Voters yesterday approved an improvement plan for USD 235.
In 2021, Uniontown’s school district board of education had an engineering study in which they identified needs to be addressed, Superintendent Vance Eden said.
In November 2023 there was a bond issue put before the patrons of the district. That bond proposal failed, but the board felt that they still needed to address the issues pointed out in the 2021 study.
“The board came up with the money in the capital outlay fund to improve the agriculture department at the high school,” Eden said. “That took the majority of what they had in capital outlay.”
“The board didn’t have the cash to take on the other needs,” he said.
All graphics are from the Uniontown School District Facebook page.
Yesterday, March 4, another bond issue was presented to the patrons for approval, that has a $1,250,000 price tag with no annual tax rate increases for property owners.
It passed, with 67 percent of “yes” votes
“I’m glad the community had some consensus,” Eden said.
The next step in the process is that the finance team works with the Kansas Department of Education, with engineering and architectural work being approved, he said. Then contractors are sought for the construction and bids are let.
There are three components to the project: a new preschool building, a new fire alarm system at the high school, and a new front door area at West Bourbon Elementary School that is ADA and security compliant.
The fire system and front door areas should be completed by the start of the 2025-26 school year, Eden said.
The build of the preschool will take from 6-12 months and will likely start in the fall 2025.
The preschool program will continue in temporary accommodations until the new building is completed, he said.
Graphic of the unofficial results from yesterday’s voting on the bond issue. 211 patrons voted yes, 104 voted no. Graphic provided by the Bourbon County Clerk.
Uniontown High School houses the district’s school superintendent and board office.
The Preschool Building
The current modular preschool building, which is nearing the end of its usable life, will be replaced with an on-site built facility that will house the preschool and two offices.
Kansas law requires the district to provide special education services for children ages 3 and 4. Slots not filled by special education students are funded by Kansas law for at-risk children.
“After that, we fill with other students, most commonly referred to as model students,” he said.
Up to twenty students for the morning session and twenty more in the afternoon can be served in the district.
Also housed in the new building will be the speech therapist and the school psychologist, “who spend the majority of their time in that classroom,” he said.
The High School New Fire Alarm System
The new high school fire alarm system will replace the outdated one that operates by manual pull stations, which does not notify the fire department should a fire occur while no one is in the building. The new fire alarm system will have heat and smoke detectors and notify the fire department immediately.
The New Entrance Doors At the Elementary School
The current doors do not always close and latch, in spite of frequent repairs, and are a security risk. In addition, they are not in compliance with Standards for Accessible Designs.
The Kansas Association of School Boards recently announced its Leadership for Tomorrow (LFT) Class of 2025, according to a KASB press release.
Participants are nominated and then chosen through an application process that focuses on individual leadership in Kansas public education and participation in activities that promote effective governance and raise student achievement.
Scott Kimble, Fort Scott High School Principal was selected to participate in the leadership class.
The class gives board members, superintendents and administrators time to explore change theories and strategies, participate in leadership skill training and expand understanding of education and key issues for effective governance and raising student achievement, according to a press release. Through five two-day sessions, the class will visit local schools, hear classroom presentations and participate in class discussions of issues and challenges facing Kansas education.
“My participation in the KASB Leadership for Tomorrow class will greatly benefit our school district by enhancing my leadership skills and deepening my understanding of effective governance and educational policy,” Kimble said. “This program will provide valuable insights into best practices, innovative strategies, and emerging trends that can be applied to improve student achievement and district operations. Through collaboration with other educational leaders, I will gain new perspectives and ideas that can help us address challenges and implement meaningful changes. The knowledge and skills I develop will enable me to advocate more effectively for our students, staff, and community, ensuring that our district remains forward-thinking and student-centered. Ultimately, my participation will strengthen our district’s leadership capacity and contribute to a culture of continuous improvement.”
The KASB Leadership for Tomorrow Class of 2025 includes:
Rex Boley, Blue Valley USD 384 Superintendent
Kristin Borrowman, Lyons USD 405 Building Leader
Ashley Bugbee, Oxford USD 358 Building Leader
Jordan Carlson, Washington USD 108 Building Leader
Leslianne Craft, Andover USD 385 Building Leader
Anne Costello, Lawrence USD 497 Board Member
Alec Gartner, KASB Staff
Dan Grundy, Columbus USD 493 Superintendent
Amy Jones, Nickerson-South Hutchinson USD 309 District Leader
Tyson Kendrick, Canton-Galva USD 419 Building Leader
Scott Kimble, Fort Scott USD 234 Building Leader
Gina Loomis, SPT Architecture KASB Partner
Jared Meitler, Rock Creek USD 323 Board Member
Liz Plunkett, Syracuse USD 494 Building Leader
Jennifer Reed, Haysville USD 261 District Leader
Chase Rietcheck, Ulysses USD 214 Building Leader
Heather Stapp, Colby USD 315 Building Leader
Megan Storey-Kupersmith, Osawatomie USD 367 District Leader
Melody Stuckey, Goddard USD 265 District Leader
Christy Weiler, Seaman USD 345 Board Member
The events schedule over the next year:
SESSION 1 Topeka KSHSAA Office and Seaman USD 345 on March 27- 28.
SESSION 2 Troy USD 429 and Easton-Pleasanton Ridge USD 449 on April 24-25.
SESSION 3 Herington USD 487 and Manhattan USD 383 on June 12-13.
SESSION 4 Ellsworth USD 327 and Russell USD 407on Sept. 4- 5.
SESSION 5 Frontenac USD 249 and Fort Scott USD 234 on Oct. 2-3.
November 14-16, 2025: Wichita will be the class graduation, held during KASB Annual Conference.
Kimble’s Education and Experience
Kimble graduated from Derby High School and continued his education at Montana State Northern. After earning his degree he spent several years teaching in both Colorado and Oregon before returning to Kansas in 2003.
“I dedicated nine years to teaching at Buhler High School before transitioning into administration. With 15 years of classroom teaching experience and 12 years as an administrator, I have developed a deep commitment to education as the true equalizer in life. I believe every student deserves our very best, and I am passionate about empowering teachers to be great and make a lasting impact on their students.”
On behalf of the USD 234 School District, we would like to invite you to the 2025 Early Childhood Spring Fling. This year’s event will be held on Thursday, April 3rd from 5:00-6:30 PM at the Fort Scott Preschool Center. All children ages birth-six years old and their families are invited to attend.
For this event, we are asking family resource providers and community partners to bring an interactive activity for students and families. We will provide space and a table for your activity. During the event, you will also have an opportunity to visit with families and distribute flyers, handouts, giveaways, etc. Our goal is for children and families to interact, be active, and learn about the resources available in our community. If you are a preschool or childcare provider, please share the attached flyer with your families. We also welcome you to set up an activity and table for your program.
If you plan to attend our event, please complete the short form below by Tuesday, April 1st so we can have a table reserved for your organization. If you have questions, please let me know.
The Feb. 20 performance of Fort Scott High School’s play “And Then They Came for Me: Remembering the World of Anne Frank” is rescheduled for 7 p.m. on Feb. 23.
The rescheduling is due to the weather forecast for the week. Tickets previously sold for the Feb. 20 performance will be transferred or refunded, please contact Angie Bin, [email protected] or 620-719-9622. Other performances should run as scheduled at 7 p.m. on Feb. 21 and 22 in the FSHS Auditorium.
Left to right: Clark Uttinger, Sypher Cannon, Gianna Gorman, Tray Maloun.Submitted photo.
The production, by James Still, 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.
Left to right: Cooper George, Mykael Lewis, Gianna Gorman, Sypher Cannon. Submitted photos.
In addition to the performance, the lobby will feature many items of interest to the audience. A collection of Holocaust memorabilia from local historian Ronda Hassig will be on display in the Art Gallery.
Left to right: Gianna Gorman, Sypher Cannon
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.
Left to right: Kaiden Clary, Levi Fairchild. Submitted photos, all taken during dress rehearsal.
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 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.
Left to right: Sypher Cannon, Cooper George, Gianna Gorman, Mykael Lewis, Mary Racer, Kaiden Clary, Clark Uttinger, Junie Fisher.
Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, February 10, 2025, for their regular monthly meeting at the board office.
President David Stewart opened the meeting.
The board interviewed a potential board member.
The board appointed Phil Jackson and Rory Chaplin to the Board.
The board approved the official agenda, and the consent agenda as follows:
Board Minutes
01-13-25
01-20-25
Financials – Cash Flow Report
Check Register
Payroll – January 20, 2025 – $1,682,710.56
Activity Funds Accounts
USD 234 Gifts
UMB Credit Card Agreement
Zero Reasons Why Fundraising
Superintendent Destry Brown reported on a Special Olympics Basketball at Pitt State to be held Wednesday. He also presented the board with Math & Reading reports from Eugene Ware. There has been great growth in the students.
Assistant Superintendent Terry Mayfield provided the Board with an update that the Football Field turf is officially completed. There will be more discussion with Wrestling in the coming months as different options have been looked at. He also provided updates on all the facilities as well as food service.
Chris Garzone, principal at Winfield Scott was present with many from his team to update the board on some amazing things happening in their school. Linda Minor along with Luca Morter, Hadlee Simonds, Dayne Downing, and Danny Hall-Jenkins informed the Board about Community Based Interactive Instruction and their favorite parts about this program. Each grade level took a moment to speak about the positive events happening in their classes. Jenny Tourtilott, counselor, explained about the time she spends with each of the classes and the life lessons she can teach them. Each teacher reported amazing growth within their classrooms. Mr. Garzone and Nicole Gilmore, assistant principal, both spoke highly of the staff and students this year.
The Board Approved the following items:
Towerpoint Acquisitions Letter of Intent to Purchase Interest in Wireless Site
Two 10 passenger van purchases from Hillsboro Ford
Eugene Ware event date changes
There were none present for public forum.
The Board went into an executive session for personnel matters.
President David Stewart adjourned the meeting.
PERSONNEL REPORT – APPROVED
February 10, 2025
RESIGNATIONS/TERMINATIONS/RETIREMENTS:
Glades, Matt – Supplemental Resignation – Assistant Football Coach – High School
Hendricks, Sarah – Resignation – Teacher – Eugene Ware
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
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 [email protected] or at 620-719-9622 with questions.
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.”
