Hays USD 489 will hold its annual Preschool Roundup next month for the upcoming school year.

The preschool is a five-day-a-week program for 3-,4- or 5-year-olds. School days coincide with the Hays USD 489 calendar, and enrollment for the 2017-18 school year is underway.

“Our curriculum is based on enhancing developmental milestones that will prepare those entering kindergarten,” according to a news release.

Parents interested in holding a spot for the upcoming school year should attend the Preschool Roundup at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 28 in the multipurpose room at Hays High School.

For more information, contact Tina Albers at (785) 650-7141

FHSU University Relations

The fourth of six free hearing screenings to be held across western Kansas by Fort Hays State University graduate students will be offered in Hill City.

The screening will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3, at Graham County Hospital, 304 W. Prout. No appointment is necessary. Screenings will be conducted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Screenings, sponsored by the Kansas Masons, are provided by graduate students from the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders and the FHSU Herndon Clinic.

“The FHSU Herndon Clinic in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders is very fortunate to have recently received a grant from the Kansas Masons to support adult speech, language and hearing services in western Kansas,” said Marcy Beougher, speech-language pathologist and an instructor in the department.

Each site will have four stations, each with an FHSU graduate student providing screenings, supervised by Beougher. Each screening will take approximately 15-20 minutes.

“Thanks to the Kansas Masons, the screenings have provided excellent clinical experience for several of our students and have also been a great service for the public,” said Beougher.

“We have made several medical and audiological referrals so far, and we believe this free service is giving individuals valuable information as they learn if their hearing is within normal limits or if they could benefit from further hearing evaluation,” she said.

Beougher and Kori Haberman, communication sciences and disorders graduate assistant, are organizing the hearing screenings.

The final two screenings are scheduled for Hugoton and Goodland.

For more information, visit fhsu.edu/herndon-clinic/ or contact the FHSU Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at 785-628-5366.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, R-Kan., this week announced he is accepting applications for congressional internships in his Washington, Manhattan and Olathe offices for summer 2017. ‘

“My first experience in Washington, D.C., was working as a congressional intern,” said Sen. Moran. “Internships offer Kansas students great opportunities to learn about the legislative process and work on behalf of our great state.”

An internship in Sen. Moran’s office – focused on either policy or communications – provides a unique opportunity to work closely with Senate staff on behalf of Kansans. Legislative interns will gain a better understanding of the legislative process in the U.S. Congress and develop knowledge and professional skills valuable to future career pursuits. Communications internships provide a unique opportunity to learn about how political communications and the legislative process intersect, and gain practical knowledge about the inner workings of a fast-paced press office.

The Office of Senator Jerry Moran intern program is open to qualified undergraduate and graduate students – or recent graduates – who have strong interest in public service and government and have achieved academic excellence.

The application deadline for summer 2017 internships is Friday, Feb. 17. Application forms can be found and completed under the “Services” section of Sen. Moran’s website at www.moran.senate.gov. Applicants should submit a completed application form, resume, academic transcript, two letters of recommendation and a cover letter explaining their interest in public service and what they hope to learn serving as an intern to Sen. Moran. Please submit required application materials to: [email protected]

For questions, contact Moran’s office at [email protected] or call 202-224-6521 and request to speak with the intern coordinator.

By MAC MOORE
KU Statehouse Wire Service

TOPEKA– A 2016 United Health Foundation report ranks Kansas below average in adolescent vaccinations rates for many viruses, including human papillomavirus (HPV) and pertussis.

Lawmakers looked to improve these rankings as the House Committee of Health and Human Services held a hearing Monday on HB 2030, which would allow pharmacists to administer all vaccinations to those 6 years old or older.

Jody Reel, Kansas Pharmacists Association board director, said the bill would increase access for vaccinations and increase the state’s low vaccination rates. Kansas is ranked 44th for adolescent immunizations.

Reel said pharmacists have already shown they can be effective and efficient at vaccinations for this age group, although in a restricted capacity under the current law.

Currently, certified pharmacists are only able to administer the influenza vaccinations to children of this age. Pharmacists are trained to administer all vaccines but are only permitted to do so to individuals over 18.

The Kansas State Board of Pharmacy or the accreditation council of pharmacy must approve certification for pharmacists to administer vaccinations.

Alexandra Blasi, Kansas State Board of Pharmacy executive secretary, said in an effort to increase transparency, the Board has incorporated new reporting and notification requirements to maintain an active and current list of pharmacists certified to administer vaccinations. The Board plans to make the list of such providers available to the public on the website this year.

One of the main concerns with the bill, according to Bob Williams of the Kansas Association of Osteopathic Medicine, is the possible loss of interaction between doctors and young patients. Williams said the immunization schedule of children give doctors an opportunity to identify other illnesses or injuries during an important period of development.

“This opportunity will be lost if young children do not see a physician or nurse,” Williams said.

There is an additional concern for potential allergic reactions. Williams said allergic reactions to vaccines are not uncommon. He said he does not think a retail pharmacy would provide the necessary care to an allergic reaction.

Rachel Colombo, the Kansas Medical Society director of government affairs, suggested amending the bill to raise the age from 6 to 12. Colombo said this age starting point would give health officials the opportunity to evaluate the benefit of allowing pharmacists to administer vaccines to a smaller and less vulnerable set of patients.

“This would ensure that the bulk of immunizations and accompanying pediatric issues are handled by a physician with a comprehensive understanding of underlying conditions,” Colombo said.

Rep. John Eplee (R-Atchison), a practitioner of family medicine, said the compromise of 12 years is appropriate until more information can be gathered.

“If things go well and we have no issues, I suppose we can revisit this issue in a few years,” Eplee said.

The House Committee will continue the hearing at 1:30 p.m. Thursday.

Mac Moore is a University of Kansas senior journalism major from Lawrence.