USD 428 School Board members conducted their first reading of the high school program of studies book Monday night at the district board meeting. The book describes proposed course changes at Great Bend High School for the 2019-2020 school year. One proposed change is adding a biomedical pathway for students that are interested in a career in health care. Travis McAtee teaches science at the high school and explained what this pathway would entail.
Travis McAtee Audio
McAtee says interest in the program by students has been overwhelming with close to 150 students who are in either 8th grade or freshmen in high school indicating that they possibly would be interested. He says because of that, criteria will need to be established in order to trim the number of students down to around 75 or 80 who would be part of the initial program.
Travis McAtee Audio
The second career pathway that is being considered is one for students who are interested in exploring teaching as a career. That would include a teaching internship in the final year of the pathway that would include planning a unit with an instructor and actually teaching that unit to a class.
Traci Miller, second-grade teacher at Riley Elementary School, completed a three-year process to achieve National Board Certification.
GREAT BEND, KS — The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards celebrates 3,907 new National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) and another 4,446 Board-certified teachers who successfully renewed their certification in 2018. Traci Miller, second-grade teacher at Riley Elementary School was the only candidate from USD 428 in Great Bend, KS to complete the three-year process and achieve NBCT.
“The NTSB process has made me a more reflective practitioner,” said Miller. While Miller has been a successful teacher for over 20 years, she explained how the road to certification provided a fresh look at her classroom. “It’s a connected approach,” she said, “seeing students as individuals, acknowledging their preferences in learning and applying evaluation tools to monitor my teaching methods for positive outcomes.”
“Going through the National Board Certification is one of the most difficult things a teachers can do,” said Khris Thexton, USD 428 superintendent. “NBCT shows the dedication Mrs. Miller has to her profession, assuring our students, parents, and community she has met the highest standards of the teaching profession. Mrs. Miller is an outstanding educator and we are extremely proud to have her as a part of the USD 428 family!”
Miller joins over 450 teachers across Kansas, and over 122,000 across all 50 states, who have earned the profession’s highest mark of achievement through a rigorous, performance-based, peer-review process, demonstrating their proven impact on student learning and achievement.
A proud second-grade class at Riley Elementary School poses with their teacher, Traci Miller, who recently earned the highest mark of achievement in the field of education – National Board Certified Teacher.
Highlights from this year’s class of new Board-certified teachers
Widening reach: There are new NBCTs in 2,000 schools in 999 districts across 47 states
Growing concentrations in schools, districts, and states:
o 12 states have more than 100 NBCTs
o 4 districts have more than 100 new NBCTs
o 26 schools have 5 or more new NBCTs; 182 have 3 or more
Increasing equity: National Board Certification is reaching a broader swath of students than ever before
o 47% of new NBCTs teach in high-needs schools
o Eighteen of the new NBCTs teach in Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) affiliated schools, an increase of 37% since 2014, and have hundreds of teachers working towards certification
40% of new NBCTs teach in STEM fields.
“I’m thrilled to celebrate our new National Board Certified Teachers. This is a great personal accomplishment, but it’s more than that – this accomplishment is reason to celebrate the impact Board-certified teachers have on millions of students nationwide and on the teaching profession at-large. School principals and systems leaders from across the country regularly tell me that NBCTs are making a difference in their students’ learning, strengthening their schools and their communities,” said Peggy Brookins, NBCT, president and CEO of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.
During the week of December 10, Educators across the country will celebrate all Board-certified teachers with #TeamNBCT week. The activities include in-person and online recognition of this important accomplishment.
“National Board Certification is about helping teachers become great, it is about elevating the teaching profession, and it is about helping children achieve at higher rates,” said Brookins. “The certification process impacts teaching and learning well beyond an individual teacher’s classroom.”
About the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (www.nbpts.org):
The founding mission of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards is to advance the quality of teaching and learning by: (1) maintaining high and rigorous standards for what accomplished teachers should know and be able to do; (2) providing a national voluntary system certifying teachers who meet these standards; and (3) advocating related education reforms to integrate National Board Certification in American education and to capitalize on the expertise of National Board Certified Teachers. Recognized as the “gold standard” in teacher certification, the National Board believes higher standards for teachers means better learning for students.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) today introduced the Cancer Drug Parity Act to make certain oral cancer drugs are covered in the same way as traditional (IV) chemotherapy to bring down costs for Americans battling cancer. The Cancer Drug Parity Act, which is co-sponsored by Senators Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), is needed to make certain the way health care covers cancer treatment catches up to the advances in oral cancer medications.
Currently, over 40 states – including Kansas – have passed “oral parity” laws that stop insurers from charging more for prescribed oral cancer medicine than IV chemotherapy. The Cancer Drug Parity Act would build on this work by expanding these protections at the federal level.
“Individuals suffering from cancer deserve the best treatment options available through their insurance,” said Sen. Moran. “As the number of oral cancer drugs increase each year, patients ought to be able to immediately benefit from these medical advancements. This sensible legislation would keep health insurance on pace with the latest cancer treatments, build on laws already implemented in 43 states and expand cancer coverage for oral drugs for 100 million individuals covered through group and individual health plans. I am a strong supporter of medical research to find new treatments, therapies and cures, and I am working to make certain these exciting new treatments can reach cancer patients and ultimately save lives.”
“Many patients face obstacles when accessing oral chemotherapy drugs,” said Director of The University of Kansas Cancer Center and President of the Association of American Cancer Institutes Dr. Roy Jensen, which represents 98 academic cancer centers across North America. “At a time when developments in cancer care are advancing rapidly, it is essential for cancer centers like ours to provide patients with access to the best treatment. For some patients, there are no viable alternatives to oral chemotherapy drugs, which often come with high out-of-pocket costs. Oral chemotherapy is a priority for KU Cancer Center and for AACI, and we are delighted that Senators Moran and Smith are introducing this much-needed legislation.”
“Science is dramatically changing the way cancer is treated. Even with these breakthroughs, too many cancer patients can’t access their treatments because insurance rules have not kept pace with innovation,” said President and CEO of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Louis J. DeGennaro, Ph.D. “The Cancer Drug Parity Act will eliminate the financial barriers that stand between many cancer patients and the breakthrough treatments that could save their lives. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society applauds Senator Smith and Senator Moran for their leadership on behalf of cancer patients and stands ready to work with Congress to move this important bill forward.”
The Cancer Drug Parity Act would:
· Prevent insurers from covering oral and self-administered medicines at different cost-sharing rates than IV chemotherapy;
· Not mandate that healthcare plans provide chemotherapy coverage, but rather only apply to plans already covering chemotherapy.
Last year, Barton County Appraiser Barb Esfeld estimated that out of roughly 18,000 parcels in Barton County, the Appraiser’s Office will receive between 400 and 500 formal appeals each year. The appeal process is open to any home owner that feels their property taxes are not assessed correctly from the fair market value.
Barton County Commissioner Alicia Straub says many of those appeals are being won by the property owners including oil and gas companies, costing the counties.
Alicia Straub Audio
Straub attended the Kansas Natural Resources Coalition meeting last Thursday in Garden City. Along with hearing about the lesser prairie chicken, Straub noted there were questions on how board members are appointed to the Kansas Board of Tax Appeals.
The board has the final say on disputes between taxpayers and taxing authorities.
Alicia Straub Audio
At the meeting, it was mentioned that Seward, Finney, and Ford counties are struggling with many valuations getting overturned.
The Appraiser’s Office physically re-inspects all real property at least once every six years to verify that all data is current.
Due to an unexpected water issue, Jefferson Elementary School dismissed all students at 12:15 p.m. Wednesday. Parents were asked to pick up their children promptly.
The safety and accommodation of the students remain as the top priority for USD 428.
Notices were posted on social media and parents were notified via email. Crews were on site to address the issue and had it resolved Wednesday afternoon. Classes will resume as regularly scheduled Thursday morning
BOOKED: Tracy Thacker on GBPD case for battery DV and unlawful restraint, bond is set at $1,000 C/S.
BOOKED: Christopher Fuentes of Hoisington on HPD case for burglary, bond set in lieu of $5,000 C/S.
BOOKED: Miguel Gonzalez of Great Bend on BTDC warrant for possession of a controlled substance, bond set in lieu of $20,000 C/S.
BOOKED: Timothy Richardson of Great Bend on BTDC warrant for failure to appear, bond set at $500 cash only.
RELEASED: Jonathan Stemm of Great Bend on serve sentence.
RELEASED: Blaine Snyder of Great Bend on BTDC case released to probation.
RELEASED: Miguel Gonzalez of Great Bend posted a $20,000 surety bond through Dyn-O-Mite Bail Bonding on BTDC warrant for possession of a controlled substance.
RELEASED: Dakota Gray of Great Bend on BTDC warrant for interference with LEO, posted $5,000 bond through Ace Bail Bonding.
USD 428 is moving forward with plans to purchase two new activities buses to replace two aging buses that were purchased in 2006. The School Board Monday night authorized administration to begin seeking bids for the two new buses that will be Ultimate Coachliners, a new look of bus that many school districts including Garden City have already transitioned to.
Here’s USD 428 Superintendent Khris Thexton.
Khris Thexton Audio
Cody Schmidt serves as Transportation Director for the Great Bend district. He says getting away from the traditional school buses of the past, means maintenance and repairs will become much easier while student safety is increased.
Cody Schmidt Audio
The new buses would seat 51 passengers which is a few more seats than what the current coach buses can carry. They would also be equipped with four cameras, USB ports on each seat, and overhead storage in the seating compartment and lower storage area’s that would be accessible from outside the bus.
Bid specs will be sent out to area vendors and when those bids are received back, they will be presented to the school board for approval.
The estimated cost of the two buses was not provided at Monday Night’s school board meeting.
Barton County and the rest of the state has experienced a couple of run-ins with winter weather already, especially the Thanksgiving weekend. The winter storm included high winds and at times caused zero visibility, snow drifts, and hazardous driving conditions. Handling the maintenance of the county roads fell to Barton County staff.
Commissioner Jennifer Schartz asked County Administrator Phil Hathcock if he had any idea of the cost to the county for treating the roads on a weekend.
Phil Hathcock Audio
Snow and ice treatment costs the county with the use of equipment, salt, and manpower. The cost can go up when treatment is needed on a weekend or holiday, normal times off for county employees.
Barton County owns a building at the intersection of 12th Street and Kansas Avenue in Great Bend. The office space is used by two outside agencies free of charge. The Cottonwood Extension Council and the State of Kansas Parole Office occupies the space.
In the summer of 2017, Barton County Commissioners approved the formation of the Cottonwood Extension Office, combining Barton and Ellis counties.
Commissioner Don Davis says Ellis County awards their extension office a similar deal.
Don Davis Audio
The Cottonwood Extension Office is its own taxing entity with a .78 mill levy. Barton County Administrator Phil Hathcock noted charging the state entities rent would essentially fall back onto the tax payers.
The approved agreements on office space are set to expire December 31, 2019. The agreement not only allows each agency office space, but use of the County’s phone and long distance services as well.
USD 428 School Board members conducted their first reading of the high school program of studies book Monday night at the district board meeting. The book describes proposed course changes at Great Bend High School for the 2019-2020 school year. One proposed change is adding a biomedical pathway for students that are interested in a career in health care. Travis McAtee teaches science at the high school and explained what this pathway would entail.
