizabeth Moore, and Juniors Luke Majors, Jordyn McGhee, Jerome Olson, and Karen Primeaux are preparing to record auditions.

These auditions typically happen in-person in early November with
subsequent concerts in December and February. Due to pandemic guidelines, this audition process is moving online. Students will prepare two selections until late October when the audition cuts are announced.

Choir directors will record students performing these selections one-on-one and submit them online where they will be adjudicated.

Choirs will be announced later in the school year.

These students are members of the FSHS After School Choir, under the direction of MJ Harper.

Rehearsals have already begun, but interested performers are still welcome to enroll. The FSHS After School Choir meets Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30-4:15PM.

Students wishing to participate can enroll by scanning the QR
Code on posters at FSHS or by emailing [email protected]

Fort Scott, Schools

The Fort Scott Talking Tigers Compete

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The Talking Tigers competed in the Field Kindley tournament today with some tough competition!
In the novice division, Trent Toth and Sam Deloney went undefeated with a 4-0 record and placed 5th! In the JV division Isaiah Self and Gavin Warfield pled 4th with a 3-1 record.
Sweeps has not yet been announced, but no matter the result, FSHS showed up and shined! Way to go Tigers!
Angella Curran 

Fort Scott High School
Speech Communications
Debate/Forensics
Fort Scott, Schools

After School Choir Started at FSHS and FSMS

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The Fort Scott High School Choral Club pause for a photo during practice on Thursday. Submitted photo.

A Fort Scott Middle/High School Choral Music Teacher vacancy was not replaced by the USD 234 Board of Education this summer.

“Abby Helt, the choir teacher that was hired to replace Emily Elliott, withdrew in July, and there was not another teacher hired,” said  Mary Jo Harper, Eugene Ware Elementary School’s Music Teacher. “They opened a position up for an after-school choir at the high school that I applied for.”

Mary Jo Harper. Submitted photo.

“I got the green light to begin rehearsals in October and we started on Tuesday,” Harper said.  “Students in 9-12th grade are welcome to participate. We meet Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 PM-4:15 PM in the Choir Room at FSHS.”

“Our goal is to aid students interested in auditioning for district and state choir (virtual this year) to have that opportunity and to prepare students for the spring musical.”

“We are also striving to continue to cultivate a passion for choral music, preparing for community performances and other events that may be able to happen in the future.,”  Harper said.

” During the pandemic, the science is continuously updating,” Harper said.  “Our goal is to continue to follow the COVID guidelines put out by the National Association for Music Education and Kansas State High School Activities Association, meaning masked singing during rehearsals whether indoors or outdoors, limited to about 30 minutes at a time in any space, temperatures recorded, and symptom scanning.”

“Our first rehearsal was filled with folk songs to warm up and prepare for this adventure,” Harper said. “While we wait for the clearance to sing in the elementary classroom, this has been one way I get to feed my musical soul. It’s been lovely to be able to see our students continue to love singing in high school. I’m glad I get to be a part of their continued choral education!”

Fort Scott Middle School After School Choir

Jannah Farrington at Fort Scott Middle School is doing an after school choir with interested students, Harper said.

 

Jannah Farrington, Fort Scott Middle School Special Education Teacher and Choral Club Teacher. Submitted photo.

“When I was asked if I would be interested I was over the moon excited.,” Farrington said.  “Special Education is my passion but music was my first love. I am a singer and began my college career as a vocal music major. I am excited to be on this journey as it lights a fire deep in my soul.”

She started with four interested students and now has up to seven.

“That number is growing as the word gets out to more and more students,” Farrington said.

“Our purpose together is to create music,” she said. “To use our musical instrument that was given to us.”

“We meet three days a week after school,” Farrington said.  “That is adjusted to two days a week if we have a short week.”

“I am teaching basic skills on how to read music,” she said. ” I am also teaching them how to improve their tone, pitch ability and we are working on two-part harmony.”

They are working on a traditional and a contemporary piece of music.

“I am working on them listening to one another and singing together, building confidence, practicing hard and improving their singing skills,” she said.

She is striving to have fun in the club, during these uncertain and different times, she said.

 

“We are following the (pandemic) guidelines we need to and my students have adjusted well to that,” she said. ” We are not preparing for competition currently but are preparing and will host a zoom concert for their parents.”

 

COVID-19, Fort Scott, Schools

FORT SCOTT KNEA STATEMENT ON USD 234 QUARANTINE POLICY

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Submitted by the Fort Scott Kansas National Education Association’s Media Relations Contact Brian Pommier.

Prior to this school year, the Fort Scott KNEA negotiations team sat
down with their counterparts on the USD 234 Board of Education’s team and came to an agreement on a Memorandum of Understanding dealing with COVID-19.

At Monday night’s meeting, however, the board voted to change the COVID-19 quarantine requirements previously in place, which we believe to be a violation of the terms of the agreement.

Included in the MOU was an agreement to put the Return to Learning plan in place for this school year and to jointly address issues arising to COVID-19.

The Return to Learning plan defines the term “close contact” as someone who has been within “6 feet of the case for 10 minutes or more or if they had direct exposure to secretions into their nose, eyes, or mouth (for example, being coughed or sneezed on).”

The plan also stated that close contacts must remain in quarantine until they have met the criteria for release from quarantine set by KDHE or SEKMCHD.

On Monday, however, the board of education voted 4-3 to change the district’s policy regarding the quarantine of close contacts. Now, someone who has spent more than 10 minutes within six feet of
someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 no longer has to quarantine so long as masks are worn.

The board’s decision — in essence — to redefine the term “close contact” to avoid quarantine violates the terms of the agreement.

The issue should have been addressed in conjunction with the FSKNEA, as per our agreement.

The FSKNEA negotiations team denounces the board’s action and demands that the board honor the Memorandum of Understanding.

During our negotiations this summer, the FSKNEA found the board of education willing to come to a common-sense agreement to address COVID-19 issues in an attempt to re-open our schools and
allow in-person learning to occur.

We are disappointed in the board’s decision to back away from that
agreement without even discussing the issue with our team.

Bourbon County, Schools, Sports

UHS VB and FB WEEK 6 RESULTS

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Adelay Martin. Submitted photo.

Submitted by Adelay Martin, UHS Student Sports Reporter

The Uniontown Lady Eagles Volleyball team faced the Marmaton Valley Wildcats in the first home game of the season on Tuesday, October 6. Both JV and Varsity teams defeated the Wildcats.

The JV defeated Moran 25-9 and 26-24. Alexis Herring scored 12 points.

The Varsity Lady Eagles defeated Moran 25-18, 25-18, and 25-11. Bri Stokes scored 11 points, and Paige Mason scored 10 points and had 2 solo blocks. Danielle Howard was 24/25 on attacks with 13 kills and 6 solo blocks. Karleigh Schoenberger was 17/19 on attacks with 4 kills. Libby Schaaf was 15/16 on attacks with 2 kills. Gwenyth Fry was 12/12 on attacks with 3 kills and 2 solo blocks.

“The gym was ROCKIN’!!” said Coach Hall. The student section was indeed, rockin’. “Great atmosphere and it paid off…both teams were victorious!”

The UHS football team lost 28-8 against Riverton on Friday. Treden Buckman had 8 rushes for 27 yards, Hunter Schaaf had 9 rushes for 34 yards with one touchdown, and Drew Perry had 20 rushes for 97 yards. Jake Harvey had 3 pass receptions for 33 yards. Drew Perry completed 5/5 passes for 69 yards. As far as tackling went, Jake Harvey and Drew Perry each had 4 unassisted tackles, and Caleb Davis had 3 unassisted tackles. Joey Marlow had 2 fumble recoveries.

Fort Scott, Government, Schools

U234 Board Meeting Press Release Oct. 12

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NEWS RELEASE    Monday, October 12, 2020

 

Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at the Fort Scott Middle School Commons on Monday, October 12, for their regular monthly meeting.

President David Stewart 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 – September 18,  2020 – $1,391,092.25

D.    Financial Report

E.     Activity Fund Accounts

 

There were two comments during the public forum.  Following the public forum, it was

approved (4 yes; 3 no) to add an item to the agenda.

It was moved and approved (4 yes; 3 no) that a close mask-wearing contact of a symptomatic, confirmed COVID-19 student or staff member does not have to go into quarantine from school.

Board members heard reports from the following:

·       Brenda Hill, KNEA President

·       All building principals

·       Dalaina Smith, Director of Academics

·       Ted Hessong, Superintendent

·       Gina Shelton, Business Manager/Board Clerk

 

Board members approved the following:

·       Roof payment

·       Roof Reinspection Agreement

·       Agreement of Cooperation and Partnership between USD 234 and No Limits Rehabilitation, Inc.

·       Memorandum of Understanding between USD 234 and the Bourbon County Health Department

 

In addition, the board reviewed the September 21, 2020, Enrollment Count Report.

Board members shared comments and then went into executive session to discuss personnel matters for nonelected personnel and returned to open meeting

The board approved the following employment matters:

 

A.    Resignation of Lisa Mathew, high school paraprofessional, effective October 2, 2020

B.    Resignation of Glenda Cooper, Winfield Scott cook, effective September 17, 2020

C.    Employment of Heather Geiger as a high school paraprofessional for the 2020-21 school year

D.    Leave of absence for Lindsay Knopp, Winfield Scott second grade teacher

E.     Leave of absence for Codee Weddle, Winfield Scott paraprofessional

F.     Employment of Mary Jo Harper as high school Choral Club sponsor for the 2020-21 school year

G.    Employment of Brooke Senkevech as a middle school first session intramurals coach for the 2020-21 school year

The board adjourned.

Business, COVID-19, Fort Scott, Schools

See Tiger Football On The Big Screen Friday Night

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Fort Scott Cinema is located at 224 W.18th.

Brent Cavin, manager of Fort Cinema, has come up with a collaboration to allow Fort Scott High School Tiger Football to be seen on the big screens.

“As new movies continue to be pushed back months we have switched our mindset and focus from being not only a movie theater, but into a gathering place for the community,” Cavin said.

Recently, they have made theater rentals available for private movie and video game parties on the big screens.

To view the previous story on theater rentals, click below:

Fort Cinema Gets Creative In Offerings

“This is the next step for our community to help keep their theater open,” Cavin said. “It was an idea that came to us as we realized some of the away football games have limited fan attendance. When we noticed that the upcoming football game is several hours away we decided this is the perfect opportunity to give back to the community.”

The number of fans is limited because of the COVID-19 pandemic precautions.

Cavin contacted FSHS and Fort Scott Broadcasting on Friday to pitch the idea, and both were enthusiastic about the concept.

“All three screens are capable of broadcasting the game via Fort Scott TV,”  he said.  “We are hoping that broadcasting conditions will be optimal Friday night from Wamego, and we are making sure our theater will be able to hopefully stream the game without any hiccups.”

Admission is free.

The staff is asking those who want to attend to come and get a ticket sometime this week between the hours of 6 p.m.and 8 p.m.

“This is solely to give us an estimate on crowd size,” Cavin said.

“There will be a free will donation bucket available for anyone who would like to donate money,” he said.

“Our concession stand will be open with food that all fans are familiar with when they attend games: popcorn, pretzels, nachos, candy, and pizza by the slice from Papa Don’s will be sold,” Cavin said.

The cinema is located just off South Main Street at 224 W. 18th Street.

Doors will open at 6:00 with kickoff scheduled for 7:00.

Come support the undefeated Tigers, while supporting the local cinema.

The Fort Scott High School football team celebrates in a 2015 game.