Fort Scott, Government, Schools

USD234 Board of Education Agenda for March 6

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BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING

MARCH 6, 2023 – 5:30 P.M.

PUBLIC AGENDA

1.0       Call Meeting to Order

           

2.0       Flag Salute

 

3.0       Approval of the Official Agenda (Action Item)

 

4.0       Approval of the Consent Agenda (Action Item)

 

            4.1       Board Minutes

  1. 02-13-23 Minutes
  2. 02-27-23 Minutes

            4.2       Financials-Cash Flow Report

            4.3       Check Register

            4.4       Payroll – February 17, 2023 – $1,583,201.90

            4.5       Activity Fund accounts

            4.6       Items of Interest: Preschool Spring Fling – April 6, 2023 5:30 – 7 pm

 

5.0       Student Recognition (Information/Discussion Item)

            5.1       FSHS Thespians

 

6.0       Leadership Reports (Information/Discussion Item)

 

            6.1       Superintendent’s Report

            6.2       Assistant Superintendent’s Report

            6.3       Finance Director’s Report

 

7.0       Old Business

 

7.1       Summary of Work Session (Information/Discussion Item)

7.2       HVAC Proposal (Information/Discussion Item)

7.3       MOU – Community Health Center & FSHS Clinic Space discussion                                                                    (Information/Discussion Item)

7.4       Tennis Courts Resurface – Pro Track and Tennis, Inc. (Action Item)

 

8.0       New Business

 

8.1       Activity Bus Purchase – $129,342 (Action Item)

8.2       Football Uniform Bids & Recommendation (Action Item)

8.3       Roof Payment 1 & Roof Payment 2 (Action Item)

8.4       Kansas Infinitec Coalition for 2023-24 (Action Item)

8.5       Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) – Kansas School-to-Work Program (Action Item)

8.6       Pre-Funding Early Retirement Payments (Action Item)

8.7       Greenbush Contracts for Low-Incidence and Audiology for the 2023-24 school year                               (Action Item)

8.8       FSHS Courses for 2022-23 (Action Item)

 

9.0       Public Forum

 

10.0     Other Business – Negotiations

 

10.1     Enter Executive Session – Negotiations (Action Item)

10.2     Exit Executive Session

 

11.0     Other Business – Personnel Matters

 

11.1     Enter Executive Session – Personnel Matters (Action Item)

11.2     Exit Executive Session

11.3     Approval of Personnel Report (Action Item)

11.4     Approval of Personnel Report (Action Item)

11.5     Approval of Personnel Report (Action Item)

 

12.0     Adjourn Meeting

                       

Area News

Kansas Alliance for Drug Endangered Children Conference March 28

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KADEC 2023 Conference Flyer

Kansas Alliance for
Drug Endangered Children
Conference
March 28th, 2023
8:30am – 4:45pm at
Manhattan Conference Center
410 S. 3rd Street Manhattan, Kansas
The agenda includes:
Drug Endangered Children Community Awareness Training
Speaker: Jennifer Gassmann, Kansas Children’s Service
League and Kansas Alliance for Drug Endangered Children
Helping Traumatized Children Learn and Succeed


Speaker: Edward Jacobs, MSW; Plymouth County,
Massachusetts Alliance for Drug Endangered Children
Marijuana and Children


Speaker: Amy Ronshausen, Drug Free America Foundation,
Inc. and Save our Society from Drugs
Current Drug Trends


Speaker: Chris Bumgarner, Kansas Bureau of Investigation


Registration fee: $75
Lunch will be provided
7.25 CEUs available
Learn more and register at: wichita.edu/gphc

Fort Scott, Government

FS City Commission Agenda for March 7

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NOTICE OF AND AGENDA FOR REGULAR

MEETING OF FORT SCOTT CITY COMMISSION

To view entire packet:

DOC030423-03042023115447

 

CITY HALL COMMISSION ROOM – 123 SOUTH MAIN ST.

March 7, 2023 – 6:00 P.M.

 

   Roll Call:

  1.       J. Jones     T. Van Hoecke     E. Woellhof     K. Harrington     M. Wells
  2.      Flag Salute:
  • Invocation: Regan Wells

 

  1. Approval of Agenda:
  2. Consent Agenda:
  3. Approval of minutes of the regular meeting of February 21, 2023

 

  1. Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1331-A totaling $311,195.45

 

  1. Public Comment:

Sign up required. Comments on any topic not on agenda and limited to five (5)      minutes per person, at Commission discretion.

 

VII.      Old Business:  

 

  1.   Contract – City Manager, Brad Matkin

 

 

VIII.     Appearances:

 

  1. Mike Miles – Fire Department Retention presentation
  2. Bourbon County Casa – Requesting donation from the City

 

  1. 3. Healthy Bourbon County Action Team – Update on Center for Economic Growth – Jody Hoener, Rachel Carpenter, Dacia Clark

 

  1. Cory Bryars – Request to close Riverfront Park September 29th and 30th, 2023 for the Care to Share Event

 

  1. Update on status of 1107 W. 6th St. – Contract of Sale – James Malveaux

 

 

  1. Public Hearing: None
  2. New Business:
  3. Discussion of 10 N. National property
  4. Consideration of Utility Easement Adjustment on Purchased Lake Lot
  5. Consideration for purchase of Storm Siren – Walnut Hill – Chief Bruner
  6. Consideration for purchase of Body Cameras – Chief Pickert
  7. Consideration of Paint for Striping Machine – Tom Coffman
  8. Purchase of Attachment for Skid Loader – Tom Coffman
  9. Consideration of Annual Water Meter Changeout Program – Bill Lemke
  10. Consideration 1107 W. 6th Street Bids
  11. Consideration of Banking Service Bids
  12. Consideration of Ground Lease Bids
  13. Consideration of Fort Scott Pavilion Bids – J. Dickman
  14. Consideration of CDBG Sewer Project Bids – J. Dickman
  15. Consideration of RFQ for US 54-CCLIP Geometric Improvements – Phase I

 

  1. Reports and Comments:
  2. Interim City Manager Comments:
  3. Engineering Comments:
  4. Commissioners Comments:
  5. VanHoecke –
  6. Woellhof –
  7. Harrington –
  8. Jones –
  9. Wells –

 

  1. City Attorney Comments:

 

XII.        Executive Session – If requested, (please follow script in all motions for   Executive Sessions)

 

XIII.        Adjournment:

 

 

K-State Extension, Youth

Celebrate National Reading Month

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Cassidy Lutz
K-State Research and Extension 
Family and Consumer Science Agent 
Southwind District 
211 W. Butler 
Yates Center, KS 66783
620-625-8620

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”

Many people recognize this quote from Dr. Seuss’s book, “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!”. March is designated as National Reading Month to celebrate the birthday of this famous author and his impact on creative storytelling. This national celebration was established as a way to promote reading to individuals of all ages.

Reading is a crucial part of every individual’s life, regardless of age. For children, it is a large component of education while for adults, it is part of professional development. Reading is also a leisure time activity that has many immediate and long-lasting health benefits. Studies have found increased cognitive function, memory, vocabulary, empathy, and decreased levels of stress in individuals that read regularly. When done before bedtime, it has the potential to prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Reading even has the power to strengthen relationships through shared learning.

There are several ways you can celebrate this national holiday all month long. One of the simplest would be to visit a library or read the books you already have on hand. Libraries provide great environments for young children where they can access books for free while being immersed in a learning atmosphere. Another easy way to celebrate is to read with a family member or friend. Studies indicate that when parents read to their children, it helps with bonding and attachment. Read aloud even if it’s for a short period. Reading aloud develops fundamental skills, promotes social interaction, and improves vocabulary, word recognition, listening comprehension, and cognitive development.

Submitted photo.

The importance of reading extends far beyond educational development. Pick up a book and enjoy all the benefits of reading during National Reading Month. You might even create a positive habit that lasts throughout your whole life! For more information, contact Cassidy Lutz at [email protected] or by calling 620-625-8620.

Business, Food, Fort Scott

New BBQ Restaurant Coming to Fort Scott in May

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Carissa and Alex Bowman with their children, Gracie and Campbell.. Submitted photo.
Carissa, 34, and Alex Bowman, 33, have plans to open a bbq restaurant at 3 W. Oak Street, called Brickstreet BBQ.
Brickstreet BBQ is located at the corner of Oak Street and National Avenue on Fort Scott’s north side. The River Room Event Center is located on the second floor.
“We  plan to open hopefully in May, 2023,” Carissa said. “We felt that Fort Scott residents and ourselves missed being able to get good barbecue in town and thought since we’ve been able to manage and maintain a local restaurant that we have the know-how and the will power to make it happen!”
Alex is the manager and cook at Nu Grille Restaurant. just across the street from Brickstreet BBQ.
Carissa is the Family and Consumer Science teacher at Fort Scott High School.
Carissa Bowman, gives a thumbs up on a new banner at Brickstreet BBQ, from the restaurant’s Facebook page.

They have started some social media to help the public get to see their progress:

The Bowman’s plan on employing about 40 full-time and part-time people. The employment application can be accessed on their Facebook page.
Contact info: One can contact Carissa at her email: [email protected]
Government

Ag Producers Safety Net Program

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Agricultural Producers Have Until March 15 to Enroll in USDA’s Key Commodity Safety Net Programs 

 

Manhattan, Kansas, March 3, 2023 – Agricultural producers who have not yet enrolled in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2023 crop year have until March 15, 2023, to elect and enroll a contract. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers these two safety net programs to provide vital income support to farmers experiencing substantial declines in crop prices or revenues.
“The Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs provide critical protection to many American farmers. As producers across the country deal with market volatility and natural disasters, these programs offer much-needed stability,” said Dennis McKinney, State Executive Director for FSA in Kansas. “I am encouraging producers to reach out to their county offices to learn about program eligibility and election options today, so that they can begin the enrollment process as soon as possible.”

 

Producers can elect coverage and enroll in ARC-County or PLC, which are both commodity-by-commodity, or ARC-Individual, which covers the entire farm. Although election changes for 2023 are optional, producers must enroll through a signed contract each year. Additionally, if a producer has a multi-year contract on their farm and makes an election change for 2023, they will need to sign a new contract.

 

If producers do not submit an election by the March 15, 2023, deadline, the election remains the same as the 2022 election for commodities on the farm. Farm owners cannot enroll in either program unless they have a share interest in the commodity.

 

In Kansas, producers have completed 74,828 contracts to date, representing 72% of the more than 104,000 expected contracts.

 

Producers who do not complete enrollment by the deadline will not be enrolled in ARC or PLC for the 2023 year and will not receive a payment if triggered.

 

Producers are eligible to enroll farms with base acres for the following commodities:  barley, canola, large and small chickpeas, corn, crambe, flaxseed, grain sorghum, lentils, mustard seed, oats, peanuts, dry peas, rapeseed, long grain rice, medium and short grain rice, safflower seed, seed cotton, sesame, soybeans, sunflower seed and wheat.
Decision Tools

 

In partnership with USDA, two web-based decision tools are available to assist producers in making informed, educated decisions using crop data specific to their respective farming operations:

  • Gardner-farmdoc Payment Calculator, a tool available through the University of Illinois allows producers to estimate payments for farms and counties for ARC-CO and PLC.
  • ARC and PLC Decision Tool, a tool available through Texas A&M University that allows producers to estimate payments and yield updates and expected payments for 2023.

 

Crop Insurance Considerations and Decision Deadline

 

ARC and PLC are part of a broader safety net provided by USDA, which also includes crop insurance and marketing assistance loans.

 

Producers are reminded that ARC and PLC elections and enrollments can impact eligibility for some crop insurance products.

 

Producers on farms with a PLC election have the option of purchasing Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) through their Approved Insurance Provider. However, producers on farms where ARC is the election are ineligible for SCO on their planted acres for that crop on that farm.

 

Unlike SCO, the Enhanced Coverage Option (ECO) is unaffected by an ARC election. Producers may add ECO regardless of the farm program election.

 

Upland cotton farmers who choose to enroll seed cotton base acres in ARC or PLC are ineligible for the stacked income protection plan (STAX) on their planted cotton acres for that farm.

 

Producers should contact their crop insurance agent to make certain that the election and enrollment made at FSA follows their intention to participate in STAX or SCO coverage. Producers have until March 15, 2023, to make the appropriate changes or cancel their ARC or PLC contract.

 

More Information

 

For more information on ARC and PLC, producers can visit the ARC and PLC webpage or contact their local USDA Service Center.

 

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.

 

#

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.

 

 

Government, Health Care, Kansas

Take Down Tobacco

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Kansas Department of Health and Environment Resist Program, and the Tobacco Free Kansas Coalition host National Take Down Tobacco Day at the Capitol

TOPEKA – Today, members of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s Resist program and the Tobacco Free Kansas Coalition hosted Take Down Tobacco Day at the Capitol – a national day of activism where youth are encouraged to speak out against commercial tobacco companies and speak with policymakers about tobacco prevention.

“Take Down Tobacco Day is a great opportunity to unite communities and create a unified voice to stand up to commercial tobacco companies,” said Bryce Chitanavong, youth tobacco prevention coordinator. “Tobacco companies use deceitful marketing tactics to target the youth because they see them as future customers. We want them to know that we won’t allow it.”

For most people, tobacco use starts when they are young. Nearly 9 out of 10 adults who smoke cigarettes daily first try smoking by the age of 18. Young people are even more vulnerable to nicotine addiction as their brains develop. Commercial tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable disease, disability and death in the United States. The use of tobacco products in any form is unsafe, regardless of whether it is smoked or not.

Previously known as Kick Butts Day, Take Down Tobacco Day provides an opportunity to educate students about the importance of youth advocacy in tobacco prevention. The American Heart Association provided advocacy training on the evening of March 1 to prepare students to speak with their policymakers. Each group that registered will get a chance to meet with their local representative and discuss tobacco prevention with them.

Resist is a youth-led program focusing on peer-to-peer education, awareness and policies preventing tobacco and electronic cigarette/vaping use. Resist chapters are locally established and hold community awareness events to promote tobacco-free environments. Resist is made possible with the support of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Tobacco Free Kansas Coalition.

Resources are available for people who want to quit smoking or vaping. Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (784-8669) or visit ksquit.org.

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Fort Scott, Schools

Schedule An Appointment For U234’s Kindergarten Round-up

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The USD 234 Kindergarten Round-Up is coming next month.
The event is Wednesday,  April 19th from 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

Please bring your child’s Social Security Card, Birth Certificate, Immunization Records and a Physical.

Your student must be 5 years old before September 1st to attend Round-Up.
Please call the Winfield Scott Office at 620-223-0450 to schedule an appointment.
Business, Church news, Fort Scott

Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church Golf Tourney Fundraiser is March 25

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Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church on day one of demolition March 1, 2023.

Plans are in place for a golf fundraiser for the Catholic church that burned down last summer.

On March 25, 2023 there will be an 8 a.m. registration and  9 a.m. tee off at Woodland Hills Golf Course in Fort Scott.


 Mid-Continental Restoration Company is hosting a golf tournament at Woodland Hills Golf Course to help raise funds for replacing the Mary Queen of Angels Church building which burned on the night of August 29, 2022.

 

“THE TOURNAMENT IS FILLED!” Franks Halsey said. “BUT we are still looking for hole sponsors from businesses as well as silent auction items or donations. In addition, Mid-Continental has purchased and will raffle a golf cart. Raffle tickets are
on sale for the price of $25 for one ticket, or 5 tickets for $100. You do not have to be present to win the golf cart.”

The golf cart that is being raffled for the Catholic Church fundraiser. Submitted photo.

Raffle tickets can be purchased at Woodland Hills or send a check Mid-Continental Restoration, 401 E. Hudson, Fort Scott, KS 66701 made out to Mary Queen of Angels (Building Fund). Any monetary
donations or any silent auction items can be donated and sent to Mid- Continental Restoration as well.


 For any questions or any more information please reach out to Chase Halsey at 620-704-2733, or
[email protected].

Opinion

Faith Journeys by Patty LaRoche

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Ever feel like you’re missing out?  You see the commercial with the snow-capped mountains in the background, the horse-drawn carriage pulling up to the home of the loving family offering toasts beside the wood-burning fireplace, and you sigh.  That’s certainly not your life. The view from your window is the wintry blast that’s left your roads ice-covered and a front porch too slick to shovel.  Your kids are cranky from being couped up inside and are griping about the Kraft Mac and Cheese you’ve given them for the fourth straight night.

How is it that some people’s lives represent Hallmark moments, and others…well, don’t?  Right now, I’m looking out at the beach, listening to the waves crash against our sea wall.  Most people are lounging at the pool or ordering food from our Palapa restaurant.  I, on the other hand, am bundled in blankets, trying to fend off some nasty flu/cold, trying to stop coughing so I can attend a huge meeting tomorrow where I will resign after serving seven years on the Board.  A meeting where I will serve as Parliamentarian because Carol, who always officiates at this bilingual, annual meeting, can’t be here.  Instead, she’s at her home in Aspen, Colorado, no doubt making those Hallmark moments come alive.

If Carol is a 100 in her knowledge of Roberts’ Rules of Order, I am a four.  Last year, when someone tabled a motion and it was opened for discussion, it was Carol who announced that there would be no discussion, only a vote.  I didn’t know that.  Only because I sort of understand the amendment process am I this year considered “qualified.”

So tomorrow, when someone tables a motion and another person stands to discuss it and I say he/she can’t and that individual argues, I will melt. Sort of like the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz.  “Why can’t we discuss it?” someone will scream.  And I will melt. “I don’t know,” I will answer.  “Ask Carol.  Carol who’s not here because she’s sitting beside her wood-burning fire, looking at the snow-covered mountains outside her window.”

Two days later: No one at the meeting called for my head, probably because I texted Carol for help when I foresaw a need arising.  (I now accept this is as one more talent I do not have.)  All I know is this: I am officially off the Board.  Such relief. So why, in the middle of the night, did I break out in hives?  Literally.

Not exactly a Hallmark moment.  I am miserable.

Little did I know how bad “miserable” could look.  Within a day, I would end up in the hospital here in Mexico, covered in welts that gave me an empathetic feel for what Job went through in the Bible. “Be careful what you complain about,” my mother used to say, “because it can always be worse.”  She was right.

What I did find over the past six days in the hospital is how much I relied on my praying friends who daily sent encouragement, scriptures and sweet messages of comfort to let me know that God would carry me through this ordeal.  Some offered medical advice while others shared that they were spending time on their knees for me. It couldn’t get any better!  And then today, in an Instagram post, I read this: “The secret is Christ in me, not me in a different set of circumstances.”   God had it all under control, even if I didn’t.

And suddenly, I realized I didn’t have it so bad after all.

Bourbon County Local News