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USD234 Press Release
NEWS RELEASE
Monday, July 12, 2021
Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at the Fort Scott Middle School Commons on Monday, July 12, 2021, for their regular monthly meeting.
President David Stewart opened the meeting. The board approved the official agenda. The old board adjourned Sine Die with the reorganization of the new board. The board elected James Wood as board president and Kellye Barrows as board vice-president.
The board went into an executive session to discuss personnel items for non-elected personnel. The board returned to the open meeting.
The board approved the consent agenda as follows:
A. Minutes
B. Bills and Claims
C. Payroll – June 18, 2021 – $2,044,997.49
D. Financial Report
E. Activity fund accounts
F. Designation of banks for deposit of school funds
G. Designation of newspaper for official school publications – The Fort Scott Tribune
H. Officers for the 2021-22 school year
I. Recreation Commission Board Member Terms
J. Resolution for Waiver of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
K. Resolution for Rescinding Policy Statements found in Board Minutes
L. Resolution to set dates and times for board meetings
M. Resolution to Establish Home Rule by Board of Education
N. Resolution for Destruction of Records
O. Organizational Chart
P. Set fees for copying of records
Q. Current state mileage reimbursement rate – $.56
R. High school fundraisers and extended trips
S. 2021-22 high school Site Council members; dates and times of meetings
Ted Hessong, the Superintendent, reported on the School Board Retreat, ESY, and Summer School, the football field turf evaluation, athletic trainer update, Kansas Can Success tour, and the theme for the 2021-22 school year, FOCUS ON LEARNING. Gina Shelton, Business Manager/Board Clerk, presented a report.
The board approved the following:
· Mitigation protocols for students in buildings for summer school
· 2021-22 Negotiated Agreement
· Revenue Neutral Tax Rate
· EduCLIMBER renewal
· Handbook changes
Superintendent Hessong gave a school board self-evaluation report. In addition, he reviewed Board Policy KGD – Possession of Firearms. The board tabled any action on this policy.
The board set July 30 at noon for a budget presentation. In addition, the board set August 25 at 5:30 p.m. for RNR and a budget hearing at 6:00 p.m.
The board selected the following:
· Hearing officer for suspensions and expulsions – Gary Billionis
· BEDCO Representative – David Stewart
· Chamber of Commerce Ex-Officio Board Member – Ted Hessong
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 Stephanie Witt, Eugene Ware Principal, effective at the end of the 2020-21 school year
B. Resignation of Codee Weddle, Winfield Scott paraprofessional, effective at the end of the 2020-21 school year
C. Resignation of Tammy McDaniel, middle school paraprofessional, effective at the end of the 2020-21 school year
D. Resignation of Judy Welch, bus driver, effective at the end of the 2020-21 school year
E. Employment of Justin Robinson as Fort Scott Middle School/Fort Scott High School band instructor and for band presentations at middle school and high school for the 2021-22 school year
F. Employment of Matthew Wells as a 4-hour bus driver for the 2021-22 school year
G. Employment of Wanita Tate as a 5.5-hour preschool bus driver for the 2021-22 school year
H. Employment of Winfield Scott supplemental employees for the 2021-22 school year
I. Employment of high school supplemental employees for the 2021-22 school year
J. Employment of Whitley Chesney for middle school music presentations for the 2021-22 school year
K. Recommendation for Andrea Scott, FSPC Principal, to be district Special Education Coordinator for the 2021-22 school year
L. Employment of Carlee McCullough as a preschool teacher for the 2021-22 school year
M. Employment of Josh Hudiburg as a high school assistant football coach and Jacob DeLaTorre as high school assistant freshman boys’ basketball coach for the 2021-22 school year
N. Transfer of Yasmina Query, Eugene Ware fourth grade teacher, to Eugene Ware Principal for the 2021-22 school year
O. Resignation of Curt Toll, high school assistant track coach, effective at the end of the 2020-21 school year
P. Combining three custodian positions (5.5 hours for 12 mo.; 3.5 hours for 10 mo.; 8 hours for 10 mo.) into two custodian positions (8 hours for 10 mo.; 8 hours for 12 mo.)
The board approved a Resolution for Bank Account Signers In addition, the board approved a 1.5% increase in salary for administrators and classified employees for the 2021-22 school year.
The board adjourned.
Arndt, Laird and Traul To Compete In U.S. National High School Rodeo
Cowboys and cowgirls will compete at the national high school rodeo finals in Lincoln, Nebraska on July 18.
Miranda Arndt, Kelsey Laird, and Jaci Traul are the local cowgirls competing.
“These kids all compete in the Missouri High School Rodeo Association,” said Kasey Laird, Kelsey’s mother. “There might be more, as there are several families from southeast Kansas that attend MHSRA. These kids have worked hard for the chance to go to the national finals and compete against other states for the number one spot.”
Miranda Arndt, 18, is a 2021 Fort Scott High School graduate, the daughter of Trina and Jason Arndt.
“I am going to compete in goat tying at nationals,” Miranda said. “I went last year in goat tying also.”
“I’m looking forward to being more prepared and hopefully winning a national title,” she said.
Arndt will be attending Northeast Oklahoma A & M this fall.
Kelsey Laird, 15, is the daughter of Kasey and John Laird and is a sophomore at Fort Scott High School.
“Kelsey competes in barrel racing, poles, and goat tying, however, she is competing at national finals as a rodeo queen,” Kasey said. “She will compete against the other states in horsemanship, modeling, written testing, and personal interviews. This will determine the national high school rodeo queen.”
Jaci Traul, Fort Scott, is the daughter of John and Nicki Traul, and granddaughter of Frank and Debbie Madison.
She is a 2021 graduate of Manhattan Virtual Academy.
“Jaci has qualified for nationals seven times., three times in junior high and four in high school,” her mother, Nicki said. “She was the Missouri High School Rodeo State Champion Breakaway Roper this year. She also qualified for nationals in the poles and was the Reserve Champion All-around Cowgirl.”
She will attend Northeast Oklahoma A&M in Miami, OK on a rodeo scholarship.
The Fort Scott Police Department Daily Report July 12
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports July 13
Friday Night Free Concert: Church of Christ
The performance for this week’s Friday Night Concert will be presented by the Church of Christ (15th and Crawford). The music will feature an evening of a cappella hymns and gospel songs.
“The singers represent multiple ages and they really shine with a passion for blending harmonies with their musical styling of the gospel,” concert series organizer Ralph Carlson said. “Come out and join us for a great opportunity to see friends and enjoy some beautiful music. We are happy to welcome this church group to the park pavilion.“
The concert begins at 7 p.m. at the Heritage Park Pavilion at First and Main streets. The shows, sponsored by the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce, are free and open to the public. We are pleased to have Dave Oas, Parsons, Kansas, serve as sound technician each week. Due to limited seating, attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs.
In the event of inclement weather, the concert will be moved to the Common Ground Coffee Co., 12 E. Wall Street.
Obituary of Lela Gier
Lela Ann Gier, age 88, resident of Ft. Scott, KS, died Monday, July 12, 2021, at Medicalodge of Ft. Scott. She was born March 19, 1933, the daughter of Oscar Jacob Gier and Lizzie Bell Goff Gier. Lela enjoyed reading, needlework, quilting, and flowers.
Survivors include four nephews, Gary Gier, Roger Gier, Kenneth Gier, and Dennis Meech; four nieces, Linda Murdock, Trudy Stultz, Cindy Bright and Kathleen Gier; and numerous great-nieces and great-nephews.
She was preceded in death by two brothers, Charles Gier, and Merle Gier; 2 sisters, Opal Gier, and Estella Meech; a nephew, Jim Meech; a niece Charla Cambers; and her parents.
Rev. Chuck Russell will conduct graveside services at 10:00 AM Friday, July 16th, in the Hepler Cemetery.
Services are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main St., Ft. Scott, KS. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
Alex Specht: New FSHS Assistant Principal
Alexander M. Specht, 53, is the new Fort Scott High School Assistant Principal.
He has taught biology, advanced biology, environmental science, applied physics, anatomy, and physiology for 20 years at the high school level at Hoisington, Osawatomie, and Great Bend and 7th-grade science at McPherson Middle School.
He has also been a head high school girls basketball coach, middle school boys basketball coach, high school and middle school track coach, and boys and girls high school golf coach.
Specht has been a two-time Teacher of the Year, a Walmart Teacher of the Year, and a Kansas Master Teacher of the Year.
He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Emporia State University in 1991, a Master of Education degree in Educational Leadership, from ESU, in 2006.
The best part of teaching science for him is engaging students in inquiry-based learning, he said.
“I would set the students up for the biological concept of the day, give them a general procedure to follow, and then watch as they discovered the science lesson for the day,” he said. “To see the expression on their faces and interacting with them as they discovered something new, cool, smelly or amazing is always an awesome way for a student to get hooked on science and the learning process!”
“The greatest challenges I see in education today is at the daily instruction level,” he said. “Classroom teachers are dealing with the personal problems of the students. These personal issues include family, home, school, friends, and athletic concerns that cause a great deal of stress on the student. I believe we need to build relationships with our students and to work with their families to let them all know how committed this district is to partnering with them to help their students be successful. When students struggle with ‘outside’ problems, it is definitely a challenge for them to focus ‘inside’ the classroom.
Family and Interests
Born in Faribault, MN, Specht moved to Smith Center, KS then moved to Sharon, KS where he graduated from high school.
“A fun fact: I went to high school with country music singer Martina McBride. I asked her out on a date once but she said no,” he said. “Dang!”
Amy, his wife of three years, is a manager in the Farmers Alliance Insurance Company. His oldest son, Tyler, graduated from Kansas State University and moved to Dallas to begin work in the financial investments industry. His son, Jacob, is a sophomore at Fort Hays State University, majoring in biology. He also has a stepson, named Tyler.
Specht loves being outdoors, he said.
“I have a fishing boat and a kayak and love to fish!” he said. “I mountain bike, work out a little and like to target shoot and do some hunting with…Amy.”
“As a biologist, I also love flowers and landscaping,” he said. ‘It’s a fun and creative way for me to spend time.”
A college chemistry teacher encouraged him to teach.
“I always enjoyed science classes and in college, I had a chemistry teacher who was impressed by the way I led our chemistry class through a review session for an upcoming test,” he said. ” He told me that I presented ideas and helped the other students so well that I should become a teacher. That was never a thought for me until that moment.”
His father inspired him.
“He was a good dad and raised me with high expectations, understanding of accountability, and a strong work ethic,” he said.
He was consistently teaching him or encouraging him, he said.
“My dad was my elementary principal as I grew up and my first basketball coach,” he said. “He was a special education teacher and a superintendent…being in a school was a part of my life.”
Also following his father’s example, Specht served in the U.S. Navy.
FS Area Community Foundation’s Newsletter
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The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports July12
Local Democrats Meet July 18
The Bourbon County Democrats will hold a social meeting on Sunday, July 18th from 2-4 p.m. at Fort Scott Community College in the Administration Building’s Heritage Room.
Submitted by Carol MacArthur, Chair, Bourbon Co. Democrats
620 215 1505
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