USD 234

The USD 234 Board of Education heard various reports and approved some personnel moves at the board’s Nov. 12 meeting. Business Manager Gina Shelton reported on a sealed bid process to take place for the disposal of the data center at 213 Scott Ave., which currently houses the district’s IT department. She said the building will be sold under sealed bid as the technology center is moving back to the board office at 424 S. Main St...

The Kansas State High School Activities Association Thursday named the sites of championship events for the 2018-19 winter sports season, choosing Fort Scott High School as host of the Class 4A and Class 3-2-1A State Debate Tournaments. The tournaments will be held January 11 and 12, 2019...

The USD 234 Board of Education accepted the district’s 2017-18 budget at a special board meeting Wednesday at the board office. USD 234 Business Manager Gina Shelton reviewed some highlights of the budget during a public hearing. The board chose not to raise the district’s overall mill levy of 53 mills, which is expected to generate about $4 million in total taxes. Later in the meeting, the board discussed the differences in property tax rates...

The Fort Scott Police Department and USD 234 officials dealt with an incident Wednesday in which a student allegedly brought a handgun to school. According to a news release issued about 4:30 p.m. by the FSPD, Fort Scott School Resource Officer Joe Allen responded about 7:47 a.m. to Eugene Ware School, 900 E. Third St., to meet with school administrators. Upon arrival, it was discovered a 10-year-old boy had brought an unloaded handgun to school...

There are reportedly differing numbers available on the impact of a school funding equity bill passed in late June by the Kansas Legislature that has varying effects on districts across the state. According to District 12 Sen. Caryn Tyson, R-Parker, figures that she has obtained on the impact of House Bill 2001, passed by lawmakers at the end of a two-day special legislative session, differ slightly from the numbers USD 234 officials received following passage of the bill...

Bourbon County Coalition members learned of a recent teaching initiative in Fort Scott Wednesday at the monthly meeting. Literacy First is a USD 234 district-wide teaching initiative implemented in the 2013-14 school year, according to Melissa Tatro, district instructional coach...

The USD 234 Board of Education approved the next piece of the district's school bond puzzle Monday night. Representatives of Nabholz Construction Services of Olathe, the construction manager for the bond projects, appeared before the board to provide updates on current and upcoming summer work at the high school and the district football stadium, Frary Field, which includes asbestos removal and stadium improvements that started last week...

Adam LaRoche wanted to build a baseball field in Fort Scott. He wanted it to be one of the best around and included many things from ballparks he's seen in his baseball life. There was one thing that snuck by him when the complex was dedicated Tuesday afternoon before Fort Scott High School's baseball team took on Louisburg in the first games played at the field named for his uncle, Dave Regan. ...

Representative Lynn Jenkins (R-Kan.) was on hand for the opening of the LaRoche Baseball Complex Tuesday afternoon and told reporters on hand that the facility looks nothing like she envisioned it would when she was in Fort Scott just prior to construction...

It's been a busy but productive school year thus far for new Fort Scott High School Principal Shawn Thomas and his staff and students. "While it has been extremely busy, it has gone well," Thomas said. "FSHS is having a lot of success in the classroom and in all of our activities. It is awesome to get to be a part of that."...

For Fort Scott Middle School Principal Jim Howard, the new school year couldn't have started any better. Howard, 33, is new in his position as middle school principal after coming from Scott City where he served as principal for the past six years. He is in his 11th year in education and seventh year as a school principal...

Several new faces will be replacing long time employees in Bourbon County education facilities for next year. Seven employees of USD 234 are retiring, while there is one retiree at USD 235.Tom Davis, Kent Gant, Veda Gulick, Linda Jackson, Ruby Keith, Sheretta Parsons, and Tom Restivo are all retiring from Fort Scott...

A recent Kansas Supreme Court decision addressing school funding and inequities among districts may have an impact on Fort Scott schools, according to USD 234 Superintendent Diane Gross. In early March, the court ruled that current public school funding levels are unconstitutional and that districts must be repaid for past cuts by July 1...

Due to teacher collaboration time, there will be an early release day for students on Wednesday, March 5. The dismissal times are as follows: Fort Scott High School at 1:08 p.m.; Fort Scott Middle School at 1:13 p.m.; Winfield Scott School at 1:03 p.m. and Eugene Ware at 12:58 p.m. The Fort Scott Preschool Center will not have an early release day...

Fort Scott High School's chemistry classroom has received a makeover. With the assistance of local industry Labconco and Plant Manager Mike Lakeman and Logistics Office Manager Kristy Bolden, chemistry teacher Heather King has a new look to her classroom, from work areas to a fume hood...

Editor's Note: Each year, Unified School District 234 is required to publish an update concerning the cleanup of asbestos in school buildings and facilities. This year's report has been prepared by Susan Brown. In October, 1987, a new AHERA (Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act) Law went into effect. This new law required all K-12 schools, both public and private, to inspect buildings for the presence of a common building material called "asbestos."...

The USD 234 Board of Education received letters of resignation from four educators and one bus driver at their meeting on February 11. Janet Irvin, Title 1 reading specialist at Winfield Scott; Karen Hansen, media specialist at Winfield Scott; Karen Cook, fourth grade teacher at Eugene Ware; and Diana Endicott, secondary gifted teacher all submitted letters to the board announcing their retirement...

The FSHS Music Department is sponsoring a Baked Potato Feed Friday, Feb. 15 from 4:30 to 7 pm. The cost of a ticket is $5. With this ticket, customers will receive a large baker's potato, as many toppings as they care to have, a dessert and drink. The proceeds from this feed will help support the band, orchestra and choir in their performance trip to St. Louis on May 28-30...

The Fort Scott High School Varsity Scholars' Bowl team is headed to State this weekend. Fort Scott finished as Regional champs last Thursday night, going 11-1 in competition. Comprising the team for Regional and State is Michelle Buntain, Krista Hightower, Jordan Hervey, Zadok Self, Mady McColm, and Mark Garner...

Looking for a novel way to celebrate Valentine's Day or something unique and different for a gift? The Fort Scott High School Orchestra may have just the thing for you. The orchestra students have memorized four romantic tunes to be played as surprise serenades for individuals all over the community on Valentine's Day...

Fort Scott Scholars' Bowl teams hosted their home tournament. Twenty-four teams competed in three pools of round-robin style, and then the top eight teams competed in single-elimination style. Winners were third-place Paola, second-place Yates Center, and first-place Fort Scott. The Fort Scott team consisted of Mark Garner, Zadok Self, Michelle Buntain, Krista Hightower, and Mady McColm...

For Susan Brown, the time was right to make a career change, and she'll be returning to familiar territory. Brown, the current assistant city manager and director of finance for the city of Fort Scott, recently accepted a job as the new business manager and board clerk for USD 234. She will replace Tiffany Forester, who is leaving her post at the end of the semester...

USD 234 Board of Education members met on Monday night in what was considered a special meeting. Board members spent the majority of the meeting in executive session to discuss issues relating to "personnel matters". After the closed portion of the meeting concluded, business manager Tiffany Forester informed the board that she spoke with a representative at the Office of Labor Relations in Topeka about the teacher contract negotiations. ...

The USD 234 Board of Education approved the district's participation in the Save the Children's Early Steps to School Success program on Monday night. The program seeks to serve the youngest and neediest families in the community by providing children and parents with the skills necessary to achieve school success...

2nd Semester "All A" Honor Roll Kristin Leigh Allen Jacob T. Bradbury Chase D. Brown Michelle Buntain Taylor Dayle Cation Preston Levi Church Jessica Elaine Combs Courtney M. Crain Syndney A. Cullison Paige Nicole Denton Zachary D. Denton Kirk Austin Durnal...

First Semester 3.50 -- 3.99 Honor Roll Addington, Gage Alfaro, Brianna Allen, Ashley Allen, Brett Allen, Damon Allison, Mirranda Bailey, Breanna Baldwin, Kennyn Blethen, David Boles, Akasha Bowman, Emily Bradbury, Jacob Brennon, Marcus Brown, Chase Brown, Kaitlyn...

The Fort Scott High School debate team kicked off their new season on the right foot as they traveled to Independence for a two-division tournament Saturday. The tournament was held in conjunction with a nation-wide tournament in which high school debaters from across the country debated whether or not the federal government should increase its development and exploration of space...

4.0 Honor Roll Kristin Allen Austin Bailey Kayla Beaman Seth Bohlken Marcus Brennon Kacie Brown Michelle Buntain Brittany Burns Jeanette Campbell Taylor Cation Jessica Combs Courtney Crain Amber Davish Zachar Denton Kirk Durnal Jacob Durossette Hali Eads...

The USD 234 Board of Education received some bad news during their regular meeting Monday. The board learned that three of Fort Scott's four schools were among 255 individual campuses in Kansas that did not meet Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) standards for the 2009-10 school year. Board members received building report cards and heard AYP reports from principals...

The second week of the season found some Fort Scott debaters rising to the top as they traveled to three different tournaments. At Emporia, a two-day affair, two Tiger teams competed. The Emporia tournament is one of just a handful of Debate Coaches Invitational (DCI) qualifying tournaments. ...

USD 234 will conduct preschool screenings for children up to 5 years of age on Oct. 1. Children may have vision, hearing, speech and communication, motor skills, socialization skills, and general development screened. The purpose of the screenings is to locate and identify children with possible developmental delays who may need special education preschool and/or related services...

Due to teacher inservice activities on Monday, Sept. 27, there will be no school for USD 234 students. Classes will resume on Tuesday, Sept. 28.

With 48 debaters prepared for opening weekend, the Fort Scott High School Tiger debate squad spread out to four different tournaments. The Tigers won the team overall sweepstakes trophy at the two tournaments where the team was eligible for the trophies. At Gardner-Edgerton, all all-novice event, the first-year squad members captured five of the top six placings...

The Eugene Ware Elementary School fourth and fifth grade choirs will perform at 7 p.m. Friday at the Heritage Park Pavilion near the corner of First and Main streets. Each choir is composed of students who auditioned for the group. Students have given up their time after school once a week to practice in the choir. Many of the fifth grade students are also beginning band and orchestra this year. These are students who enjoy singing and performing...

Family Career and Community Leaders of American members from across the state recently came together to learn how to be active and involved members and officers at the Take Active Involved Members (AIM) Leadership Conference. The conference took place Aug. 29-30 at Webster Conference Center in Salina. Representing the Fort Scott High School FCCLA chapter at the event were four FCCLA members and chapter adviser Rita Nienstedt...

Students at Fort Scott High School received an educational, entertaining surprise Thursday morning. Several students, faculty members and staff members packed the FSHS gymnasium to hear a presentation by Ryan Moran, a motivational speaker from Indianapolis, Ind. Moran told humorous stories and recalled some of his own life experiences as he talked to students about having a positive attitude and how they have the ability to make a difference in their lives each day...

There is no debate that three Fort Scott High School students are among the best forensics students in the country. FSHS seniors Daniel Lyon, Chase Rooks and Jeff Durbin, members of the school's debate and forensics team, are starting the school year ranked in the list of the top 100 National Forensic League students in the nation. As of Thursday, Lyon is ranked second in the nation, Rooks is ranked No. 78, and Durbin is ranked No. 94, according to FSHS debate and forensics coach Brian Weilert...

Several members of the public got the chance on Wednesday to express their views on a USD 234 proposal to reconfigure two local elementary schools into attendance centers. Opinions and views on the proposal are mixed, with some people wondering how it will ultimately help the district save money and benefit students -- the two main reasons district officials are considering the proposal, a plan to put kindergarten through second grade students in one elementary school building and third through fifth grade students in the other building.. ...

Emotions and concerns came to the forefront during a public forum Wednesday evening at Fort Scott Middle School. About 125 community members turned out to voice opinions and concerns regarding a proposal by USD 234 to reconfigure Winfield Scott and Eugene Ware elementary schools into attendance centers. The forum also served as an official meeting of the USD 234 Board of Education. Several members of a review committee that is researching the proposal were also present during the forum...

The attendance center issue was not the only item that the USD 234 Board of Education addressed during their regular meeting on Monday. Board members discussed the district's recent budget issues and conducted other routine business during the meeting. ...

Womeldorf: 'We want to hear what parents and teachers have to say'; No decision has been made on attendance center issue; no vote taken

The Fort Scott High School National Honor Society gave its fellow students the opportunity to "Stick it to the Man" Thursday morning in the FSHS gymnasium. Students and staff purchased 3-foot strips of duct tape for $1 which would be used to tape an administrator to the wall. ...

USD 234 will be conducting preschool screenings for children up to 5 years of age on April 16. Children may have vision, hearing, speech and communication, motor skills, socialization skills, and general development screened. The purpose of the screenings is to locate and identify children with possible developmental delays who may need special education and/or related services...

Local heroes step up to help the American Red Cross during American Red Cross month. The Bourbon County Chapter of the American Red Cross participated in the nation-wide fundraising effort called the Heroes Campaign in which local residents or organizations raise money and donate the funds to the local chapter...

The students of Eugene Ware Elementary School learned the power of "please" and "thank you" with the help of a unique children's author. Award winning children's author John Hall stopped at Eugene Ware Elementary School Thursday to share his message with the students. ...

Panel does not have voting power, discussing pros and cons of idea which is still in preliminary stages

The annual Plus 5 Dinner took place Thursday in the Fort Scott High School commons area. Forty students qualified to receive invitations to the dinner. The program began in 1991 to recognize students who were able to raise their third quarter grade .5 or above their cumulative grade point average...

The Fort Scott High School forensic squad recently completed another exciting week. Starting Thursday, the Tigers competed in Chanute and 15 finalists secured an easy first-place squad finish. Champions included Chase Rooks, Blake Cowen, Chris Clay, Leah Casselman, Jeff Durbin and Abby Williams...

For those not involved in an activity such as forensics, it it hard to measure to what degree a team is having success. When one reads that a squad puts 12 events into finals, that sounds great but with no reference point it is hard to say just how impressive. So, for those wondering if the Tigers' weekend was impressive ... it was more than that!...

Editor's Note: The following article was written by reporters of Fort Scott High School's newspaper The Tiger Times. This article was not edited by the staff of The Fort Scott Tribune.

USD 234 personnel will conduct preschool screenings for children up to 5 years of age on March 26. Children may have vision, hearing, speech and communication, motor skills, socialization skills, and general development screened. The purpose of the screenings is to locate and identify children with possible developmental delays who may need special education preschool and/or related services. ...

Fort Scott Middle School hosted the annual Bourbon County Spelling Bee on February 12. Twenty-three contestants participated in the contest, which included sixth through eighth grade students from Fort Scott Middle School and Fort Scott Christian Heights...

Parent-teacher conferences for USD 234 will take place Tuesday, March 9, and Thursday, March 11. Conferences will take place from 4 to 7:13 p.m. at Winfield Scott Elementary School and Eugene Ware Elementary School, from 4:30 to 7:43 p.m. at Fort Scott Middle School, and from 5 to 8:13 p.m. at Fort Scott High School. There will be no school for USD 234 students on Friday, March 12. Spring Break will takeplace the week of March 15-19...

There will be an elementary teacher planning day for Winfield Scott and Eugene Ware schools on Friday. There will be no classes for elementary students on this day. Fort Scott Middle School and Fort Scott High School students will have classes on Friday...

USD 234 missed three school days this winter due to inclement weather. The district is required to make up one of those and will use the following plan for this purpose: An extra 20 minutes will be added to each school day from Monday, March 8, through Friday, April 9. These 20 minutes will be added differently in the district's schools...

The Fort Scott High School forensic team was in action again on Saturday in Wellsville and Coffeyville. The group that competed in Wellsville had an outstanding day as 16 competitors made finals. Four team members won championships: Daniel Lyon (extemporaneous speaking), Tony Jackson (informative speech), Kai Simmons-Mims and Chris Herman (duet), and Matt Carrillo (original poetry). This squad won its fifth consecutive tournament...

Following Saturday's District History Day Championships, 29 students will be moving on to the State History Day competition in Topeka. Of the 29 moving on, 19 come from Fort Scott schools. History Day encourages students to express their knowledge and interest in history through creative and original dramatic performances, media presentations, historical papers, three-dimensional exhibit projects, or Web site production. ...

About 30-35 concerned parents and teachers packed the USD 234 Board of Education office Monday to hear more information on a district proposal to change the configuration of both local elementary schools. While not everyone present chose to address the board during their regular meeting, some chose to voice their opinions on the issue -- a proposal to reconfigure the grade levels at Winfield Scott Elementary School and Eugene Ware Elementary School into what are called attendance centers...

USD 234 officials are considering a proposal that would change the way local elementary schools are configured. During their regular meeting on Monday, the USD 234 Board of Education is scheduled to discuss a proposal that would reconfigure the grade levels at Winfield Scott Elementary School and Eugene Ware Elementary School into what are called elementary attendance centers. Both schools currently serve a combined total of more than 900 kindergarten through fifth grade students...

A group of 10 musicians from Fort Scott High School will be among the musical elite in Kansas during a state event this weekend. The students, representing the choir led by instructor Pat Harry, the orchestra led by instructor Jane Williams, and the band led by director James Fox, will be part of the Kansas Music Educator's Association state event in which all-state groups meet to rehearse and perform...

For the second week in a row, the Fort Scott High School forensics team was in action in more than one location. On Friday, two Public Forum Debate teams and four Lincoln-Douglas debators made their way to Topeka-Seaman High School to compete. According to coach Brian Weilert, the long trip was made to compete against not only different, but larger Class 5A and 6A schools. Fort Scott is a Class 4A school...

Countless days spent assigning grades and homework will soon come to an end for four local teachers. Debbie Lewis, a second grade teacher at Winfield Scott Elementary School; Glenda Miller, a fifth grade teacher at Eugene Ware Elementary School; Jane Williams, an orchestra teacher at Fort Scott Middle School and Fort Scott High School; and Ron Klassen, a Latin teacher at FSHS; recently announced they would be retiring after the current school year. ...

Making the decision to retire certainly call to mind many reflections and memories. The four long-time teachers from USD 234 react to their retirement and recall their fondest memories from their teaching career. What is your fondest memory of working in USD 234?...

The Fort Scott Middle School and Fort Scott High School orchestras will present their winter concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, in the FSMS commons area, 1105 E. 12th St. A variety of music will be performed by students in 6th through 12th grades. The FSHS orchestra and chamber orchestra will feature strolling musicians performing show tunes and fiddle tunes. ...

Students at Fort Scott Middle School will get a musical treat on Friday. Noted ragtime pianist Frederick Hodges will present a series of brief concerts for FSMS students from noon to 3 p.m. Friday at the school, 1105 E. 12th St. The performance is part of the Bourbon County Arts Council's continuing effort to provide art programs in Bourbon County schools...

Alex Pemberton, a senior at Fort Scott High School, was recently named a winner of the 2010 Fran Jabara Scholarship in Entrepreneurship at Wichita State University. The competitive scholarship is one of the most prestigious at WSU and one of the largest entrepreneurship scholarships nationally...

On Saturday, the Fort Scott High School forensic squad traveled to compete in three tournaments. According to FSHS coach Brian Weilert, the Tiger squad placed 18 events into finals at the Kansas City Sumner Academy tournament and easily won first place, nearly 60 points in front of the second-place school. ...

Members of the Future Business Leaders of America organization at Fort Scott High School attended district contests to compete against 16 other schools on Feb. 4 at Cherryvale High School. FSHS students who placed at the contest and the events they competed in include Jimmy Cox, who finished first in computer problem solving, first in cyber security and first in technology concepts; Alex Pemberton, who placed first in economics, first in business calculations, first in personal finance and third in business law; Matt Carrillo, who finished first in impromptu speaking; Tony Jackson, who placed first in sports management, fourth in business communications and fourth in business procedures; Kenzie Heatherly, who placed second in introduction to business and sixth in sports management; Colton Grillott, who finished fourth in sports management and fifth in business calculations; Libby Halsey, who placed fourth in business procedures; Dillon Peel, who finished fifth in business procedures; and Ben Bristley, who placed fifth in personal finance and fifth in business communications.. ...

Fleming a finalist for National Merit Scholarship

The USD 234 music department has two activities scheduled to take place within the next couple of weeks. The district's band program will conduct its winter concert at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the FSHS gymnasium, 1005 S. Main St. The concert will feature fifth grade, sixth grade, seventh and eighth grades, and the FSHS concert band. The concert is free of charge and open to the public...

After being snowed out the first week of its season, the Fort Scott High School forensics team headed out in three directions during the season's second week. At the conclusion of the week, the squad had three top-four finishes and 24 medalists. FSHS earned its first sweeps title at Iola on the strength of 12 finalists. ...

Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met Monday for their regular monthly meeting. During the meeting, the Fort Scott Chapter of the Kansas National Education Association negotiations team made a short presentation to the board, which also acknowledged the receipt of negotiations lists from the board and FS-KNEA for the 2010-11 school year...

A group of Bourbon County students will soon reap the rewards of showing dedication to their schoolwork. A total of 19 seniors from Fort Scott High School and Uniontown High School will be among 40 seniors from high schools in Allen, Bourbon and Woodson counties who will be recognized for their academic achievements and named Kansas Honor Scholars during a dinner program at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 8, at FSHS, 1005 S. Main St...

USD 234 will conduct preschool screenings for children up to 5 years of age on Feb. 12. Children may have vision, hearing, speech and communication, motor skills, socialization skills, and general development screened. The purpose of the screenings is to locate and identify children with possible developmental delays who may need special education preschool and/or related services. ...

With Pittsburg High School canceling classes Friday morning, Fort Scott High School has postponed Homecoming activities scheduled for Friday night. Pittsburg was to be Fort Scott's opponent for the Homecoming games tonight. Those have been rescheduled for Thursday, Feb. 4...

The Fort Scott High School debate team traveled to Goddard High School last week to compete in the 4A state tournament. The tournament features two divisions; a 4-speaker tournament in which teams qualify by finishing in the top two at the four regionals conducted throughout the state, and a 2-speaker tournament in which teams qualify by having a winning record during the regular season...

FSMS officials discuss possible use of $100,000 prize

The USD 234 budget is stable, at least for the time being, district officials said this week. Public schools all across the state have seen recent budget cuts as Gov. Mark Parkinson and the Kansas Legislature try to fix a $400 million deficit in the state budget. ...

Fort Scott Middle School is making one final push for votes this week in the U.S. Cellular Calling All Communities campaign which ends Friday. FSMS is partnering with local individuals and businesses to hopefully finish the contest with a voting surge. The school finished the month of December ranked No. 59 in national voting, and has an array of events lined up throughout the campaign's final week to fuel an attempt to become ranked among the contest's top 10 schools...

USD 234 will conduct preschool screenings for children up to 5 years of age on Jan. 15. Children may have vision, hearing, speech and communication, motor skills, socialization skills, and general development screened. The purpose of the screenings is to locate and identify children with possible developmental delays who may need special education preschool and/or related services. ...

1-hour concert free of charge, open to public

Fort Scott Middle School is one of thousands of schools across the country trying for a chance at big money. FSMS recently received enough votes to make it into the list of top 100 schools in U.S. Cellular's Calling All Communities $1 million campaign, which runs through Jan. 15, 2010...

USD 234 is getting some financial support to help pay for district health and wellness programs. School officials recently learned that the district has been selected as the recipient of a grant from Kansas Coordinated School Health, a collaborative effort between the Kansas State Department of Education and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The group focuses on increasing physical activity, improving nutrition, and decreasing tobacco use in schools and school districts...

Bob Beckham's job still allows him to help kids -- just in a little different way. The Fort Scott High School principal was recently recognized as the Area II High School Principal Honoree by the Kansas Association of Secondary School Principals. "As a teacher I had the privilege of working directly with students, helping them on a daily basis to prepare for their future," Beckham said during a recent interview with The Fort Scott Tribune. ...

USD 234 will be conducting preschool screenings for children up to 5 years of age on Dec. 11. Children may have vision, hearing, speech and communication, motor skills, socialization skills, and general development screened. The purpose of the screenings is to locate and identiy children with possible developmental delays who may need special education preschool and/or related services...

A group of students involved in the drama program at Fort Scott High School won't be acting when they work to help feed needy children this week. About 40-50 FSHS students will team up on Friday to participate in the 2009 Trick or Treat so Kids Can Eat food drive, the International Thespian Society's annual nationwide community service initiative to collect food for the hungry. ...

d the onset of flu season, area school officials are dealing with more students being absent due to illness. All schools are practicing and encouraging precautionary measures in an effort to help curb the spread of the flu virus. According to health officials, steps to remember include washing hands thoroughly, staying home when sick, coughing or sneezing into a tissue or the elbow, eating a balanced diet and drinking plenty of water, and getting adequate rest and exercise. ...