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Grain Valley Schools announced the closure of the Early Childhood Center on Wednesday and Thursday of this week and narrowly avoided a potential district-wide closure after substitute fill rates dropped to unsustainable levels.
"We are committed to keeping our schools open and learning in person, but our substitute fill rates have been dropping steadily since the holidays," Dr. Brad Welle, Deputy Superintendent, Student and Community Services said. The district also announced in an email to parents and district patrons on January 10th that they had suspended testing of students for COVID-19 until further notice due to a lack of available tests. Welle said the State of Missouri indicated additional tests should be available soon. Grain Valley Schools finds itself in a similar position to districts throughout the region, with multiple staff vacancies remaining unfilled and a desperate shortage of substitute teachers. "We have several full-time positions available and are also in desperate need of substitute teachers. Anyone wishing to join our team can start the application process from our website," Welle said. "We had 101 of our 675 employees, including teachers, paras, drivers, and cooks, out on Tuesday with a substitute fill rate of 42%, so most absences were not filled. Colleagues are pitching in to help wherever they can. Administrators and other personnel are covering too." "We hope to avoid further closures but will give families as much notice as possible if closures are needed. When considering our options, we look specifically at where the absences are occurring and will make closure decisions accordingly, so there is not a specific fill rate that would trigger a closure." The scheduled professional development day for teachers on Friday, January 14th has been designated as virtual only. There is no school for students on Friday, January 14th due to the full-day in service for teachers, and no school on Monday, January 17th due to the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. The Board of Aldermen approved ballot language to request the approval of $14,000,000 in general obligation bonds to fund the proposed police headquarters building project during its January 10th board meeting at City Hall. The ballot language for the April 5, 2022 election reads:
"Shall the City of Grain Valley, Missouri, issue its general obligation bonds in the amount of $14,000,000 for the site development and the construction, furnishing and equipping of a police facility?" The ballot language does not specify a location for the proposed project. The citizen study group tasked with developing the proposal outlined their recommendations in a January 4th letter to the Mayor and Board, stating that the proposed headquarters should be centrally located in Grain Valley on property currently owned by the City. In other business, the Board approved resolutions for several projects, including the extension of a water main on South Buckner Tarsney Road from the parks entrance drive to Eagles Parkway, the replacement of several existing security surveillance cameras, and the purchase of 400 water meters to continue the City's annual water meter replacement program. The Board also voted to approve a resolution to continue the agreement with OATS, Inc. for transportation services. The OATS transportation service provides transportation for seniors and persons with disabilities three days per week within the city limits of Grain Valley and Blue Springs. Each ride costs $1.00 and may be scheduled by calling 816-380-7433. The next meeting of the Board of Aldermen will be held at 7:00pm on January 24th at City Hall. Good News: Civil rights attorney Ben Crump to speak at Jan. 14 MLK luncheon; tickets on sale1/13/2022
Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump - who has become a national figure representing the families of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown and others - will be the keynote speaker at Metropolitan Community College’s 2022 Chancellor’s Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Luncheon.
Crump will speak in-person at the event, which is set for 11:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 14, at the new Loews Kansas City Hotel, 1515 Wyandotte St. downtown. Individual tickets are $125, with a variety of sponsorship levels available. Purchase tickets online at mcckc.edu/mlkluncheon. The luncheon raises money for student scholarships, and five MCC students will be presented with MLK scholarships (a full year of tuition) at the event. McCownGordon Construction is presenting sponsor of the 2022 luncheon. The 2021 MLK event was virtual, with the New York Times Magazine’s Nikole Hannah-Jones as speaker. Crump, based in Florida, is the founder and principal owner of Ben Crump Law. In less than a decade, he has become the voice for families of "Black people whose deaths at the hands of police and vigilantes sparked a movement," as an Associated Press story described him earlier this year. Social justice activist the Rev. Al Sharpton calls Crump "Black America’s attorney general." Crump was named to the 2021 Time100 List of most influential people, which noted his advocacy on behalf of George Floyd, killed by Minneapolis police in 2020. Gwen Carr, whose son Eric Garner was killed by a New York police officer, wrote in Time that the guilty verdict for former officer Derek Chauvin in Floyd’s case created "a flicker of hope that the change that both the world and grieving families were calling for might be possible on a wider scale." Crump is also the author of "Open Season: Legalized Genocide of Colored People," published in 2019. Luncheon attendees will receive a copy of the book. Learn more about MCC’s 2022 MLK event by visiting mcckc.edu/mlkluncheon, emailing mcc.foundation@mcckc.edu or calling 816.604.1195. Truman Heartland Community Foundation (THCF) invites students of all ages to apply for nearly $500,000 in scholarships for the 2022-23 school year, including ten new scholarships.
"Whether you are a graduating high school senior, a current college student, or an adult looking to go back to school and finish your degree, chances are there is a scholarship available for you," Rachael Watkins, Director of Scholarships at THCF said. "We encourage everyone seeking higher education to apply for scholarships." Students can submit one general scholarship application that will match them with more than 50 scholarships they may be qualified to receive. If matched to scholarships, students may need to provide additional materials such as essays, letters of recommendation from specific people in their life, or statements about participation in certain types of activities. Be sure to provide all the additional requirements by the February 21, 2022 deadline to be considered. Truman Heartland also offers a number of scholarships that use separate, stand-alone applications. Deadlines and requirements for these stand-alone scholarships vary. Visit www.thcf.org/scholarships to learn more about THCF's scholarships and begin the application process. In 2021, Truman Heartland awarded more than $468,000 in scholarships to 241 local students. Since 1982, THCF has awarded more than $5.1 million to help students reach their educational goals. For questions or personal assistance with scholarships, contact Rachael Watkins at watkins@thcf.org or 816-912-4185. by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society My memories of Grain Valley in the 1970’s are a bit slim for a couple of reasons. First, while I continued to live in Grain Valley, I was a college graduate gainfully employed in the area, just not in our little town. And, for the first time in over 25 years, my family no longer operated a business in town.
Nationally, the seventies were marked by Watergate, the OPEC embargo banning shipments of oil to the U.S. and causing major gas shortages, and the near meltdown of the Three Mile Island nuclear reactor. Of course, 1976 was particularly important as the United States celebrated its Bicentennial. Locally, old-timers will recall the fire that destroyed the First Christian Church. During the 1970's, the Assembly of God Church on McQuerry Road was the first church to come to Grain Valley in over 90 years. Grain Valley was beginning to grow with new housing additions along R.D. Mize Road to the North and the Cannon Addition just south of the railroad. The new homes brought growth to our schools. After 50 years in the old two-story brick school, the high school students moved to a new building just west of the old building. For the first time in over ten years, the high school was connected to the auditorium/gymnasium. Soon after, Matthews Elementary School was built in time to hold classes in September of 1978. And finally, disco dancing took Grain Valley, and the entire country, by storm. Grain Valley looked much the same during most of the 1980's. A few businesses came (State Bank of Missouri), a few businesses stayed (Mc Leroy’s Gasoline Station) and a few businesses left (Save Mart Grocery), never to return. The Middle School concept was introduced and a building for 6th, 7th and 8th graders was constructed on AA Highway (now Eagles’ Parkway). Strangely, what I remember most about the 80's are neon colors. Back in the day, the most popular hues were similar to highlighters—bright yellow, orange, green, and pink. Stylish people would wear matching sweatsuits or tops and bottoms in coordinating neon colors. Everything from hair bows and ball caps to tennis shoes and socks were neon. Ronald Reagan famously told Mikhail Gorbachev to “tear down that wall,” and he dismissed Marine Lt. Colonel Oliver North and national security assistant Admiral John Poindexter, both suspected of selling military equipment to Iran and diverting the proceeds to the Contras. Some will remember the 1980's for AIDS and Black Monday, October 19, 1987, when Wall Street suffered the worst day in its history, a 22% loss. On the bright side, others may remember the new social phenomenon: the Young Urban Professional, or “Yuppy.” If I was writing a book about Grain Valley in the 1990's it could easily be titled “The Decade of Growth.” Our population grew from 1,901 in 1990 to just over 5,100 in 2000. The two huge growth additions were Sni-A-Bar on the south side of town, followed by Woodbury and Rosewood Hills on the north. Where there are homes, there are children and where there are children there is need for more schools. In 1996 the Senior High School moved to the present location on Eagle’s Parkway. In 1997 Phase I (kindergarten and 1st grade) of Sni-A-Bar Elementary School was opened and Phase II was completed to welcome the 2nd grader the following year. In 1999, a new Middle School was built on Ryan Road. Along I-70, OOIDA and RV sales companies put Grain Valley on the map with national advertising. Many will remember watching live TV coverage of Operation Desert Storm, when the United States employed high-tech missiles after Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait. We also experienced the first bombing of the World Trade Center and the LA Riots following the announcement of a verdict in the Rodney King trial. On the lighter side, gourmet coffee and coffee houses became the trend and cellular phones became a common-place necessity! Between 2000 and 2010, the population of Grain Valley increased nearly 250% (from 5,160 to 12, 854 people). We got a new City Hall, a new Community Center, and the Market Place Shopping Center, complete with a supermarket, hardware store and some eating establishments. We also got a Sonic, McDonalds, and Subway! It was during this time that the first Casey’s General Store came to Grain Valley. And on the north side of I-70, Ward Development began the industrial park that would forever change the entire landscape of our city! In 2005, Prairie Branch Elementary was completed on NW Dillingham Road. In 2007, voters approved a bond to build Stony Point Elementary School, named for the original Stony Point School built more than 150 years earlier on land about a mile away from the present school on Ryan Road. The final phase of Stony Point was completed in 2009. During the most recent decade, 2010 to 2020, we have added 2 dental offices, Marketplace 8 Movie Theater, Price Chopper, Papa Murphy’s, Taco Bell, QuikTrip, AMOCO, Casey’s (number 3) and several retail shops near I-70. In the past two weeks, Panda Express and Burger King became the newest fast food in town. The businesses on the south edge of town have increased at a nearly equal pace. From the single Main Street Café in 1989 to the more than 15 eating establishments currently in our town, Grain Valley continues to grow at a rapid pace. Many residents would argue that a new car wash, our own micro-brewery, and our state-of-the-art Grain Valley High School cannot make up for what we lack - a good “sit down” restaurant. Well, history buffs, relax. I’m certain whomever is writing this column in 2032 will be telling you about Grain Valley's great new restaurant! Like they say about Missouri’s weather, stick around, our town changes every day! The 2022 Legislative Session Begins
On Jan. 5, Lawmakers returned to the State Capitol in Jefferson City for the start of the 2022 legislative session. The start of session always marks the beginning of a busy four and a half months in the Capitol, but this year seems especially busy as we prepare to take on a packed agenda. We once again have hundreds of bills to consider, covering a wide range of issues facing our state. As chairman of the Senate’s Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment Committee, I continue to look for ways to improve our state’s energy sector and have filed several bills that I believe will do just that this year. I’ve also sponsored Senate Bill 659, which aims to help prepare our students for the future by expanding computer science coursework throughout high schools, middle schools and elementary schools. Aside from bills I have filed, lawmakers will also be considering bills aiming to strengthen election integrity in this state, through possible photo-ID and paper ballot requirements. I also expect that we will discuss ways to build upon our success in protecting the sanctity of life in our state before session ends in Mid-May. And I’m sure the General Assembly will continue to push back against federal overreach and vaccine mandates coming out of Washington, D.C. In addition, the General Assembly will also need to pass a balanced state operating budget for the upcoming fiscal year before the end of session. Somewhat unique to this session is that lawmakers will also be undertaking congressional redistricting. This is the process of redrawing Missouri’s eight congressional districts to reflect population shifts within our state following the completion of the U.S. Census. The goal of redistricting will be to ensure all eight of Missouri’s congressional districts represent roughly the same amount of people and that Missourians are represented fairly. In the early days of session, the Senate’s Select Committee on Redistricting, which I have the honor of serving on, will handle much of this important work before sending the proposed district map to the full Senate for consideration. As you can see, we have a lot of work to complete over the next four and a half months, but I look forward to helping move our state forward. I am honored to continue serving the citizens of the 8th Senatorial District. Please feel free to contact my office in Jefferson City at (573) 751-1464. For information about committees or sponsored legislation for the 2020 session, please visit my official Missouri Senate website at senate.mo.gov/Cierpiot. During the winter months when fresh local produce is in limited supply, I’m thankful for produce staples like carrots. While we can’t grow this early season vegetable just yet, carrots are readily available all year long, which is one reason they are high on the popularity scale. Carrots are a member of the Apiaceae family of aromatic flowering plants that also includes celery, parsnips, dill, and cilantro. While we are most accustomed to eating the main part of the plant, called the taproot, the leaves and stems are also edible and make an interesting addition to a salad. Wild carrots are believed to have originated in Persia (now Iran and Afghanistan) but did not look anything like the carrots we are familiar with today. By the ninth or tenth century, carrots were selectively bred to improve flavor and tenderness while reducing bitterness and woodiness. By the fifteenth century, the plant was shared throughout Asia and Europe and eventually to North America by early settlers. Carrots are now a widely produced vegetable worldwide. California produces over 85 percent of all carrots grown in the United States, with Michigan and Texas coming in next. The average carrot yield in 2020 was approximately 50,000 pounds per acre. Carrots are the sixth most popular fresh vegetable, with nearly eight pounds per person consumed in 2020. There was an upsurge in carrot consumption in the mid 80’s with the introduction of ‘baby cut’ carrots, which are actually large carrots that are cut and polished into smaller pieces. Actual ‘baby carrots’ are harvested when they are very young and small. Baby-cut carrot products have been the fastest growing segment of the carrot industry since the early 1990s and are among the most popular produce items purchased. While we are most familiar with orange carrots, they can also be found in many other colors including yellow, purple, red and white. The color, as well as growing environment and level of maturity can impact the flavor of carrots, producing flavors ranging from sweet to bitter to earthy. Color can also impact the nutrient profile of carrots. Beta carotene is the most familiar nutrient that is found in deep orange vegetables. Yellow carrots also contain beta carotene as well as lutein, both of with are beneficial to eye health. Red carrots provide biotin, fiber, potassium, vitamins K, B6 and C, and a trace element called molybdenum, an essential mineral like iron. This important mineral activates key enzymes in your body that helps rid itself of certain toxins. Purple carrots have a carotenoid called anthocyanin, which researchers are studying its ability to treat inflammation and obesity. White carrots, while devoid of color and beta carotene, they are not devoid of nutrition and still provide fiber to aid digestion. Carrots have always been a favorite at my house, either raw as a snack, in a salad, or along side a pot roast with potatoes and onions. They are also great roasted on their own or in a mix of other root vegetables, like the recipe below. Roasting brings out the natural sweetness and earthy flavors of many root vegetables, that is enhanced with simple herbs for an easy side dish that complements any kind of protein. Denise Sullivan is a Nutrition and Health Education Specialist for MU Extension in the Urban West Region, serving Jackson and Platte Counties. For research-based nutrition and food safety information and programs, visit https://extension.missouri.edu/counties/urban-west-region. MU Extension is a partnership of the University of Missouri campuses, Lincoln University, the people of Missouri through county extension councils, and the National Institute for Food and Agriculture of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Visit our website at: https://extension.missouri.edu/counties/urban-west-region Simple Roasted Root Vegetables
(Makes 5 servings) 5 cups vegetables, cut into uniform sized pieces (carrots, onions, sweet potatoes, parsnips, beets) 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper 1/8 teaspoon salt
Nutrition information: Calories: 90, Total Fat: 3g, Saturated Fat: 0g, Sodium: 97mg, Carbohydrates: 16g, Fiber: 2g, Protein: 2g Recipe from Spend Smart Eat Smart, Iowa State University, analyzed by verywellfit.com The following information is derived from the Grain Valley Police Department daily calls for service log for the week of January 5-11, 2022.
by Michael Smith With the way the game was going, Grain Valley boys basketball coach Andy Herbert decided to use three of his bench players in the fourth period. In Tuesday’s first-round matchup against Marshall in the Pleasant Hill invitational, the veteran coach put his trust in three reserves – Keegan Hart, Rhylan Alcanter, and Reece Troyer to play important minutes with starters Owen Herbert and Nick Hooper. The decision worked out for the Eagles and Hart especially took advantage as he scored 10 of his 11 points in the final period to help his team run away from the Owls in a 66-53 victory at Pleasant Hill High School. “He always brings that defensive energy,” Andy Herbert said of Hart. “When you stack offense on top of it, that makes a pretty good player.” Grain Valley went into the fourth with a 45-37 lead. Hart helped the Eagles keep Marshall at arm’s length with five free throws, a driving layup, and 3-pointer. The Owls got as close as seven points but Hart’s trey midway through the period dropped a dagger on Marshall’s chances of winning as it gave the Eagles their biggest lead at 61-45. “I know (Coach Herbert) has trust in me,” Hart said. “When he has trust in me, I have faith in myself, too. My teammates have trust in me, too. We have good chemistry.” He led a balanced scoring attack that saw four other Eagles scored in double digits, led by Avery Garmon with 14, Herbert with 13, Alcanter with 11 and Hooper with 10. “The good thing about having nine guys who can play is when one guy is struggling, there’s always someone else who can step up,” Andy Herbert said. While Hart provided a scoring punch in the fourth quarter, Alcanter provided Grain Valley with an interior presence it needed after starting forward Alex Snyder went down with an injury in the first period. He grabbed several key rebounds for his team and made a couple of reverse layups in the fourth period to help put the game away. “He’s very strong and athletic,” Andy Herbert said. “He’s relentless and he goes. His role expanded quite a bit when Alex got hurt. It’s good to have two posts that are active and athletic. We were averaging about 19 points from both of our posts. That’s pretty good.” Added Alcanter: “I always got to be ready for the opportunity. There was an opportunity, and I took it. There are still some things I need to work on. But when I go in, I am going to try and do the things Coach wants me to do.” The Eagles (5-6) held a 15-13 advantage after one period with Herbert guiding the offense with a trio of 3-pointers. Hooper then scored eight of his 10 points in the second period to help the Eagles expand the lead to 31-23 at halftime. Garmon helped keep his team afloat with 11 third-period points as it went into the fourth up 45-37. Alcanter and Hart helped take over from there. Grain Valley junior Reece Troyer looks to swing the ball to a teammate. Photo credit: Michael Smith Grain Valley junior Owen Herbert scored 13 points in a 66-53 win over Marshall. Photo credit: Michael Smith Grain Valley junior Keegan Hart came up big for his team with 10 fourth-quarter points. Photo credit: Michael Smith Grain Valley junior Rhylan Alcanter prepares to shoot a layup.
Photo credit: Michael Smith Five candidates have filed for two seats on the Grain Valley School board. Incumbents Julie Groff and Michael Hackett have filed for re-election. Additional candidates include April Claphan, Jeffrey Porter, and Jason Williams. Voters will select two candidates on April 5th; the deadline to register to vote for the April election is March 9th.
In a January 7th board workshop, the board looked to the 2022-23 school year, reviewing initial drafts of the 2022-23 school calendar and 2022-23 budget. The initial school calendar lists the first day of school on August 22nd. Dr. Nick Gooch, Assistant Superintendent, Support Services, shared there is discussion regarding the timing of the end of the first semester. First semester currently ends in mid-January following holiday break; there have been discussions around ending first semester before holiday break. The board also reviewed the initial draft of the 2022-23 budget, which is currently in the red by $2,734,329.16. The bottom line will improve if expected state funding is approved this spring. The budget includes a number of line items the board previously identified as priorities, including an increase to teacher base salaries, six additional positions to be added in 2022-23, as well as hourly rate increases for transportation and non-certified staff. In other business, the board reviewed 2021 Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) and end of course (EOC) assessment scores. With the exception of 8th grade math scores, the district performed above the state average. In addition, the board reviewed the first reading of a revision of the district's searches of students policy to include the use of handheld metal detectors. The board also approved the addition of five teaching positions and one counselor position to be filled for the 2022-23 school year. |
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