Topics ranging from the new Junction City High School project facilities to a salary study for administrators and classified staff are on the agenda for the Geary USD 475 Board of Education during a retreat scheduled Saturday. It will run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Acorns Resort Conference Center.
Other items on the agenda include discussions about Board norms. district goals and comprehensive needs assessment and Board committees.
MANHATTAN — Celebrate and support Kansas State University’s fight against cancer with a Fighting for a Cure shirt, and wear it to the home football game, or anywhere, Saturday, Oct. 5, for the sixth annual K-State Fighting for a Cure Day.
Join Bill Snyder, the university’s former head football coach; Chris Klieman, current head football coach; Eric Stonestreet, Emmy Award-winning actor and alumnus; Kevin Lockett, former K-State Wildcat and Kansas City Chiefs football player; and many others who have shown their pride with a Fighting for a Cure shirt, in honoring the K-State family’s cancer survivors and researchers.
The Fighting for a Cure Day celebration will include a football halftime tribute by the Pride of Wildcat Land, the university’s marching band, and a tailgate party in Cat Town at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
Fighting for a Cure shirts raise funds and awareness for the university’s Johnson Cancer Research Center. Since 2014, shirt sales have raised $40,000 for cancer research and education at Kansas State University.
The 2019 shirts are charcoal gray with a purple Powercat and the phrase “Fighting ever fighting for a cure” in pink and purple. The phrase is inspired by the university’s fight song, “Wildcat Victory.” The shirts are made of a lightweight, stretchy cotton-polyester blend fabric and available in both short and long sleeves for $25 and $30.
The shirts are available in Manhattan at G. Thomas Jewelers, 419 Poyntz Ave.; 1419 Mercantile, 3039 Anderson Ave.; and the Johnson Cancer Research Center, 1711 Claflin Road; and in Junction City at Magnolia’s, 618 N. Washington St. They are also available for purchase online, kstatefightscancer.com.
Shirts will also be sold at the Purple Power Play community pep rally in Manhattan City Park from 5 to 8 p.m. Aug. 29 and 30, at the Manhattan Broadcasting booth.
Supporters are asked to join the social media campaign to publicize K-State Fighting for a Cure Day by posting photos of themselves and friends wearing the shirt, along with the hashtag #HelpKStateFightCancer. Photos from 2018 and earlier campaigns are on the center’s Facebook page.
The Johnson Cancer Research Center’s programs to advance Kansas State University cancer research and education are made possible by private donations. Information is available at cancer.k-state.edu and by calling 785-532-6705.
The Geary County Commission will consider final adoption of the proposed 2020 county budget that contains a slight increase in the property tax levy of 0.236 of one mill on Monday.
Adoption of 2020 budgets for the county, Fire District #1, Library, Water District #2 and Sewer District #4 is the agenda item for the commission at 2 p.m. Monday at the Geary County Office Building.
By Dewey Terrill
JC Post
Superintendent Dr. Reginald Eggleston has a vision for a high success culture in Geary USD 475.
During a recent visit with JC Post, Eggleston referred to a recent reference to the academic focus that was conveyed to the staff during the district general session. He noted that three goals were set. ” They include social-emotional learning, engagement and the graduation rate. “Embedded in all three is a focus on creating a culture and climate where high success is the norm. where student success is the norm, where teachers challenge students with a very rigorous curriculum.” He wants that to become the norm as USD 475 works to become a premier school district.
The superintendent said often when he is speaking to business and industry representatives they’re talking about wanting people with critical thinking skills, how to work as a member of a team, and how to think and solve problems. “So I think all of this works in that vein in order to produce a student who can walk out of high school and go into any walk of life that he or she desires.”
District officials are working with the most recent assessment data from the Kansas Department of Education, said Eggleston. “And we’re definitely making that a priority for our schools. We’ve also looked at our Kansas Policy Institute data which talks about how well students are doing. Every school receives a letter grade. And we also have been using data from the web site Great Schools.com. We know a lot of military families look at it when determining when or where they want to enroll their student.”
The superintendent said the district is working to ensure assessment data points are included in school improvement plans. The focus is on academics. He noted that they are focusing all of their efforts toward helping students improve in Mathematics, Science and English.
More than 6,900 students are enrolled in Geary USD 475 schools.
By Dewey Terrill
JC Post
There have been some blue green algae issues for the Gathering Pond area below the Milford Lake Dam, but elsewhere in the main body of the lake there have not been any watches or warnings this year.
State Representative Lonnie Clark, Junction City, maintains a watch on the algae issue. “As far as the algae goes, the best we can hope is that there is so much water moving through and it has been going on for so long that maybe it’s cleaned it out, and we can get a few years without dealing with algae. I think probably the mussels are probably affected the same way with that current.”
The lake is currently 18.73 feet above normal conservation pool, with an outflow of 2,000 cubic feet per second. The outflow was reduced Friday from 4,000 cfs down to 2,000 cfs to match the inflow into the reservoir. The lake level has been high all summer.
2019 Stuff the Bus has come to an end in Geary County. United Way Director Nichole Mader issued a thank you to the community for the hard work and support that provided more than 7,000 items to USD 475 and St. Xavier schools.
United Way also handed out more than 500 backpacks to students in Geary County, including 90 from the Adopt-A-Backpack program. That means individuals, businesses, and civic groups adopted 90 backpacks and filled them with everything that a student needed for school.
Mader said more than $2,300 was raised to support Stuff the Bus. The money went to purchase more supplies and backpacks for students. Any amount left over will be used for headphones through the school district or to purchase backpacks for next year.
Adopt-A-Backpack is a new offset of Stuff the Bus. Parents / Guardians can apply for assistance through United Way of Junction City / Geary County. Once a child is submitted for an Adopt-A-Backpack, that child’s specific shopping list is pulled, and a backpack is provided with all the child’s academic needs. This is an income based program.
Stuff the Bus will kick off again in July of 2020.
The USD 475 Eighth Grade Magnet Program will focus on an innovative curriculum, academic excellence and community partnerships.
The Principal at the H.D. Karns Building, Tom Wesoloski, told the JC Breakfast Optimist Club this week that the curriculum promotes higher-level cognitive thinking and uses project based learning. “The magnet program uses state and district standards in all subject areas. The curriculum is clear and transparent for families so that they can fully engage in the learning of their students.” He also stated that, “students were selected based on test scores, grades and attendance at their middle schools. Classes include Math, Science, History, English, Physical Education, Elective ( Reading and Math Intervention ) and Jobs for American Graduates.”
Wesoloski noted that students may participate in extracurricular activities their base school, must maintain a B average and be in attendance at school at least 95% of the time. Quarterly assessment will be given students to measure their progress. Parents are expected to participate by attending four meetings at the school and stay on top of their student’s progress. The Boys and Girls Club offers after-school tutoring and activities for the students.
There will be an Open House at the H.D. Karns Building at 300 West Ninth Street on Tuesday, Aug. 27 beginning at 6:30 p.m. The public is invited to attend.
Manhattan Regional Airport will celebrate the 10th anniversary of American Airlines regional jet service with a cake cutting ceremony on Friday, Aug. 23 at 10 a.m. in the terminal lobby . The public is welcome to attend the ceremony which will launch a 10-month-long campaign and contest for prizes.
American Airlines officially started service at Manhattan Regional Airport on Aug. 25. What began as a single destination to Dallas-Fort Worth grew to include Chicago O’Hare. Passengers getting on board at MHK have also increased dramatically in the last 10 years, growing from about 10,000 to over 70,000 emplanements and setting a record in 2018.
To celebrate, a cake cutting ceremony will launch a 10-month campaign and contest from Aug. 23 to June 30, 2020. The Manhattan Convention and Visitor’s Bureau is managing the contest, which will include monthly drawings for various vacation and staycation packages.
To participate in the contest, any passenger 18 years of age or older who flies in and out of Manhattan Regional Airport between Aug. 23, 2019 and June 30, 2020 is eligible to submit one entry each time they arrive or depart MHK.
The newly renovated passenger terminal at MHK currently offers three flights to Dallas-Fort Worth and three flights to Chicgo O’Hare daily.
Geary County KSU Research and Extension will provide a free Medicare Basics educational program on Friday, Sept. 27 from 2-4 p.m. at the Dorothy Bramlage Public Library. Extension Agent Deb Andres is a trained Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas counselor who will present the program which is designed to help participants have a better understanding of the Medicare system and how to use the available resources.
The free educational program is designed for anyone who is interested in learning more about the Medicare maze, particularly those who are nearing the age of 65, who are soon to qualify because of a disability or who are helping family members with insurance and financial matters.
Medicare eligibility, how and when to apply, what is covered by the various parts and how to fill the gaps are among the topics to be covered. There will also be an explanation of available programs to assist low income residents and how to watch out for Medicare fraud.
You can register for the free program by calling the Extension office at 785-238-4161. Register by the end of the business day on Friday, Sept. 20.
MANHATTAN — Law enforcement and school district authorities are investigating an alleged social media threat in Manhattan.
On Wednesday, a citizen alerted the Riley County Police Department that a video had been posted to the social media messaging phone app Snapchat which depicted a 15-year-old boy and 15-year-old girl holding what appeared to be a gun and making threatening statements, according to Captain Josh Kyle.
Preliminary investigation indicates the video was directed at a different 15-year-old boy and a 17-year-old boy.
All the parties mentioned are students at Manhattan High School West Campus.
USD 383 has assisted RCPD during this investigation and all involved parties including parents have been contacted, according to Kyle. The video did not include any threats to the safety of Manhattan High School.
No arrests have been made. The RCPD has not heightened its presence at the school in response to this incident.
