The public is invited to attend the 2024 Annual Meeting of the Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site (FSNHS) being held Monday, September 16 at the Herbert House, 512 S Judson in Fort Scott, KS.  The meeting will feature a program “The Greatest Test of Courage: A Story of WWII and the Philippines”, presented by Ronda Hassig.  It begins at 6 pm.  Light appetizer refreshments will be served.

Join us to learn about the Friends work on behalf of FSNHS and a little known WWII story in one of Fort Scott premier historic homes.

The Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site is a non-profit organization established in partnership with the National Park Service to support and promote the preservation and interpretation of FSNHS.

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

NEWS RELEASE

Monday, September 09, 2024

Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, September 09, 2024, for their regular monthly meeting at the board office.

President David Stewart opened the meeting.

The Revenue Neutral Hearing was held at 5:30 PM, none were present during public forum.

The Budget Hearing was held at 5:45 PM, none were present during public forum.

The Board approved –

Resolution 24-08- Exceeding the Revenue Neutral Tax Rate

Resolution 24-09- Make a local option percentage in an among of 33% for the 24-25 school year.

The Board approved the 2024-25 Budget with consideration of the Needs Assessment.

The board approved the official agenda and the consent agenda as follows:

Board Minutes

1.       08/12/24 Minutes

Financials – Cash Flow Report

Check Register

Payroll – August 20, 2024 – $1,872,640.99

Activity Funds Accounts

USD 234 Gifts

KASB August Update

KASB Voting Delegate 2024-25 – David Stewart

MOU with SEK Mental Health for Mental Health Intervention Program

MOU with Community Health Center of SEK for random drug screening of students

The Board went into an executive session for personnel matters.

Tiger of Members of the month were Jannah Farrington and Billi Jo Shoemaker. Jannah is in her 14^th year of teaching and Billi Jo is in her second with SPED and 23^rd year with the district. Both were recognized for their hard work during the ESY summer program. Jannah was the coordinator and Billi Jo helped with the elementary students. Both were a key part in the success of this summer program in which the children had a wonderful experience.

Superintendent Destry Brown reported on an upcoming Board Member training to be held later this month.

Assistant Superintendent Terry Mayfield provided the Board with a shared sheet.

Tonya Barnes, Special Education Director, updated the Board on several training opportunities that will be coming soon. She also commended the SPED staff for their accomplishment with Indicator 11 and informed about the evaluations last year and number of IEP placements.

Danny Brown, Board Member, adjourned the meeting.

PERSONNEL REPORT – APPROVED

September 09, 2024

RESIGNATIONS/TERMINATIONS/RETIREMENTS:

Craig, Alicia – Van Driver Resignation

Hensley, Charlie – Resignation – Transportation Director

Lopp, Kylie – Resignation – Paraprofessional – Eugene Ware

Mishler, Kelsei – Resignation – Paraprofessional – Middle School

Stepps, Abby – Supplemental Resignation – Leadership Club

LEAVE OF ABSENCE:

Mills, Lacy

EMPLOYMENT:

Classified Recommendations for the 2024-25 school year:

Heenan, Kristen – Paraprofessional – High School

Newman, Ronna – Substitute Paraprofessional – High School

Skaggs, Gwen – Paraprofessional – Middle School

Supplemental Recommendations for the 2024-25 school year:

Corbitt, Cheyenne – Intramural Supplemental

Dennigan, Dennis – Morning Gym Supervision

Jones, Taylor – Musical Music Director

Nelson, Andrew – Guided Coalition

Oxholm, Chris – Assistant Wrestling

Spears, Tiffinie – Leadership Club

A meeting of the Industrial Development Research Committee will be held on August 19, 2024 at 6:30 in the County Commission Room of the Bourbon County Courthouse, 210 S. National Ave. Fort Scott, KS 66701. If the County Commission meeting is still session at 6:30 p.m., then the Committee will hold the meeting in the main lobby of the Courthouse.

8-14-24 A

8-14-24 R

6-25-24-Arrest

6-25-24- Release

6-13-24- Arrest

6-13-24- Release

At the invitation of Kansas Governor Laura Kelly, Nickelson Lee Davis of Fort Scott High School, son of Jason and Nicole Davis, was selected to attend the 41^st Annual Governor’s Scholars Awards Program on May 5, 2024, in Topeka.

The recognition ceremony honors the top academic one-percent of Kansas high school seniors.  Scholars are selected from accredited public and private schools in the state.

“These high school seniors have shown dedication in their studies and a commitment to learning.  They’ve earned this honor, and I want to congratulate them on this achievement,” Kelly said.  “We also should recognize their families, teachers and mentors for helping these outstanding students achieve their academic goals.”

This program is coordinated for the governor by the Confidence in Kansas Public Education Task Force, which was formed 41 years ago to strengthen confidence in public education.  The following organizations are members of the task force: American Association of University Women, Kansas State Board of Education, Kansas Association of School Boards, Kansas Congress of Parents and Teachers, Kansas State Department of Education, Kansas State High School Activities Association, Kansas National Education Association, Kansas League of Women Voters and United School Administrators of Kansas.

As a distinguished Kansas Governor’s Scholar, Davis was given the opportunity to recognize an exceptional educator in his life with a Teacher of Influence certificate.  Davis chose to recognize FSHS math teacher, Morgan Felt.

Davis is a 2024 graduate at FSHS and is attending the University of Kansas, School of Engineering in August of 2024.

In small towns and rural areas, new folks bring big changes that matter a lot. When people move to different states or areas, they have all sorts of reasons for choosing those locations. Understanding these reasons is key to knowing how newcomers help places grow.

Newcomers aren’t just faces in a crowd—they’re the ones who bring new energy and ideas to small towns. Experts have studied and seen that, when fresh faces show up, it can be like a breath of fresh air for communities.

You might wonder why someone chooses to move to a specific town or state. Some come for jobs or better work opportunities, while others might move for the beautiful landscapes or a slower pace of life. Some pick a place because of family ties or friends already living there. Understanding these reasons helps communities see what makes them attractive to new folks.

When newcomers arrive, they’re like a boost for small towns. They often bring new skills, different perspectives, and lots of enthusiasm. They bring a bit of their own spice to the mix, making things more interesting. And it’s not just about them moving in; it’s about what they do when they get there.

Some newcomers dive right in—they join clubs, volunteer, start businesses, and get involved in making decisions for their community. This isn’t just good for the town; it’s good for everyone. They bring fresh ideas, help businesses grow, and make the place feel more connected; others may need a bit more of a “pull” from others in the community to come out of their shell.

Understanding what makes newcomers feel at home is vitally important. Maybe it’s about creating more job opportunities, inventing fun events, improving schools. Knowing these things helps make the place more welcoming and helps keep these new faces around.

A few ways your community can become more welcoming for newcomers:

• Start by listening: Both newcomers and longtime residents can feel alienated by change and unwelcome in their community.
• Create “Do It Together” opportunities: Bring residents together through common projects. It’s an opportunity to bring people together through the arts, sports, volunteering, or myriad other ways that provide a chance for neighbors to find common ground.
• Build a community-wide Welcoming agenda: Communities can create their own welcoming plan and bring together different sectors—government, business, community, faith, etc. Remember, when new people come in, they bring fresh perspectives and ideas. And when they feel welcomed and understood, they stick about and help make things better for everyone.

In the end, newcomers can be the secret ingredient that makes small towns better. They bring new ideas and energy, making these places feel like home for everyone. When new people come in, they bring fresh perspectives and ideas, but when they feel welcomed and understood, they stick around and help make things better for everyone.

For More information, contact Community Vitality Agent, Amanda Clasen at [email protected] or at 620-244-3826.

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4-4-24-Release