The Kansas National Education Association will rally early next week in an event entitled "Adequate Yearly Funding,' a spin-off of No Child Left Behind's adequate yearly progress.

The event will be held beginning at 10 a.m. at the Kansas Statehouse on March 17.

"Lawmakers keep saying they don't hear from enough people that there is support for funding public schools," said Christie Slay, a student from Shawnee Heights who originally planned the event. "We want lawmakers to understand that budget cuts to schools hurt our kids and our communities. We want lawmakers to listen and to act. They need to fund public schools first, not leave it to the last."

Expected to speak are Kansas Gov. Mark Parkinson and a number of students and teachers across the state.

Speeches are expected to begin at noon. A short march from the KNEA and Topeka High Shcool buildings to the east side of the Kansas Statehouse will begin at 11:15 a.m.

It turns out Sumner Academy has another good team.

Members of the Sumner Academy forensics and debate team spoke and performed for board members at the Tuesday, March 9 meeting of the Kansas City, Kansas Board of Education. 

Coach Jamelle Brown told a little bit about forensics and debate and then introduced her students.

Their names and topics are:

Rachel Marshall - What the National Forensics League Board Offers

Candace Villanueva – Original Oration Mini Performance

Khrystal Johnson – Prose Interpretation Mini Performance

Sedgwick Weaver – Highlights of the 8th Grade Debate Team’s Success

David Hutchinson – Highlights of the Forensics Team’s Success

Marcus Banks and Robert Coppage – Duo Interpretation, Mini Performance

Candace Villanueva

David Hutchinson

Jamelle Brown

Khrystal Johnson

Marcus Banks and Robert Coppage

Mia Richardson

Rachel Marshall

Sedgwick Weaver

The Schlagle Marching Stallions will be marching in a parade this weekend in downtown Kansas City, Kan

The catch?

They'll be the lone participant.

The Marching Stallions will march this Saturday at 2 p.m. on the corner of 13th and Washington Blvd. in an effort to raise more funding for a trip to Washington, D.C.

The band has been invited to participate in a Fourth of July parade in Washington.

“It will be an incredible experience to perform on the nation’s stage in Washington," said Reginald May, director of the band. "Most of our students have never been there, and many haven’t traveled far outside of Kansas City."

Starting at 13th and Washington Blvd., the band will march three blocks to the Internet Café, located at 1645 Washington Blvd.

The band is still looking for more donations to help pay for the trip.

"This trip in July is a terrific opportunity to expand their horizons and allow them to see an important part of America," May said. "But we still need to raise $25,000 to take our students and staff on this trip."

The band so far was raised about $25,000.

For more information about donating to the band's trip, visit schlaglemarchingband.com or call May at (913) 627-7544. He can be emailed at remay@kckps.org.

Students at New Stanley Elementary School recently collected $500 for a Haiti relief fund.

The American Red Cross honored the school last month for the accomplishment. Students from across the school donated to the fund.

(Photo and information courtesy of SUSAN ENLOE)

Three Kansas City, Kansas middle school students recently visited the state capitol.

The young ladies served as House of Representatives pages in the service of Rep. Louis Ruiz. 

Their visit was sponsored by Young Women on the Move, in an effort to provide real life experiences in government.  Belen Banuelos enjoyed her visit so much that she wrote a thank-you note to Rep. Ruiz. 

Here is an excerpt:

“I would like to thank you for the opportunity to serve as a page for you in the House of Representatives. I not only enjoyed it, I learned so much, how a bill is passed into the law or how they are vetoed. That is an experience that most kids will never get. I feel so fortunate to have that opportunity. I will be boasting about this experience to my friends and family and if they don't believe me, I have my certificate from the legislature and Governor Mark Parkinson. Once again, thank you for the opportunity of a lifetime.”

PHOTO: Serving as pages for Rep. Louis E. Ruiz, Wyandotte County, District 32, in the Kansas House of Representatives provided a real life experience in government for students of the Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools and members of Young Women on the Move. Pictured with Governor Mark Parkinson (seated) are from left: Brittany Bell, Schlagle High School; Rep. Ruiz; Belen Banuelos, Central Middle School; and Alissa Stacker, Argentine Middle School.

The Kansas City, Kan., Public Schools District will hold a second public forum dedicated to the budget situation Thursday at Wyandotte High School.

The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. and will conclude at 7:30 p.m.

A similar meeting was held Monday at Washington High School.

The district is looking at an additional $14.6 million of cuts to next year's budget and is seeking public imput.

"We have a lot of passionate people about their schools and district," said assistant superintendent Cynthia Lane, after the first forum.

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The Kansas City, Kan., Board of Education will meet with members of the Wyandotte County Delegation at noon today in Topeka, Kan.

The Kansas City, Kan., Public Schools District's legislative goals are among the items expected to be discussed. The meeting will be held at noon in room 784 of the Docking Building, located at 915 SW Harrison in Topeka.

Tonight's meeting at Sumner Academy will still be held, beginning at 5 p.m.

Some employees in the Kansas City, Kan., Public Schools District can breath a little easier for at least one more school year.

Outsourcing has been ruled out for the 2010-2011 school year in KCK Public Schools.

However, the district is still exploring the possibility for the future.

In front of at least 400 local residents and district employees in a forum held tonight at Washington High School, the district ruled out outsourcing for the next school year.

"Outsourcing will have no impact on next year's budget," said Cynthia Lane, assistant superintendent of KCK Public Schools.

The district is conducting a salary study of non-teaching employees in the district. The study is expected to conclude later this year.

"We're studying the issue," Lane said. "It'll be a four to six month long process."

Dr. Judith Warren has been named the new principal at Bishop Ward High School.

Warren will begin her tenure as principal at Ward on July 1. 2010, replacing Dennis Dorr, who will serve out his contract as principal through June 30.

The announcement was made by Bishop Ward President Father Michael Hermes and the Bishop Ward Board of Trustees.

“Dr. Judy Warren has a strong reputation for her skills as an educator," Hermes said. "She is passionate about Catholic education. She looks forward to leading us in our mission of providing a quality, Catholic, college prep education to our students."

Warren was a teacher for 26 years and later moved to St. Mary's High School, serving as the school's principal.

She served as the Superintendent of Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, later returning to St. Mary's High School.

Warren has a Doctorate in Education Administration from the University of Kansas, a Master's in Education/Liberal Arts from Baker University. She as a Bachelor's of Science in Education degree from KU as well.

She has served on the Bishop Ward Board of Trustees since 2007.

“I am excited about the opportunity to lead a school that has such strong traditions and a history of spiritual formation and academic achievement,” Warren said. “I look forward to working with the entire Bishop Ward community.”
 

Story and photo by ALAN HOSKINS, Kansan Contributor

The biology faculty at Kansas City Kansas Community College is reaching out help to the students.       

Each day, a “Biology Corner” manned by a biology instructor can be found in the lounge area adjacent to the Engineering, Science and Math Division on the lower level of the Science Building.

The concept was introduced by instructor Deb Taylor after attending a Community College Leadership in Learning Institute sponsored by Iowa State University and Johnson County Community College on the JCCC campus.

“Dr. Kay McClenney of the University of Texas-Austin was speaking on student retention and the importance of connecting with the faculty and emphasized the importance of putting the faculty where students could find them, that students are much more likely to approach a faculty member in an open area than trying to track them down in an office,” said Taylor.

Patterned after a similar program Dr. McClenney said had been successful at a community college in San Antonio, Tex., Taylor said all nine member of the biology division are taking turns in manning the Biology Corner.

They include Dr. Michael Ballentine, Elisabeth Kasckow, Ernie May, Dr. Doris Daniels, Todd Gordon, Curtis Smith, Lorraine Green, Jim Lisle and Taylor.

“We’re giving it a trial run and keeping numbers on how many students are using it,” said Taylor. “We picked the lounge area because we see a lot of science students studying in that area. And they don’t have to ask biology questions. We’re there to help in anyway we can.”

PHOTO: Kansas City Kansas Community College biology instructors Deb Taylor (pictured above), Dr. Michael Ballentine and Elisabeth Kaskcow are among nine KCKCC biology teachers who make themselves available to students in an open lounge area rather than having students tracking them down in their offices.

The Kansas City, Kan., Public Schools District will hold its first of two public forums tonight concerning the district's budget situation.

The meeting will be held tonight from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. at Washington High School.

Parents, faculty, residents and students are all encouraged to attend. The public will have an opportunity to speak about the budget as well.

A second meeting will be held this Thursday at Wyandotte High School. The meeting at Wyandotte will be held over the same time period.

By ALAN HOSKINS, Kansan Contributor

An intricate, time-traveling comic thriller that delighted audiences in London and New York, “Communicating Doors,” will be performed at Kansas City Kansas Community College Thursday through Sunday, April 1-4.

Directed by Sean Taylor of the KCKCC Department of Theatre, the play will be presented at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday in the Performing Arts Center on the KCKCC campus at 7250 State Avenue. 

The comic thriller by Alan Ayckbourn evolves around a London sex specialist from the future named Poopay and played by Brandy Hoover of Bonner Springs.

By happenstance, Poopay stumbles into a murder plot that sends her, compliments of a unique set of hotel doors, traveling back in time.

She and two women who were murdered, Ashley Gerni of SM Northwest and Skye Reid of Baldwin, race back and forth in time trying to re-write history and prevent their own violent ends.

The frantic race begins when Poopay is hired for an evening at the Regal Hotel by an old man played by Brett Baker of Newton who eschews a fling in favor of confessing his role in the demise of his wives.

The old man’s sinister business associate is played by Jonathan Humphrey of Shawnee Mission Christian while Topeka grad Brandon Durkes plays the detective who is called in to help solve the thriller in which Poopay becomes a target and flees into the vestibule and somehow triggers the time machine.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens and are available at the door at each performance.

PHOTO: Bonner Springs graduate Brandy Hoover (foreground) plays the lead role in the Kansas City Kansas Community College comic thriller “Communicating Doors” that will also feature (from left) Brandon Durkes, Ashley Gerni, Brett Baker, Skye Reid and Jonathan Humphrey in performances April 1-4. (KCKCC Photo by Dr. Charles Leader)