Both Westwood Elementary and Washington Elementary schools in Junction City had a special guest Friday morning.

U.S. Senator Jerry Moran visited both schools and met and talked with students and teachers.

The visits gave Moran a chance to see the challenges that teachers and schools in Kansas are facing.

“The classroom, the students, the family circumstances have all changed overtime,” Moran said. “Particularly here in Junction City with the Fort Riley Component. Students who are here for awhile and then gone, parents who are deployed, it creates additional challenges that our schools are trying to meet.”

Moran is on the appropriations committee and is the leading republican on the appropriations sub-committee that includes schools.

“Things like impact aid and title one funds that are so important to Junction City schools, but important to all of our schools across Kansas, are something that I want to make sure that they have value, that the tax payers getting their moneys worth and that the dollars are being used in a way that help us educate students.”

At Westwood Elementary Moran saw the schools Rockin’ Readers program which consists of 1st and 2nd graders reading with 4th and 5th grade student to improve reading skills. He then went to Washington Elementary, which was recently recognized as a National Title One school, and visited with students and teachers.