SALUTE THE HOLTON INSIDE MAYETTA, KANSAS Hometown of Spring sports Farrell & Judith are in Snyder full swing! Holton Recorder subscribers for eight years. RECORDERSering the ackson ounty ommunity or years See pages 6 & 7. Volume 151, Issue 30 HOLTON, KANSAS • Wednesday, April 11, 2018 14 Pages $1.00 Lawmakers pass school funding bill with error The five-year Kansas school it affected general state aid to lawmakers have said they are fund ing bill passed by state school districts and produced hopeful the situation can be legislators over the weekend two sets of documents — one rectified. Kansas Rep. Fred contains an error that could be detailing what school districts Patton (R-Topeka) said this viewed as taking away almost were intended to receive as part week that lawmakers could $80 million from schools in of the plan, the other showing pass a “technical” correction the first year of the bill, it was with the Legislature approved to SB 423 when they return to report ed. late Saturday — for public session. The Kansas State Department comment. However, there has been some of Education said Senate Bill Legislators have been ordered speculation that opponents of 423, passed by slim margins by the Kansas Supreme Court the school funding plan would in a late-night session on to increase funding for Kansas refresh their efforts to defeat Saturday, April 7, was supposed public schools to an “adequate SB 423 — some Democrats to provide school dis tricts with and equitable” level, and a say the $500 million in the $150 million in new funding Monday, April 30 deadline has plan will not be enough to for the 2018-19 school year and been set by Kansas Attorney appease the Kansas Supreme $500 million over the next five General Derek Schmidt for Court, while some Republicans years, but because of the error, motions in defense of the plan are afraid that the increase in first-year new funding will to be filed. school spending will require an increase only about $72 million. At present, the Kansas increase in taxes. The error was discovered Legislature is in recess until by KSDE officials, who said Thursday, April 26, but Continued to Page 14 Rural residents required to register pit bulls, similar breeds By Ali Holcomb limits, to register each year at and in 2017, a total of 13 were Rural Jackson County resi- the Jackson County Sheriff’s registered. dents are reminded that they Office and also pay a $25 fee. So far, in 2018, only two dog need to register or re-register According to the resolution, owners with those breeds have their dogs with the county breeds that must be registered registered with the sheriff’s each April if those dogs are pit each year in April include office, it was reported. bulls or a hybrid of that breed. Staffordshire Bull Terrier, To register a dog, an owner “It’s helpful for the county American Staffordshire must provide their name, ad- to know where they are at,” Terrier, American Pit Bull dress, home and cell phone Jackson County Commissioner Terrier, American Bulldog, numbers, their dog’s name, Rob Ladner said of the dog Bull Terrier or a hybrid of any breed, sex, age and color. breed. “It provides a heads up of those breeds. The dog’s veterinarian must for our first responders and In 2015 - the first year the also be listed, as well as the emergency personnel.” resolution was in place - a to- vet’s office phone number. A In 2015, the Jackson County tal of 20 such dogs were regis- license tag to add to the dog’s Commissioners approved tered with the Jackson County collar is provided for each a county resolution that re- Sheriff’s Office, it was report- dog. quires owners of certain dog ed. breeds, who live outside city In 2016, 16 were registered, Continued to Page 14 B.O.E. to seek new HES principal By David Powls In November of last year, the the old Colorado school with Following a lengthy discus- board extended a one-year ex- all of the grades 3 to 5 students sion in executive session here tension to Smith’s administra- from the old Central school. Monday night, the Holton tive contract with the district. Smith started as principal at school board, by unanimous 7-0 At HES, two other adminis- Holton’s Central school in the vote, decided to seek a new prin- trators currently have assistant 2010-2011 school term. cipal for the Holton Elementary principal titles. One of the two Apparently, according to School. was given assistant principal re- school officials, the transition Current Principal Beth Smith, sponsibilities in recent months. to the new, larger school facility of the pre-kindergarten through Superintendent Bob Davies has not been as smooth as ex- fifth grade school, will serve out has been reporting various pected and staff have struggled this school term as principal and student behavioral problems more this school term to resolve will continue to be employed and issues at HES to the board and manage the increasingly by the district next year as an throughout this school term - occurring misbehavior of some administrator at HES with a the second school term in the students. new position, according to the new school building which board’s decision. combined all K-2 students from Continued to Page 11 Tech purchases OK’d at Heights By Brian Sanders Technology Director Vern that there was room for one More than $65,000 in Andrews — including new, such device in the district’s technology purchases for full-size laptops for high school tech budget — the board voted the Jackson Heights school seniors, which made up more 6-1 to approve the addition. district’s 2018-19 school than one-quar ter of the total Andrews said the smart board year were approved Monday budget — was approved by and projector system constitutes evening by the USD 335 board members at a proposed “an old er technology,” whereas Holton Elementary School recently hosted a “Teacher Carhop Night” at the Holton Board of Education, including cost of $62,722.62. the touch screen TV — similar Sonic. Between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. that evening, 20 percent of all sales and 100 percent a last-minute addition of a But after Andrews suggested to one that’s being used as the of all tips were given to the elementary school. In the top photo, HES student Liam “touch screen TV” as a test the purchase of a touch screen “alumni board” at the middle Hillrichs (right) had a hard time recognizing his kindergarten teacher Jenny McElroy replace ment for “smart board” TV as a replacement for a and high school entrance — dressed in a cone costume. In the photo above, HES teachers shown above collecting technology. “smart board” and ceiling- would eliminate the system and tips during the fund-raiser include (from left) Ryan Noel, Becky Segenhagen, Darin During the board’s regular mounted projector at an esti- fit into an area that is currently Stous, Jolene Purcell and Diana Fate. Photos courtesy of HES month ly meeting, the 2018- mated cost of $3,000 in one occu pied by a smart board. 19 technology requisition class room — and the board plan as submitted by District members’ acknowledgement Continued to Page 3 School security topic at RV meeting By Ali Holcomb er to print them on site.” be installed at the front door. Ways to improve school A key fob is a small, pro- Nine doors would be updated security at the elementary grammable hardware device for fob access, Davis said. Heights, RV proms are Saturday school and high school at that provides access to ob- Since the ag and band With the onset of spring prom dinner at 7 p.m. in the is “Welcome To The Party,” Royal Valley were discussed jects, such as doors or vehi- rooms are located in modular comes the annual high school JHHS gym. Heights alumna a “Great Gatsby”-themed during the board of educa- cles. buildings located outside the tradition of prom, and this Kaitlyn Little is scheduled to event. tion’s meeting Monday night. Two video intercom sys- high school, students need ac- Saturday, Jackson Heights be the dinner’s guest speaker. Family members and Superintendent Aaric Davis tems would be installed at the cess to several doors in order and Royal Valley students The dance, with friends of students will reported that he has received elementary school – one at to move from class to class. will be stepping out to honor music provided by Wing line up near the en trance to one bid from a company in the front door and another at All the doors can also be that tradition. Productions, will be held in Heritage Hall from 7 p.m. Manhattan so far to increase the west door at the site of the placed on a timer to allow stu- The theme for this year’s the gym from 8 p.m. to 11:30 to 8 p.m. as students and security at both the buildings new preschool, Davis said. dents’ access between classes, Jackson Heights High School p.m. That’s followed by post- their dates arrive. The dance in Hoyt. The elementary school has it was reported. prom will be “City Of prom activi ties at Jackson will be held from 8 p.m. to For an estimated $37,000, five access doors that would Davis said he is seeking an Lights,” a theme that prom Heights Elementary School 11 p.m., followed by post- a new computer server would be updated with the fob sys- additional quote from another sponsor Katie Morris said from midnight to 2:30 a.m.