Thursday, March 8, 2012
Fort Scott Tribune
There will be no classes for students at Winfield Scott or Eugene Ware elementary schools on Friday due to a teacher planning day. Students at Fort Scott Middle and Fort Scott High School will have classes, USD 234 Superintendent Rick Werling announced.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Tribune Staff Report
Four Fort Scott Community College students were recently honored in Topeka for their academic accomplishments and named to the 2012 All-Kansas Academic Team.
The All-Kansas team is sponsored by the official international academic honor society for two-year colleges, Phi Theta Kappa, the Kansas Association of Community College Trustees and the Kansas Council of Community College Presidents. FSCC selected the students for the statewide team and each student is nominated for the 2012 All-USA Academic Team.
The following students from the Fort Scott campus were named to the team: Joshua Budd and Glory Reichard.
From the Miami County campus, Caitlin Burk and Michael Herl were named to the team.
On Feb. 22, the Phi Theta Kappa chapter of FSCC also inducted new members into the organization. Phi Theta Kappa promotes scholarship, leadership, fellowship and service. Students who earn a grade point average of 3.4 or higher through more than 12 hours of study are invited to join the honor society.
New members include: Kate Atherton, Jared Bahr, Donald Bailey, Taylor Bailey, Cheyenne Clark, Caden Cleveland, Kirstie Cox, Nathan Davolt, Karen Gazaway, Shayne Henbest, Owen Jorday, Cheyenne Lesmeister, Karina Maples, Michael Mason, Cynthia Michael, Jonathan Morey, Michael Page, Pierce Reinbolt, Caitlin Shorter, Clara Stiles, Reyn Sugai, Samantha Tinnin, Kathleen Tyler and Leah Wood.
Friday, March 9, 2012
Fort Scott Tribune
Volunteers interested in helping can email PTO President Angie Kemmerer at kidskorner123@gmail.com.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Herald-Tribune
Five teachers from the USD 234 school district traveled to Emporia State University recently for a conference about children’s literacy skills.
The 14th annual Kansas Reading Recovery and Early Literacy Conference drew more than 100 educators from across the state for the March 5 event. More than 40 districts within the state sent educators to hear the two featured expert speakers.
Beth Swenson, an elementary school literacy expert, gave the keynote address. Beverley Olson Buller, an author and chair of the William Allen White Children’s Book Awards selection committee, spoke at the lunch.
From USD 234, the conference attendees were: Sheryl Bloomfield, Michelle Defebaugh, Janet Irvin, Linda Jackson and Becky Tinker.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
By Angelique McNaughton/Herald-Tribune
The search process to fill open teacher and administrative positions at USD 234 is temporarily on hold until a new superintendent is hired, school board members said.
“Most of the positions have been set aside for the time being,” Business Manager Tiffany Forester said.
The USD 234 Web site is currently advertising nine open teacher positions and four administrative positions, including superintendent. Superintendent Rick Werling announced his retirement at the Feb. 13 meeting and will step down as superintendent at the end of his contract on June 30.
Forester declined to comment on the number of applications the school board has received for the teaching positions, saying the board “doesn’t normally release that information.”
School Board President Janet Braun said the Winfield Scott principal’s position, now held by Billie Jo Drake, is the only one that is currently closed. But she said the board is “trying to hold out” for the superintendent search, which is scheduled to conclude on April 18 when the board makes its final decision.
Doug Moeckel, Kansas Association of School Boards associate executive director/leadership, said KASB, which is leading the process, has received “several applicants.” Moeckel said he did not want to give an “official number” of applicants or say where they came from.
“I can say we’ve had less than 20, but have had several applicants,” Moeckel said. “We’ve had some good numbers apply.”
The school board invited community leaders and members to participate in discussion groups on March 15 regarding the characteristics the community wishes to see in the next superintendent. “It will be very beneficial and informative,” Moeckel said. “I’m looking forward to that.”
KASB’s Web site says those interested in applying for the superintendent’s job must include with their application, a letter of interest, current resume, a copy of their administrator’s license, a letter of reference or copy of college/university credentials and five references with current cell phone numbers.
On April 2, the position will officially close to all applicants, and on April 4, KASB’s screening team will report to the board, notifying them of at least three, possibly four, suitable candidates for school chief.
Angelique McNaughton 