Negotiators on 2016-17 teaching contracts in Geary USD 475 have reached a tentative agreement.

Cathy Rankin, said numerous problems were resolved without changing the language of the contract, and it was a much more positive environment. “We have some things we’re really excited about. We added an additional elementary planning day, we’ve added additional leave days that can roll over into retirement because we added a retirement program. We have not only an early retirement program but also a retirement benefit this year.”

A building advisory committee was added at each building as one method of improving communication and teacher morale.

Dr. Corbin Witt, Superintendent of Schools, said there will be an increase in the amount spent on salaries by 2%.  Individual employee pay raises will vary by position. Some new supplemental positions were added. Also teachers will be required to attend one meeting per week, but they will be paid $13 per hour for any meetings beyond that. The total new funding in the contract has been calculated at approximately $800,000.

Rankin noted that the JCEA is preparing a salary schedule that will include an MS plus 45 ( college hours ) column for longtime teachers. On the current contract there are  130 teachers on the last step, MS plus 30.

Rankin stated, “This has been a very positive agreement. They worked with us well and were very open. I think it was a great agreement.”

Witt said, “We both feel like this is very fair. It’s something that the District can live with, it’s something that the teachers feel that they can live with, so everybody feels pretty good about it.”

A finance committee of negotiators must review the proposed salary schedule and contract language, then it goes to the Board of Education for review. Once that is completed it will be submitted to the JCEA membership for ratification in August. Once that ratification occurs the agreement would then go to the Board of Education for their final ratification vote in the August – early September time frame.

Orion Integrated Biosciences has opened a new office in Manhattan, KS in order to more closely work with Kansas State University scientists to capitalize on the future opening of the National Bio and Agro-defense Facility, or NBAF.

CEO and founder of Orion Integrated Biosciences Willy Valdivia said that moving his company’s operations to Manhattan helps respond to “cycles of innovation that must happen very quickly.”

Orion specializes in biodefense by applying computer technology to manage large sets of genomic data.  The company then gathers, stores, integrates and analyzes data to identify patterns that can be applied to a new generation of agro-defense countermeasures, according to Valdivia.

Orion will only move two employees to Manhattan for now with hopes to expand in the future as the company strengthens its development in diagnostics and vaccines. The new office will be located in the Manhattan/Kansas State University Innovation Center, part of the Kansas State University Research Park.

“There is significant potential for a small business like ours to interact closely with a university, given the specific capabilities we have,” Valdivia said.  “This is a strategic move for our company because of Kansas State University and where NBAF is being built.

Lyle Butler, president of the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce feels that the move is a boost for the local economy.  “The attracton of Orion Integrated Biosciences to Manhattan represents another win for our shared university/community economic development strategy to leverage NBAF and Kansas State University to create high-pay, knowledge-based jobs and grown the regional economy.”

Orion’s current projects are funded by the U.S. Departments of Homeland Security and Defense, and by the National Institute of Health.

“We do hope that by moving to Manhattan and that our collaboration here will bring more prokects in more opportunities for licensing new findings,” Valdivia said.  “We are at a stage where we can grow more. Kansas, Kansas State University and NBAF open many opportunites for us. This will be a very successful collaboration.”

Alarmingly, car burglaries are a key part of the rising crime rate in Junction City.

Police Chief Tim Brown says that since January burglaries are up 120 percent; “We’ve had 44 (burglaries) this year compared to 20 last year and alot of that occurs with open vehicles.”

What was especially “troubling” to Brown was that “We’ve had a lot of cases of individuals getting coins, laptops, cell phones, and purses left in cars overnight.”

Prior to this year the crime rate was down 29 percent in Junction City over the last six years.

Brown says the best way to stay safe and deter burglaries is to “Keep your doors locked on your house and keep your vehicle doors locked.”

Junction City officials have announced that Police Chief Tim Brown will retire from the Junction City Police Department, effective June 17, after 37-and-a-half years of public service.

Brown tells JC Post the issue that he will retire arose this week. “I’ve got some medical issues that I’m dealing with, and my intention is to leave the JCPD. My last day will be June 3.”

Brown said he told his staff and others that he works with at City Hall about the decision this week. “Very difficult decision for me and my family after 37 years of service with the City. We felt that overall this was the best…be able to focus on this issue that I’ve got going on.”

Brown thanked the citizens of Junction City for allowing him to serve them for these many years, and noted he has been blessed to have a wonderful staff like he has now. “I want to get through this medical issue and be able to enjoy my retirement.”

Junction City Manager Allen Dinkel noted, “Be a big loss, but we’re positioned to move forward, and we respect his wishes greatly.” Dinkel added Brown is a highly respected chief, but added, ” I also believe he’s developed this department…I think it’s a credit to him that his department is in a situation without him being there immediately it’ll carry on and be very transparent to the public, and they’ll still get the service that he has instilled in his department over the years.”

There will be a ceremony for friends to honor Chief Brown’s dedication to the City of Junction City and the Junction City Police Department on Friday, June 10 from 3-4:30 p.m. at the Junction City Municipal Court Building at 701 North Jefferson Street.

Karen Arnold – Burger, Judge of the Kansas Court of Appeals served as the keynote speaker for the dedication of the new Junction City Municipal Court – City Commission meeting facilityon Thursday. The building at 701 North Jefferson recently opened for use.

Judge Arnold-Burger told the audience she was aware of the important roles played by Municipal court. For many people their first and only contact with the justice system is in Municipal Court. “So it’s important that it’s a professional looking place, they’re treated professionally, because we know that if they respect the court they come before they’re more likely to go along and obey that court’s orders. ”

Judge Arnold-Burger is a fourth generation Kansan, and a former municipal court judge in Overland Park. She has served on the Kansas Court of Appeals since January 6, 2011.

A big audience attended the dedication and open house Thursday morning.

It is difficult to recruit and retain substitute teachers.

That is a challenge facing Geary USD 475 and other districts.

This week the USD 475 Board of Education heard a proposal on the possible use of “KELLY,” a company that can provide that service.  Bridget Seeman, Executive Director of Human Resource Services for USD 475, stated that KELLY is one possible solution to the problem, that could be sent to the Board. “That’s about having someone come in and operate the subs for us, little longer arm of recruiting and retaining, that’s the hope.”

Seeman confirmed over time the cost to the district could be as high as  $50,000 per year but staff also made it clear to the Board keeping the duties in house would also be more costly to USD 475 in the future.

There are about 120 active subs that can be available but in the last five weeks on Friday 120 plus were required. But the district has to compete with Manhattan, Riley County, and Chapman for substitute teachers.

Seeman reported that one problem is that obtaining subs to pick up last minute jobs. As a result teachers have to be paid to cover the vacvancies, which pulls them away from other duties and responsibilities. That can also involve combining classes at the elementary school level.

KELLY recruits substitute teachers, which in turn gives the regular teachers back their time.  KELLY also offers weekly pay, benefits, a bonus plan, and 401K.

Substitute teachers are needed to cover regular classroom teachers for a variety of abscences ranging from illness to school sponsored trips to school improvement sessions.

The topic is expected to be brought back to the BOE with a recommendation at their June meeting.

The new Milford Lake Conference Center at Acorn’s Resort was unveiled during a Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting and open house on Tuesday.

Mike Harris of Acorns Resort, noted the conference center will bring visitors to the lake, and serve as a meeting site for local groups. “Overall we’re just going to have a lot more folks visiting Milford Lake.

Harris said it is a 7,500 square foot facility that can handle groups of up to 285 people. “There’s three different breakout rooms, there’s also a seperate board room that smaller groups could rent as well. ”

There is strong technology support in the facility. “It’s really loaded up with all your state of the art audio-visual equipment in there, tv’s and projectors, and whatever the group might need for technology we’re going to have it in there for them.

Kevin Willmott received a standing ovation Monday evening from a USD 475 audience at the Courtyard by Marriott convention center in Junction City.

Willmott served as the keynote speaker for the Celebration of Teaching banquet.

It was quite a return home for the former Junction City High School student who was expelled from the school during his teen years, but is now a full professor at the University of Kansas and a prominent film writer, director and producer.

Kevin went on to graduate from St. Xavier High School in 1976 and he holds a Bachelor’s degree from Marymount College in Salina, and a Master of Fine Arts from Tisch School of the Arts at New York University.

During his remarks Monday evening Willmott referred to the diversity in Junction City, the positive impact, and experiences with former teachers such as Pat Anderson at Junction City High School, and the help he received from Father Frank Coady at St. Xavier.

He told the story about being asked by a member of the Adult Education Department to teach a class at the University of Kansas. As it turns that person was the son of the man who was principal at the time that Kevin was expelled from Junction City High School. “So the man who kind of laughed in my face, made fun of me when they kicked me out. I remember walking home, we went to the school to ask if they would let me back into the school and they said no.” Willmott said 40 years later the son of that principal was sitting in front of him. “I had the opportunity to just lay him out but I didn’t do it, because he wasn’t guilty of the crime. And in the long run success is always the best revenge.”  Those comments brought a standing ovation from the large audience at the convention center.

Then in a surprise move Willmott was presented with a Junction City High School diploma. It was an emotional moment for Kevin when he opened the package and saw it was a JCHS diploma. “I have to tell you this is the best thing I have ever received in my entire life. Thank you so much.”

Willmott has produced films such as C.S.A. The Confederate States of America, Jayhawkers, Ninth Street, and his most recent release Chi-Raq, which he has screenwritten with Spike Lee who also directs the movie.