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Newton, Kan.— Newton High School is restarting it’s SAFE (Seatbelts Are For Everyone) program. School Resource Officer Brian Salmans is leading the effort with the help of some students at the high school.
“I’m seeing a trend of dangerous driving on the road,” Salmans said. “We need to have something throughout the year especially with these kids who are just now starting to drive.”
The group will meet periodically throughout the year. The group will give the student body more information about the importance of safe driving, even bringing in a mobile driving simulator to the school. They will ask students to pledge to drive safely. If students fill out a pledge card, they will be entered in a monthly drawing.
“Seatbelts are for everyone,” Newton High School Student and SAFE member Matthew Seirer said.
“People are safer in the parking lot and safer in Newton,” Newton High School Student and SAFE Member Olivia Tilden continued. “It’s just better.”
The group will check for seatbelts and distracted driving throughout the year and document their results. The students conducted a baseline check on October 11. They will check again later in the year to see how the students’ driver safety has progressed. After that, the state troopers will go to the high school for the enforcement period. Then the students will do a final check at the end of the year.
The Kansas Traffic Safety Resource Office runs SAFE state-wide. The schools who decide to be part of the program receive grant money from KTSRO for the program.
This is not a full recap of all issues discussed at the Board of Education meeting. These are not official minutes. For more information on the Board of Education meeting click here: http://bit.ly/2JNHISq
On October 8, USD 373 had both a Community Vision Team Meeting and Board of Education Meeting.
The Community Vision Team (CVT) meeting started out with a brief overview of the agenda. Steve Shogren of George K Baum presented some information on what home and business owners could expect to pay depending on the size of the bond. His estimates ranged from $30 million to a $65 million bond. Here are the lowest and highest estimates for reference.
- $30 million
- 100K home—$2.91/month
- 150K home—$4.37/month
- 100K commercial--$ 6.33/month
- $65 million
- 100K home--$9.30/month
- 150K home -- $13.94/month
- 100K Commercial--$20.21/month
After that, the CVT split into four groups. They talked about their priorities for the bond. Afterward, they shared the total estimated cost of what their proposed bond plan would be. There weren’t estimates yet on the elementary level, but the groups stayed in about the $42 million to $44-million-dollar range. Again, that would be without the elementary component of the bond.
In the Board of Education meeting, South Breeze Kindergarten teachers gave a presentation about the motor bins they bought with an endowment grant. They will use these bins to strengthen fine-motor skills in their students.
The board also approved a few gifts to the district. The first from Newton Rotary. There’s was a $8,100 check from the Birdies Against Bullying golf tournament the Rotary put on in conjunction with USD 373. Those funds will go towards anti-bullying efforts. Millennium Machine and Tool also made gave Newton High School Machining a $5,000 gift. The Northridge PTO gave Northridge $1,856 to purchase a math subscription.
The board approved to change the South Breeze moniker to the Steamers and its mascot to a steam engine.
We have another round of Railer Roundtables scheduled for October and November.
We had amazing discussions in the last four sessions, and we’d love to see you at one of our next sessions! Feel free to just stop in for a few minutes or stay the entire session. Bring questions and share your thoughts and opinions with Superintendent Dr. Deb Hamm and the school district. Here are the times and locations:
October 18 7 a.m.- 8 a.m. at Mojo's http://bit.ly/373RROct18
October 26 12:00 p.m.- 1:30 p.m. at the Breadbasket http://bit.ly/373RROct26
November 1 7-8:30 p.m. at Grand Central http://bit.ly/373RRNov1
November 10 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. at Newton Public Library http://bit.ly/373RRNov10
November 27 7 p.m.- 8:30 p.m. at McKinley District Office http://bit.ly/373RRNov27
This is not a full recap of all issues discussed at the Board of Education meeting. These are not official minutes. For more information on the Board of Education meeting click here: http://bit.ly/2JNHISq
On September 24, USD 373 had both a Community Vision Team Meeting and Board of Education Meeting.
The Community Vision Team (CVT) is a group of community members appointed by the board or a local organization like the city or the chamber. The CVT members participate in a conversation around the vision for facilities for the school district. On the September 25 meeting, DLR presented some possible ideas as well as estimated costs for possible projects in the bond.
After their presentation, the community vision team split up to discuss different possibilities. Afterward, they shared some ideas for a potential bond. Those include remodeling the science wing, tornado shelters at opposite sides of the high school and what the tornado shelter space could be, they also talked about renovations of the Ravenscroft Gym, the pool area, the commons and the kitchen. They also discussed a new auditorium and what that could look like.
In the Board of Education meeting, Dr. Hamm shared some information on school boundaries of the elementary schools. She also shared some information from the demographer’s report from about a year ago.
The Board of Education also approved (6-0) the building site council teams for 2018-2019. They approved two gift requests (6-0). One $2,600 donation to Newton High School’s Law Enforcement Club from DCCCA, Inc. and one $383.63 donation from United Way to Cooper Early Education Center for professional development and group activities for families.
Newton, Kan.--The Kansas Department of Education announced its finalists and semifinalists for the 2019 Kansas Teacher of the Year on Saturday, September 8 at a ceremony in Wichita, Kan. Debbie Miller-Dealy, a special education teacher at Sunset Elementary School, and Michael McConnell, a welding technology teacher at Newton High School, were two of the 24 semifinalists in the state.
There were 114 educators nominated this year in four different regions according to KSDE. Panels of the teachers’ peers judged five essays written by the nominees to decide who would become finalists and semifinalists in each region. Each region selected six semifinalists, three secondary and three elementary. From that pool, the panel then selects one elementary and one secondary finalist in each region.
According to the KSDE website, the mission of the Kansas Teacher of the Year program is to build and utilize a network of exemplary teachers who are leaders in the improvement of schools, student performance and the teaching profession.
Newton, Kan.— The Newton Ag Career Academy and Newton High School are teaming up with Numana to feed hungry people across the globe. Students will pack 10,000 meals to send to Nicaragua, El Salvador or Honduras on November 30, 2018. The event is partnered with Convoy of Hope, and food will be distributed to the country with the greatest need at that time. Even though the pack day is still months away, the work has already begun. The Ag Career Academy is raising the $3,000 that will cover the cost of the meals. If you are interested, you can go here http://bit.ly/NHSNumana to donate.
This project aligns with the Ag Career Academy’s theme of sustainability. Instructors will connect the service project to the Ag Career Academy courses of science, literature and history. The students will be given as much responsibility as possible such as packing the meals, teaching other volunteers how to pack the meals, marketing the event and running their tables during the event among other duties.
“I think it will be valuable for our students to see a process like this from start to finish,” Elizabeth Gunn, Ag Career Academy history teacher, said. “Seeing what’s going on outside of the United States. Why are these folks in need of meals? What’s been going on there? There are so many different opportunities to learn from this opposed to just showing up, packing meals and leaving.”
Right now, organizers are asking for donations to get the $3,000 for the meals. They will also need volunteers to help on packing day on November 30, 2018. If anyone is interested in volunteering, he or she may contact Melinda Rangel, assistant principal.
This is not a full recap of all issues discussed at the Board of Education meeting. These are not official minutes. For more information on the Board of Education meeting click here: http://bit.ly/2JNHISq
*Note* Please excuse our connection issues. The audio can be heard throughout the video
Construction Management At Risk
McCownGordon was named the construction management at risk firm (CM-r) for the potential bond issue. That decision was in response to a recommendation made by a CM-r committee consisting of four members of the community (Andy Harder, Gary Hill, Leroy Koehn, and Joe Regier) and two school board members (Jennifer Budde and Carol Sue Stayrook Hobbs). The committee met over the span of a few weeks. Six firms applied, and the committee interviewed four firms. The process is part of state statute.
McCownGordon will be able to provide upfront advice and counsel for a potential bond and facilities upgrade. They can give the district cost information and alternate solutions to the problems the bond will look to solve.
Passed 6-0
Chiller At The High School
The board was presented four different options for a replacement chiller. They considered an air-cooled or water-cooled solution. They decided to go with one 400-ton air-cooled unit. The initial cost for this will be about $360,000.
Passed 6-0
Approve Extension For The Public Building Commission
The PBC is an agreement between USD 373, the City of Newton and the Newton Recreation Commission. This group formed in 2004 when the upgrades to Fischer Field were done. Since that time, the commission replaced the turf at Fischer Field and made repairs to the stadium as well as concession stands and restrooms at Kelsch Field and Centennial Park. The Board agreed to extend this agreement another 20 years into 2044.
Passed 6-0
Other Highlights
Santa Fe 5/6 Center Assistant Principal Brandon Cheeks was appointed as the board representative to the Newton Recreation Commission Board (passed 5-1).
The board also heard a presentation from the Career Technical Education (CTE) program.
Harvey County Health Department will once again provide influenza vaccinations at USD 373 schools. Read the parent letter carefully and complete the form. Return it to your school or health department. If you have any questions, please contact the health department at 316-283-1637 or visit https://www.harveycounty.com/departments/health-department/programs/flu-and-pneumonia-vaccinations.html.
Influenza Registration Form (for everyone)
English Spanish
2018 Influenza School Clinic PARENT LETTER
This is not a full recap of all issues discussed at the Board of Education meeting. These are not official minutes. For more information on the Board of Education meeting click here: http://bit.ly/2JNHISq
The Newton Board of Education heard speakers on a number of topics Monday evening. The first was City Manager Bob Myers. He discussed the Public Building Commission (PBC). The PBC is an agreement between USD 373, the City of Newton and the Newton Recreation Commission. This group formed in 2004 when the upgrades to Fischer Field were done. Since that time, the commission replaced the turf at Fischer Field and made repairs to the stadium as well as concession stands and restrooms at Kelsch Field and Centennial Park.
Myers gave an overview of the partnership and reminded the board that it is set to expire in 2024. He also asked them to consider the commission being used to address improvements to the municipal swimming pool and significant improvements and additions to the ballfields in Centennial Park.
Chisholm Middle School Teachers Kim Tate, Monty Graber and Corrina Enns talked about the school redesign. As part of that redesign, Chisholm implemented Summit Learning with half of the seventh graders in the school. The rest of the school will join in next year.
In addition to these presentations, the board approved the 2018-2019 budget (4-0). They ratified the 2018-2019 negotiated agreement between the Newton Education Association and USD 373 (4-0), approved the administrator salary index for 2018-2019 (4-0).
They also heard an update on the community vision team from Dr. Deb Hamm. The team will meet for the first time at a special board meeting on Monday, August 27 at 7 p.m.
As communication and story-telling technology changes, we wanted to clarify our media publication permission. Photograph, voice or name would include moving photographs or video. If this creates any issues for you or your student, and you wish to change the release you signed for this year, please contact your school to have your media permission changed.
