Fort Hays State University Marketing and Relations

The Opportunity Through Education Living Learning Community at Fort Hays State University drove to New Orleans to spend time at SciTech Academy and had the opportunity to work with pre-kindergarten through eighth-grade students. The school is one of seven ReNew Charter Schools in New Orleans.

Students from FHSU participated in their areas of interest for two days, in which they shadowed and helped with small-group instruction, learned about classroom management, the history of education before and after Hurricane Katrina, and charter schools in New Orleans.

The SciTech Academy has a traditional curriculum, like most public schools, with a primary focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Examples of this are a dedicated robotics program and a one-to-one Google Chrome initiative for fifth- to eighth-grade students.

Besides the two days the group spent at SciTech Academy, students also navigated the city using streetcars to visit the French Quarter and the Garden District.

Within the French Quarter, students learned the history of New Orleans regarding the French and Spanish influences through two guided walking tours.

According to the Hays Area Chamber of Commerce, there is a possible scam with an unknown entity contacting area businesses for an “advertising opportunity” on Fort Hays State University Tiger football schedules.

The caller seeks immediate payment via credit card or telecheck, and has been known to represent other local businesses as an attempt to gain trust.

Please note, this is not an authorized FHSU project, nor are they representing any Hays business or organization, the chamber reported. Something similar occurred last year, and the chamber believes these calls could be related.

If you choose to participate, be aware that your money is not supporting a local effort and may not be the best investment for your promotional goals, the chamber informed its members on Monday.

Fort Hays State Univerity Marketing and Relations

Sixty miles south of Hays, students and Jean Gleichsner, recently retired associate professor of agriculture from the Department of Agriculture Home Horticulture class, dedicated their time to a service-learning project at the Larned Pride community garden and orchard and at Schnack-Lowery Park.

At the garden, students planted potatoes and tomatoes into the ground and flowers and other vegetables into raised garden beds. They also painted display stands in a nearby shelter area.

In the orchard, students pruned apple and cherry trees and cut back grape and blackberry vines. They also loaded bags of mulch onto a small front-end loader for transportation to the orchard, where they mulched around the blueberry bushes and grapevines.

At the park, a couple students changed the oil in the John Schnack Express train that circles the playground, while four others replaced wood beams that support the track. Others put a base coat on the train tunnel in the preparation of a mural that a local artist will paint.

“This service-learning project allows students to integrate community service activities into academic curriculum,” Gleichsner said.

The community garden and orchard were created in 2009 by a group of Larned residents with a mission to create a better environment and to enhance the health for those in Pawnee County and the surrounding area.

USD 489

Fred Dierkson will be interviewing for the position of Superintendent with the USD 489 Board of Education Monday.

Dierkson is the third of four candidates that the USD 489 Hays Board of Education will be interviewing.

Candidates were selected for interviews based on their fit with desired characteristics that were developed with input from focus groups that were utilized throughout the search process.

Dierksen is currently serving as the in USD 376 superintendent. He has been the superintendent in Sterling since 2003. Dierkson previously served as principal at Jetmore Grade School for eight years and was a sixth-grade teacher at Jetmore Grade School for seven years.

Schedule for May 23:

• 9:30 a.m. Arrive at Rockwell Administration Center.
• 9:45 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Meet with Superintendent Katt for coffee. Receive schedule for day and information prepared by the clerk for all candidates.
• 10:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. Roosevelt Elementary School – facility tour and meet and greet
• 11:00a.m. – 11:45 a.m. Hays Middle School – facility tour and meet and greet
• 12:15 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. Lunch with building administrators
• 1:30 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. Hays High School – facility tour and meet and greet
• 2:30 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. Rockwell Administration Center – facility tour and meet and greet
• 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Community and Parent meet and greet – Master Teacher Room
• 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Free time for the candidate (the district will provide transportation to and from the motel for the candidate and/or
• 5:30 p.m. Begin interview with the board (only)
• 6:15 p.m. Dinner with candidate and their guest
• 7:15 p.m. Interview continues

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Transportation announced last week that La Crosse and WaKeeney are among nine communities that will receive funding under the second phase of the 2017 Kansas Airport Improvement Program.

According to a KDOT news release, the projects include runway improvement, fuel system installation and taxiway construction.

La Crosse will receive $607,433 for runway repair, and WaKeeney will get $441,000 to modernize the runway. According to KDOT, that includes updating lighting, striping and signage.

The nine airport sponsors will receive a total of $2.7 million in KAIP funding for projects costing an estimated $3.1 million. The cities must provide a matching funds ranging from five to 50 percent.

Director of Aviation Merrill Atwater said, “KAIP has not only funded key improvements at local airports, it has helped create a statewide aviation network that enhances both the health and economic wellbeing of the entire state.”

Earlier this year under phase one of the fiscal year 2017 program, 12 projects were selected for $2.25 million of funding, KDOT received 114 applications totaling $38.7 million.

Communities selected for phase 2 funding and the amount requested include:
Anthony – Extend runway, $990,000
La Crosse – Repair runway, $607,433
Lyons – Install Automated Weather Observation System III, $103,500
WaKeeney – Runway modernization (lighting, striping, signage), $441,000
Stafford – Land acquisition for development, $27,075
Herington – Construct airport fence, $21,000
Rose Hill-Cook Field – Relocate fuel system, construct ramp, $208,250
Lawrence – Reconstruct taxiway C, $154,800
Pleasanton – Install fuel system, $191,250