Fort Scott Community College President Alysia Johnston.
Fort Scott Community College employees have been working on how to provide an education safely to all involved during the pandemic that has played havoc across the world.
“We have been working with local, regional, and state health officials to determine how best to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 for our students, employees, and community,” President Alysia Johnston said. “We want to meet the unique needs of our students while keeping everyone safe.”
Schedules have been changed.
“The June summer schedule has been changed to an all-online format with the exception of John Deere,” she said. “The classes will be split so there are not more than 10 students at one time.”
Adam Borth. Submitted photo.
“Currently, John Deere has two classrooms and a total of 15 students will be on campus in June,” Adam Borth, vice president of academic affairs, said. ” This will allow us to utilize both classrooms and appropriate distancing requirements. We will also be cleaning and sanitizing surfaces to exceed recommendations. We are hoping and planning for all of our technical classes to begin in August 2020, just as they did in 2019. While we prepare for this, we also will likely need to be prepared to have quite a bit of hands-on training in the first portion of the classes, should we need to go back online again. Our plan, at this time, is face to face courses for fall.”
“We are looking at a possible change to our fall calendar schedule that would have students finish the fall semester before Thanksgiving,” Johnston said. “We believe this would help mitigate the spread of the pandemic as we would not be bringing students back once again from a wide geographical area.”
“We are discussing the idea of moving our start date up for fall classes, to begin on August 10,” Borth, said.
“We have tentatively set the commencement ceremony for Saturday, November 21, 2020 for graduates from spring 2020, summer 2020, and fall 2020,” he said.
“This would allow us to end the week of Thanksgiving, and hopefully minimize exposure during the fall semester. Our spring 2021 semester has not changed at this point, although this could change, given the fluidity of this situation,” Borth said.
“We are still evaluating courses which begin in July, and will continue to do so while the situation evolves,” he said. “The primary changes will be the amount of students in a classroom at any given time. We will ensure 15 occupants are in a classroom during this phase of reopening, and also ensure social distancing is occurring. This may mean significant changes to how our courses are scheduled by the time August rolls around.”
Some students will be tested for COVID 19.
“We plan on bringing back some student-athletes in July and have been working with Community Health Center of SEK to perform COVID-19 testing for the students,” Johnston said. ” We have procedures and protocols in place if someone tests positive for COVID-19. We are extremely grateful to CHC of SEK for working with us to establish best practices and administering the tests at no cost to the college or students.”
Budgets are revisited.
“We are currently developing the 2021 fiscal budget and analyzing available data and information to determine the best budgeting solutions,” she said. ” We know our state funding will be lower and we are making adjustments – keeping in mind the critical needs of students and all stakeholders must be met.”
Safety is a priority.
“Making sure students, employees and the community are safe is our greatest concern and we are working every day on best practices to make sure we meet all our stakeholder’s needs,” Johnston said.
On-campus classes for the fall semester are planned for students.
“The students, faculty, and the staff have done an amazing job adapting to online classes and working remotely,” she said. “However, we are all looking forward to having students on campus for the fall semester.”
Sliding fee discounts and financial assistance is available to eligible patients, as stated on the front door of the CHC/SEK Clinic in Fort Scott.
Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas now offers COVID-19 antibody testing through QUEST Laboratories, according to Robert Poole, Communication and Marketing Director, in a press release.
Antibody testing is useful for research and specific virus investigations or epidemiologic studies. CHC/SEK shares testing results with its state and federal partners, according to the press release.
Put simply, the body makes antibodies to fend off germs and other harmful substances. And this process is part of the body’s immune response, according to dictionary.com.
The antibody test requires a physician’s order and looks for antibodies in persons who may have had, and have recovered from COVID-19, according to the press release.
Individuals wanting this antibody testing should discuss their concerns and what their results might mean with their doctor.
Laboratory orders can be accepted from physicians outside of the organization for this test, for example, a college student might have a primary care physician in another city.
COVID-19 antibody tests require a blood draw.
Testing is available at either the CHC/SEK Walk in-In Care, 1624 S. National, or the medical clinic at 401 Woodland Hills Blvd.
A positive result does not guarantee immunity from the virus. Whether you test positive or negative, you should still take preventative measures to protect yourself and others from the virus.
The cost of the COVID-19 antibody testing is being covered by the federal government, however, patients may incur an office visit fee depending on their insurance and income status.
Other points from the press release:
The science of COVID-19 testing is evolving, and test accuracy is not perfect. However, testing for antibodies can help identify people who have likely been exposed to the COVID-19 and have mounted an immune response to the virus.
The timing of the test is important. It typically takes 1 to 3 weeks after someone becomes infected with COVID-19 for their body to make antibodies; some people may take longer to develop antibodies.
It is unknown if people with antibodies have immunity and are protected from becoming sick with COVID-19 again. It is also not known how long those antibodies will last.
Antibody tests are not used to diagnose someone as being currently sick with COVID-19. To see if you have a current infection, you need a viral test that checks respiratory samples, such as a swab from inside your nose.
Whether you test positive or negative for COVID-19, you should still take preventative measures to protect yourself and others from the virus.
Allen Schellack, director of Fort Scott Compassionate Ministries.
Three Christian ministries are working together to bring food to those affected by the COVID 19 Pandemic.
Fort Scott Compassionate Ministries, Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene, and Convoy of Hope will be having a food distribution event, Saturday, May 23, from 10 AM to 2 PM at Fort Scott Nazarene, 1728 S Horton.
Convoy of Hope is providing the food, the church is providing the distribution place and some volunteers and Allen Schellack, director of Fort Scott Compassionate Ministries, is providing the coordination of the food distribution.
The Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene is located at 1728 S. Horton. People should enter off of Horton Street and will pick up food under the canopy on the south side of the church.
Food distributed (while supplies last) will include potatoes, bread, eggs, produce, and bottled juice and tea, according to Allen Schellack, director.
Schellack recently completed a Convoy of Hope Zoom training and on May 20 he was told that food to distribute would be available on May 23.,
Schellack with his son, Dustin, will be picking up the food from the Convoy of Hope hub site in Webb City, MO.
Volunteers are needed on May 23 to help direct traffic for the event, unpack the food, and hand out the food, Schellack said.
Volunteers can call Schellack to schedule a work time at 620-223-2212.
There are no income guidelines to receive the food, nor registration requirements.
“We hope to make this the first of many more events,” Schellack said.
“This is a community event and our vision is to have more churches involved to help serve the community,” he said.
Convoy of Hope is a faith-based organization with a driving passion to feed the world through children’s feeding initiatives, community outreaches, disaster response and partner resourcing, according to its’ Facebook page.
Schellack is a member of the Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene and members are supporting this outreach as volunteers and allowing the church to be the distribution point.
The mission of Fort Scott Compassionate Ministries is to
alleviate suffering caused by poverty, and issues relating to poverty, and promote family values through partnership with local and state agencies.
The FSCM Outreach Center is located on the second floor of The Bourbon County Senior Citizens Center, 26 N. Main and was founded in 2014, with Schellack at the director.
Reyna Valenzuela, 21, was hired as a Fort Scott High School English Teacher for 2020-21.
She graduated from Pittsburg High School in 2016 and from Pittsburg State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in English Education in May 2020 and will be starting a Master’s in English Literature in the fall.
“I worked at St. Mary’s Colgan as a YES Tutor for a year and a half, following that I worked for two years on campus as a writing center consultant,” she said. “I also did my internship through PSU at Northeast High School as well as completed my student teaching at Northeast.”
Valenzuela was born in Fort Hood, Texas and has lived in Arma, KS since she was three-years-old.
Her interests include reading, Greek Mythology, British Literature, watching YouTube, and Netflix, her cat, and hanging out with her family.
In addition, she loves softball, baseball, and football.
“So I look forward to cheering students on at their games in the future,” she said.
Becoming a teacher was a realization for Valenzuela.
” I wasn’t always sure what I wanted to do, I switched my dream career a lot when I was younger,” she said. “Eventually though, after watching my mom become a teacher and having an amazing AP Literature teacher during my senior year of high school, I realized that this was the field for me. I wanted to have the chance to make a difference in a student’s life as my mom, Tina Valenzuela, and my AP Literature teacher, Mrs. Johnson, did in mine. Because of this, I’ve worked hard through college to learn as much as I could so I could become a successful educator who makes a difference and helps her students in positive ways.”
“Seeing how much they both loved to teach and how they put everything they had into the classroom was incredibly inspiring and I don’t think I would have come this far without them,” she said.
The best part of teaching for her are the students, she said.
“Getting to know them, watching them grow, and succeed, they are the reason I want to teach so I guess it only makes sense they are the best part of teaching.”
Some of the challenges of teaching is continuing to learn and grow as a teacher “so that you are still providing students the most effective methods of learning is what I would consider one of the greatest challenges in teaching; because as humans we like routine, and so making sure that you’re constantly changing and evolving is something that can be a struggle, but it’s worth it, in the end, to watch students grow,” she said.
On Friday, May 15, 2020, Kansas Gas Service responded to a gas odor call after a report of a lightning strike that damaged two structures in the 600 block of S. National, according to a press release from KGS.
Fort Scott Fire Department and Fort Scott Police Department had National Avenue blocked off between 6th Street and 7th Street that morning as a result of the gas leak, according to Aimee Moore, who lives in the block that was affected.
Moore had cameras on her house that caught the lightning strike. They are included at the end of this feature.
KGS technicians performed inspections and turned the gas off at two properties until the customers completed necessary repairs to the customer-owned equipment, Dawn Tripp, KGS Media Relations said on Monday afternoon.
“Kansas Gas came out and shut off the gas line before removing the meter,” Moore, said. Stoughton Inc. completed the repairs and ran the pressure test. Fort Scott Code Enforcement personnel gave the okay and Moore waited until KGS put the meter back and turned it on.
As a reminder, if you smell natural gas or have a natural gas emergency, leave the area immediately. Then call 911 and Kansas Gas Service at 888-482-4950.
Moore submitted the following information and links to the recent lightning strike in Fort Scott.
“Friday, May 15, 2020, at 9:37 a.m., lightning struck Dr. Steve Mitchell’s office at 624 South National Ave and caused a gas leak,” she said.
“The current traveled through our electrical lines and also caused arcing to blow out our gas line at 612 S National Ave.,” Moore said. “Pictures fell off of our wall and also at the florist next to us, Flowers by LeeAnn.”
Moore submitted the following links of the lightning strikes.
Larry Davolt is the new principal of Fort Scott Christian Heights. Submitted photo
Larry Davolt, 53, will be the new principal at Fort Scott Christian Heights School, effective June 1.
“I have been the secondary science teacher at FSCH for 28 years,” Davolt said. ” I have also taught math and Bible classes.”
The principal position is responsible for the day to day operations of the school, he said.
In addition to 28 years of experience is in the classroom, Davolt also pastored a rural church for 15 years, he said.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Pittsburg State University and completed some graduate work through the Institute for Creation Research, and is currently working online for a master’s degree in school leadership.
Davolt’s hometown is Independence, KS.
He has been married for 32 years, has three grown children, and seven grandkids.
His hobbies are working on cars and houses.
In addition, for the last five years, he has worked part-time for Mercy/Bourbon County Emergency Medical Service.
For Davolt, seeing the way God uses former students to make a difference in society, is the greatest part of teaching.
His greatest challenge?
“Following a legend,” he said, referring to Terry Chance, who is retiring. ” I have worked with Mr. Chance for all of my teaching career, I know the excellent job he has done, and the difficulty of the position.”
Hannah René Reel, 20, is the Fort Scott Community College Outstanding Sophomore for 2020.
She is the daughter of Jeff and Andrea Scott and Jon Reel, and hales from Fort Scott.
While at the college, Reel was involved as Presidents Ambassador, Vice President of Greyhound Student Government, Christians on Campus, TRiO, TRiO tutor, Phi Theta Kappa and in addition she is involved as a Make-A-Wish Ambassador, American Heart Association Ambassador and children’s teacher for Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene and its’ Vacation Bible School.
What are the most important things you have learned while at FSCC?
“How to be a good leader, learn how to prioritize, and that relationships with people are everything.”
Any life lessons learned?
“Not be afraid to be who I am..found my passion in teaching.. faith is the greatest path you can find.”
What is your major?
“Associates of Science at (FSCC) and gain a Bachelors in Communication with an emphasis in Communication Education for Secondary Education at Pittsburg State University.”
What is your ultimate career goal?
“Get my masters to become a Speech teacher at a community college.”
Tell about your experience getting your education online during the pandemic.
“My experience of education online was very difficult, but it taught me to rely on my knowledge and understand I had teachers and staff that were there for me to help in any way possible.”
Abby Helt, 23, will be the new Fort Scott High and Middle School Choir Teacher for 2020-21.
Helt received a Bachelor’s of Music Education from Kansas State University and student taught in the Shawnee Mission School District.
Her hometown is Lenexa and her parents and family all live in the K.C. area.
Helt has been involved in her community as a member of the Kansas City Choir, Te Deum.
The following is an email interview with the new teacher:
How did you become an educator?
“I have always wanted to be an educator throughout my whole life. My sisters and I would play ‘school’ all the time growing up, and I’ve always been very musical. I want to be able to instill that passion for music in my students, whether it be just a hobby or a potential career.”
Is there someone who inspired you to teach?
“My high school choir director really inspired me to teach music because he made the choir class such a welcoming environment where everyone was able to be themselves. I want to create that in my classroom.”
What is the best part of teaching for you?
“The best part of teaching is getting to know the kids and watching them grow from the first day of school to the last day of school/when they graduate.”
What are the greatest challenges in teaching?
“As I am still fairly new to my career, I have not experienced any great challenges!”
USD 234 Superintendent Ted Hessong nominated Fort Scott High School Senior Elizabeth Ngatia to serve on the Kansas Learning Plan Commission, started by the Kansas State Department of Education.
The KSDE asked all school districts to nominate one senior from the graduating class of 2020 to be on the task force to assist other seniors across the State of Kansas in dealing with the pandemic of COVID-19.
“I felt so honored, thankful to have a superintendent who believed in me so much,” she said. “The nomination was to represent the USD 234 school district and our seniors.”
Hessong was impressed with Ngatia as a student at FSHS, he said. “After hearing some of her speeches, I was moved by the passion she had for topics she was conveying to the listener. I was not aware of Elizabeth’s personal story at the time of the nomination, but when she shared her story with me I knew she was the right choice to nominate for her to represent USD 234.”
Once nominated, Ngatia wtote a bibliography about herself and waited to see if she was selected to be a part of the 50 students selected.
“After the meeting with the 50 students, a few weeks passed and KSDE contacted me about being a part of an even smaller group to help have a more focused conversation that can benefit students,” she said.
The group met online for discussion beginning May 1.
The following is an email interview with Ngatia.
What do you do on the commission?
“I discuss my thoughts, ideas, and concerns about my struggles as well as other seniors and their struggles through this trying time with fellow seniors in Kansas, and the staff of the KSDE.”
How do you meet?
“We meet every few weeks on Zoom calls as a group.”
Elizabeth Ngatia, top middle , in a Zoom meeting with others on the Kansas Learning Plan Commission. Submitted photos.
What is the commission all about?
“The commission is all about… the leaders of the Kansas education system, getting to hear from students about how we are coping with everything. They are able to have an insight on what ways they may be able to help with such a drastic change. However, the commission goes beyond Covid-19 and the burden it has been. We discuss how and what educators can do to help address some of the barriers seniors face. What they can do to create, and improve, some of the high school learning experiences for future graduates.”
Has anything good come out of the experience of the pandemic that shut down the country, for you?
“I think for me I took the time to grieve and be heartbroken about the situation. I took the time to remember all the things that would no longer be accessible to me, once I got past that grieving stage, I reminded myself that this is the way that it has to be, that although it has affected many important areas of my life, I must look at the positives. I quickly recognized how lucky and blessed I am to have a home life where I feel safe, cared for, and can easily focus on my online studies well. At the end of the day, you must take the bad situations and make them good, I am happy to have gotten this extra time with my family, this extra to also re-evaluate and discover more about myself before moving on to a new chapter of my life.”
What challenges have there been?
“For me, asides from the common missing being with friends and extended family, it was navigating post-secondary education plans without the help of teachers and especially the counselors.”
What are you looking forward to in your education?
“I am really looking forward to being in the leadership community at Washburn University and being around such a family-like atmosphere. I am also really looking forward to studying pre-law (political science) in the capital city where I will hopefully get to work with some of our state lawmakers and see everything in action, hopefully, pick up a few skills!”
“Elizabeth has a bright future in front of her and I know by her participating in this task force, others will be able to learn and relate to her story and she will help her fellow seniors across the State of Kansas in dealing with COVID-19 in a positive manner,” Hessong said.
Ngatia shared a little of her life journey with fortscott.biz:
She was born and raised in Mombasa, Kenya, and her parents worked hard to support the family.
“At the age of seven, my family immigrated to America,” Ngatia said. “My parents picked up jobs at local fast-food restaurants to support us.”
The culture in Kenya and the U.S. were immensely different, she said and she felt like she was out of place due to her strong accent, financial issues and other cultural differences.
Her family became her source of motivation.
Her parents told her the American Dream was meant for her and her sister.
“They pushed us to be successful because this is an opportunity not many have in Kenya,” she said.
The faith and support of her parents helped her realize the opportunities she has before her, and she looked for ways to change the status quo, by getting involved in many school activities to fulfill the goals she had, she said.
Thyra Babcock won the Best of Show prize for her “Round of Robins” submission, in the amateur division of the Art Is Ageless juried competition at Fort Scott Presbyterian Village. All photos were submitted.
Fort Scott Presbyterian Village, an assisted living facility, recently honored winning artists in the annual Art Is Ageless juried competition, according to a press release.
“We are honored to exhibit artwork by seniors,” Becky Kellum, marketing director at the facility, said. “Our artists prove that art, in any form, is an ageless ambition.”
Winners are as follows:
In the professional division:
1) The Tony Forelli piece, “Wilderness Knife” won two ribbons 1) Mixed Media /Crafts Professional and 2) People’s Choice Professional.
2) Sculpture 3/D Professional “ Forever” by Bobbie Kemna
3) Quilting Professional “ American Flag” by Carolyn Crystal
4) Photography Professional “ Sunrise at Fort Scott National Cemetery “ by Paul Milks
5) Painting Professional “ Gossip “ by Carolyn Munsell
6) Needlework Professional “ Flower Bag” by Carolyn Crystal
7) Christmas Professional ‘ Christmas Stocking “ by Carolyn Crystal
8) Best of Show Professional “ Druzy Diamonds “ by John Bartlesmeyer
9) Judges Choice Professional “ His Word” by Tony Fornelli
In the amateur division:
1) Christmas Amateur “Thompson Farm “ by Linda Thompson
2) Needlework Amateur “ Flower Bouquet” by Charlotte Kite
3) Fiber Arts Amateur “ Star of Bethlehem ” by Jean Strader
4) Mixed Media/Crafts Amateur “Joy in Motion”: Barbara Gibson
5) Painting Amateur “ The Cottage “ Glenda Stevicks
Fort Scott High School staff wanted a way to recognize the senior class on the night of their original graduation date, Jeff DeLaTorre, athletics/activities director said.
To honor the FSHSClass of 2020 on that evening, Saturday, May 16, staff members have planned a”Senior Cruise Night”.
Students in vehicles will follow a lead car around the city starting and ending at the high school. Vehicles must be street legal, he said.
Students are invited to wear their cap and gown on the cruise.
” We saw that some other schools around the area were doing something similar to this so we thought it would be a good way to recognize them,” DeLaTorre said.
A parent or family member is encouraged to drive the vehicle on the cruise so their 2020 senior can fully enjoy the event, he said.
Students who have not picked up their cap and gown yet, can still do so, DeLaTorre said.
The car cruise will drive around points in Fort Scott that have been a part of the students’ educational journey.
Senior class members in years past have gone to their former elementary and middle schools for a walk-through the halls which honors them.
So the cruise night route will go to each of the district’s schools, sort of a trip down memory lane.
” We chose this route for a couple of reasons,” DeLaTorre said. “One, we wanted to spread it out so people could be present along the route and still practice social distancing.”
“But the significance of going by Eugene Ware Elementary, Fort Scott Middle School, and Winfield Scott Elementary was to kind of take the place of the traditional ‘Senior Walk-Through’ that the senior class usually gets to do at the end of the year. They usually walk the halls of each of these buildings one more time and the students and teachers congratulate them. The Class of 2020 won’t get to do that so we thought we would include the schools in the Senior Cruise.”
On May 16, the seniors will follow a route that will be led by School Resource Officer Mike Trim.
Senior students are asked to arrive at the high school by 6:45 p.m.
The event will start at 7:00 p.m.
The line up will be starting in the southwest corner of the FSHS front parking lot, and the line will proceed to the east, on the south side of the high school and will weave into the east parking lot.
Here is the route:
-Start at the southwest corner of FSHS
-turn north on Main Street and go to 6th Street
-turn west on 6th and go to National Avenue. Turn north on National
-stay on National until Wall, turn east
– stay on Wall until Margrave, turn south
– at 3rd Street turn east (in front of Eugene Ware)
– at Broadway turn south
– at 6th turn west until Margrave, then turn south
– at 10th turn east and head up to middle school
– turn south on Sheppard and then turn west on 12th
– at Margrave turn south until East National
– follow East National until National. Head north and then turn west on 12th
– take 12th to Crawford and turn north, then turn west on 10th
– follow 10th (in front of Winfield Scott) to Horton
– At Horton turn north and go to 6th and continue east on 6th
– At National turn south. At 9th turn east and cruise ends at 9th and Main in front of high school
The route is highlighted in yellow in this map submitted by FSHS Activities Director Jeff DeLaTorre.
“Community members are asked to be present along the route to recognize our senior students,” DeLaTorre said.
Here are some important items to remember for this event:
– All social distancing guidelines must be followed. Seniors will need to stay in their vehicles before, during, and after the event.
– One senior student per vehicle (unless it is siblings).
For the high school senior to be able to enjoy the experience more, it is encouraged that a parent or family member to drive the vehicle for them.
– Community members are asked to be present along the route to recognize the senior students but are asked to stay in their vehicles to practice social distancing.
If you live along the route you are invited to come out on your porch or front yard to show your support.
– This is not a parade!
All traffic rules and laws must be followed, including stop signs, stoplights, etc.
Also, because it is not a parade all vehicles must be street legal.
