Michael Hackett
​
Is there a particular issue that motivates you to serve on the board of education?
     I don’t have a particular issue that motivates me, I want to see all our children succeed.  I want us to come together as community to support all of our students.
 
What experiences or skills have prepared you to serve as a board member?
     I have 18 years of experience serving the community on the Grain Valley Board of Education. I have experience with how state statues impact our local schools, and a working understanding of how a Public School operates.
 
What is the biggest challenge facing public education and how can the board best address the challenge in our community?
     Sufficient funding to make sure our teachers and staff are paid what they should be paid is high on the list of things that allow us to attract and keep good people.  We need to be the voice to our state lawmakers to remind them of the needs of our community and their duty to see we have the support we need to prepare our students to be Missouri Citizens tomorrow.
 
What role should the community play in supporting the education of children?
     There are several ways the community NEEDS to play.  Parents need to engage with their students, they need to engage with the teachers who teach their children.  The community needs to be involved in every opportunity the school has for engagement; PTA’s should be standing room only, and there should be wait lists to serve on Steering Committees, as well as every Stakeholder opportunity.
 
What distinguishes you from the other candidates?
     I’ve been passionate about Grain Valley Schools for many, many years.  I’m a graduate of Grain Valley Schools and want to see our students have far more opportunities than I did, and even that my children had coming through Grain Valley.

Lance Pollard

​Is there a particular issue that motivates you to serve on the board of education?
     I believe there is a disconnect between the community and the school district. We must do a better job of being transparent with what is being taught in classes and what is being distributed to the kids in our schools. 

What experiences or skills have prepared you to serve as a board member?
     During my career, I have been given the opportunity to take on leadership positions and help move groups of people towards a common goal. I have found that communication and transparency are key components of leadership. 

What is the biggest challenge facing public education and how can the board best address the challenge in our community?
     I believe that one of the challenges currently facing the public education system is a decrease in teacher's salaries. Also, I believe parent involvement is far too low. We need to find ways to better interact with our community. 

What role should the community play in supporting the education of children?
     GET INVOLVED. Attend your school board meetings. Go to your parent/teacher conferences. Know the curriculum and content being taught in classrooms. Don't be afraid to reach out to our great teachers or administrators with your concerns or questions. Be a volunteer when needed. There are so many productive avenues that parents and community members can take to give back to our education system. 

What distinguishes you from the other candidates?
     I would bring a fresh mindset to the BOE with a common sense approach to leadership. I would always advocate for increased benefits and salaries for our hard working staff and administration. Every decision made must benefit the kids in our district. I will fight for your kids as hard as I do my own. 
​

Jan Reding


Is there a particular issue that motivates you to serve on the Board of Education?
  It is important on any board to have seasoned members that have not only experienced the activities and transactions of the past, but have had a working participation in the short and long-term goals of that organization.  I believe I have the experience and knowledge in making policy, in expanding and maintaining our district facilities, and in assuring that our district is financially sound.

What experiences or skills have prepared you to serve as a board member?
  I feel qualified to serve on the Board, as I have been a board member for the last 24 years.  I have attended over 100 hours of board professional development and received a Masters’ certification for professional development in the training sessions at the annual Missouri School Boards’ Association meetings.  In addition, I had a working experience in personnel and property management during my 37 years as manager of the Kansas City Power & Light Building.

What is the biggest challenge facing public education, and how can the Board best address the challenge in our community?
  It would seem that the biggest challenge facing public education in Grain Valley is the lack of sufficient funding to provide adequate salaries for our teachers and staff, and bonding capacity to continue to build and maintain facilities to accommodate our growing student population.  Funding for our employees is below that of the surrounding school districts, and we have the best-qualified staff in the state.  It is important that the public understand the reasons why we are seeking the funding we need.  We are fortunate to have our monthly senior citizen luncheons.  I visit with each table to answer any questions they may have concerning news they have heard or read about.  In addition, our school superintendent, Dr. Brad Welle addresses the audience as to any current issues they will hear or read about concerning the school district.

What role should the community play in supporting the education of children?
  Any member of our school community who has a question or concern is welcome to attend our board meetings or to call a member of our administrative team.  We want households to understand the reasoning behind the decisions we make, and having an open line of communication eliminates misunderstandings. 

What distinguishes you from the other candidates?
 I do not think there is a distinction.  I believe we are all willing to serve in a capacity that can assist in providing the best possible education for all of our Grain Valley students, while at the same time provide the adequate funding for our teachers, staff and facilities to live up to our motto of “effectively educating every student every day!”

Sarah Swartz
​
Is there a particular issue that motivates you to serve on the board of education?
     As a Board of Education member, I would ensure that all kids feel safe and included in our schools. Additionally, I want teachers to know they are supported through their professional decisions in the classroom. 

What experiences or skills have prepared you to serve as a board member?
    I have previously taught 6th grade and 9th - 12th grade and am currently a school counselor. Working in a school gives me a vantage point of the everyday life of an educator. I understand all the demands our teachers and students are facing. I have served on many district committees and serve on Sni A Bar's PTA. I am dedicated to this district and helping our community. Through my skill set of counseling, I am able to listen to all viewpoints and work together to come to a common goal. 

What is the biggest challenge facing public education and how can the board best address the challenge in our community?
    One of our biggest challenges is that we are facing a teaching shortage. Teachers spend more time with our kids than we do as parents. We need to make sure we have the best professionals in the classroom to support our kids. Our teachers need to feel supported by the board and be fairly compensated for the work that they do. 

What role should the community play in supporting the education of children?
     The community should be involved. There are many ways to volunteer at our schools and partner with our schools.

What distinguishes you from the other candidates?
     I have graduated from Grain Valley, taught in Grain Valley, and send my son to Grain Valley Schools. I have been in this community since I was in the 5th grade. Additionally, my experience as an educator brings a value to the board. We need a balance of members that are not in education as well as some that are. We currently do not have any board members that have any experience working in education. I would bring the experience of that of a teacher and a school counselor. 

Julie Taylor
​
Is there a particular issue that motivates you to serve on the board of education?
     There are several reasons I was encouraged to run for school board.  
     First, there is the issue of equity within our school district. When I speak of equity, this is not only related to our students, but also for the amazing staff within the district. For our staff, one of the biggest issues we face is our inability to hire and retain quality teachers. Grain Valley continues to be one of the lowest paying districts in the Metro KC area. This has caused capable staff to leave the district with a low application rate for their potential replacements.. I believe we can improve in this area by advocating for all district employees to receive quality pay and benefits as well as improving on the training, resources, and support needed to properly educate our students. 
     For our students, we need to start by taking a whole-child approach. As a district, we must understand our students’ needs come before the curriculum or standards. What I mean by this is before learning can occur, a student must feel safe and have a sense of belonging. Our staff must know our students and where they’re coming from — the different perspectives they bring into the classroom every day. To do this, there has to be a movement in our thinking to accept and educate students however they walk into our schools. 
     Further, when we think about the whole-child approach, and the equity of each student,  it also leads to the issue of mental health. Students today are experiencing mental health problems at alarming rates. These include depression, anxiety, eating disorders, suicidal thoughts, and substance misuse and abuse.  Currently, our teachers are actively engaged in trauma informed school training and participate in Signs of Suicide lessons during Eagle Time, but we owe it to our staff and our children to provide more assistance in combatting and helping the struggles our students are experiencing. I would advocate for the hiring of an additional social worker – Grain Valley currently has ONE social worker to assist the needs of the approximately 4,500 students. It is simply too much for one person to provide the quality help our students deserve. Additionally, I would recommend the enhancement of the district’s trauma-informed training which trains staff to help with students in crisis. 
 
What experiences or skills have prepared you to serve as a board member?
     I have been an educator for over 20 years with experience in the urban, suburban, and university setting, with seven of those years being right here in Grain Valley.  Additionally, I hold several masters degrees emphasizing curriculum and instruction, equitable education, diversity, and technology that will help in the decision making within our schools.  I also have a doctorate in philosophy, education, curriculum and instruction, and the social sciences.  Each of these degrees, as well as the first-hand experience I have in teaching and connecting with students and communicating with parents, allow me to hold a unique perspective of the changing world our students currently live in and how to give them the educational needs that will help them be successful after they leave Grain Valley.   I am also a proud parent of a graduate of Grain Valley school district and have personally seen and experienced the district as a parent as well.  
 
What is the biggest challenge facing public education and how can the board best address the challenge in our community?
     One of the biggest challenges facing public education is the issue of staffing, whether it be certified or classified staff.  During COVID, teachers were the unsung heroes.  They were thanked, appreciated, and praised, and for once, it felt as if they were truly understood in the extent of the hard work they put into our students and our jobs everyday. Upon return, teachers seemed to be the opposition, yet they were working the HARDEST they had ever experienced.  We need to respect our teachers’ time and role in educating the lives of our students. We need to support that they are doing what is in the best interest of their students, every day, to ensure they receive the best education possible to prepare them for the real world. One way to begin working towards this is to have our school board listen to their staff more.  Our educators are experts in their field and when they come to the table with concerns, whether it be curriculum or discipline, they need to feel like they are heard in the discussions of things that impact them and the way they educate students. 
     To assist with this, the district needs to work on hiring full time subs in the school to help with the sub shortage in our schools to help protect plan times of teachers.  It also helps in allowing our students to have consistency and feel safe by having a familiar face in the classroom that knows them and has built relationships with them.  Hiring building subs will be a forward thinking move that ensures the placement of at least one or more substitutes in each building every day, ready to cover any absences that occur. To do this, the board can discuss having the district issue personal invitations to retired educators.  With the state making allowances for retired teachers to continue collecting their pension, while also earning substitute wages, it is an added incentive to lure newly retired educators back into the job they love for part time work. There is also the ability to recruit college students from teacher education programs:  By committing to substitute teaching, they can gain valuable experience in an internship of sorts allowing them to gain on the job training and learning opportunities to help in their future careers.
     Another way to assist the challenges of staffing that would help both students, and teachers, is having a math and reading interventionist and grade level specific instructional coaches to help close the learning gaps that have become more pronounced from COVID. The district could help in paying for this by looking closely at the budget and seeing where there is room for improvement to receive the academic support students are showing that they need. 

What role should the community play in supporting the education of children?
     All stakeholders should absolutely play a part in the education of our students.  Grain Valley is made up of diverse perspectives. It is through embracing these varied beliefs and backgrounds that can benefit our district by providing valuable input to our resources, our career and technical education programs, and being positive mentors and support to our students and staff. Seeing our community volunteering in our schools as room parents, classroom readers, real life career presentations, even help in funding, and supporting the variety of school programs are crucial to supporting and encouraging our students' academic and social emotional growth.  
     Further, having the community involved in education allows a bridge from school to home that allows teachers to get to know the families their students come from, their needs, and how they are helped at home.  This direct relationship with the community can help teachers understand where children need help with learning and ensure the best academic path and way of learning for each student.  
 
What distinguishes you from the other candidates?
     Aside from my career and educational experiences, I feel I hold a unique way of listening and making decisions. From a young age, I believed everyone had a story. Not one person's story is going to be the same, and I may not always agree or understand  the story someone tells.  However, I can listen to hear and to understand their story.  I can put aside my bias and my own feelings on a subject to come to the table to learn, process, gather information from multiple sources, and then make decisions and compromises on what is best for each student and staff member. As a school board member, being able to listen to learn will benefit all stakeholders to continue the growth of our district to continue to be the amazing district I have grown to love and support in and outside of the classroom.
 

     Four candidates are on the ballot for Grain Valley's Board of Aldermen. Only one of the City’s three wards will have more than one candidate. In Ward I, incumbent Tom Cleaver will face former mayor Chuck Johnston in April. In Ward II, incumbent Darren Mills is running unopposed. In Ward III, Brian Bray is running for the seat currently held by alderman Shea Bass.
​     Each candidate responded to the following series of questions from Valley News. Candidates are listed in alphabetical order, and other than minor spelling or grammatical corrections, the candidates' responses are provided as written. 

Brian Bray, Ward III

​What motivates you to serve on the Board of Aldermen?
     Really just a desire to further serve my community. Having been a member, Vice President and President of the Park Board starting in 2018 I feel like I have had an impact on a small corner of our city. The trails system that is currently a large focus there is definitely something that can differentiate Grain Valley from some of our neighboring communities.  However, I felt that it was time to move on to a larger role in city government and help guide the city in a broader manner moving forward.
 
What are the top 3 priorities for the City in the next five years? How will you work with the Mayor, Aldermen, and City staff to address these issues?
     I feel like the top 3 priorities are all really connected with each other. Responsible and well managed growth being the driving issue. Around that comes infrastructure and funding to support that growth.  While I welcome it, I believe that the growth is coming whether we like it or not. Getting in front of that growth and managing it responsibly is the key to our future success as a city.
 
When talking with constituents, what are the concerns you hear most often? What can the Board do to address these concerns?
     I hear a lot about sidewalks and trails and the connectivity issue between north and south reaches of Grain Valley as well as the lack of park space north of I-70 but that may be due to my connection to the Park Board. This is something I have been and will continue to work on for the community of Grain Valley. Beyond that most of the people I have spoken with are excited about the new businesses and growth that is coming to town. QT, Starbucks and Culvers along with the other restaurant options on the North side have people pretty excited. They seem to be eager to get more options in the future perhaps some sit-down dining and shopping.
     To keep this moving forward the board can ensure that the greenspace is allocated with new development north of I-70 for parks and trails. There are some areas where we need to go back and figure out how to get sidewalks in place. As far as the business growth we will need to stick to the plan that city and consulting firm are currently in the process of creating.
     I will add here though, that it is not just the Board of Aldermen or it’s members that need to work to get this done. We need everyone to get involved. Come out to the City’s Comprehensive Plan and Parks Master Plan workshops and let the board know what you expect or would like to see.   
 
What should the City's priorities be in terms of economic development (attracting new businesses, housing, developing downtown, improving the environment for existing businesses, etc.)?
     I think we are on the right track here. The new businesses that have come to town recently along with the blend of single family, multi-family and multi-unit housing are on track with what I would want to see. I think once the Comprehensive Plan is complete, we will be in a position to fine tune things and strike the most responsible plan for how we grow into the next 15-25 years.

Tom Cleaver, Ward I

​What motivates you to serve on the Board of Aldermen? 
     I want to see our City prosper and continue to be a great place to raise a family.
 
What are the top 3 priorities for the City in the next five years? How will you work with the Mayor, Aldermen, and City staff to address these issues? 
     Revenue, city streets/sidewalks and new city facilities. City hall/ Community center. I will continue to work with and support the Mayor, Board and City staff to help retain business, bring in new business and support a good sound budget that address’s these issues.
 
When talking with constituents, what are the concerns you hear most often? What can the Board do to address these concerns? 
     Taxes, streets, more sit down restaurants. By continuing on the path we are on to attract new business and continue the budgeting for the street improvements.
 
What should the City's priorities be in terms of economic development (attracting new businesses, housing, developing downtown, improving the environment for existing businesses, etc.)? 
​     We need retain our current businesses, attract new business, more affordable single family homes and improving our downtown.

Chuck Johnston, Ward I

What motivates you to serve on the Board of Aldermen?
I’m driven by the same thing that that has always driven me. My love for the city and the people of the city. I feel there’s a lot I can do in helping guide the city in the right direction. I think I’ve shown in the diversity of things I’ve done for the city over the years, my true commitment to it.
 
What are the top 3 priorities for the City in the next five years? How will you work with the Mayor, Aldermen, and City staff to address these issues?

This town has grown by leaps and bounds since I’ve lived in Grain Valley. While there have been a lot of changes, the biggest concerns have always been taxes, road, curb and sidewalk maintenance and the city just not listening to the people. It’s important that we focus on all three of those things for the betterment of the city. 
 
When talking with constituents, what are the concerns you hear most often? What can the Board do to address these concerns?
     You can hardly have a conversation where the railroad tracks are brought up. Unfortunately, I think everybody knows that that’s something that can’t be changed. This town was developed around the railroad tracks and it’s just a fact of life. On the things that actually something can be done about it's about addressing the needs of the people.
     The existing board of aldermen was almost entirely in favor of the $60 million City Hall complex being built at the corner of Buckner, Tarsney and Sni-a-bar Road. That was overwhelmingly voted down. We need a better mindset of just with the citizens do you want and strive make that happen. All the men are elected to carry out the bill to people not to dictate what they want if it isn’t for the best interest of the people.

What should the City's priorities be in terms of economic development (attracting new businesses, housing, developing downtown, improving the environment for existing businesses, etc.)?
     I think the city has done an excellent job in trying to focus on what citizens want. The downtown area needs developed into something that everyone can be proud of and provide some amenities so many citizens want. We have an excellent opportunity to turn it into a show place, and that’s what the city needs.

Darren Mills, Ward II

What motivates you to serve on the Board of Aldermen?
​     The residents motivate me. So many want change and improvements to the city but not all are comfortable being the "voice".  From the Navy to now, I have always held a management type roll and have no problem being the "Voice" for Ward 2.  

What are the top 3 priorities for the City in the next five years? How will you work with the Mayor, Aldermen, and City staff to address these issues?
     First would be seeing that the plans for road improvements stays its course. I will work with the City and Board to make sure this stays in the budget until it is complete.
     Second, I want to make sure we continue with the rebranding and the revitalization efforts of downtown. I personally want to attend as many of the workshops and help everyone involved to get the word out. I will be happy to assist anyway I can with City Staff and those on the committee.
     Third, I would like to see our Police department back up and running full staff, everyone happy and get the VIPS program up and running full throttle again. I would ask the City and the other Aldermen to stand beside me on this. We need to make sure we always have enough money in the city budget for the correct equipment for the Officers and hire and maintain officers.

When talking with constituents, what are the concerns you hear most often? What can the Board do to address these concerns?
     Usually its street conditions first and family style restaurant second. This has been ongoing the 2 years I have been in office. The Board of Aldermen are always aware of and we do our best to pass Resolutions and Ordinances that make since for the city to help with these.

What should the City's priorities be in terms of economic development (attracting new businesses, housing, developing downtown, improving the environment for existing businesses, etc.)?
     I still want to see a new Community Center and City Hall.  I hope we can come up with another plan and budget to present to the voters for approval. This will only help with the econimic development. I am looking forward to the completion of the new Police Station, which originally was part of the initial City development that was voted down in the past. We need the proper ratio of single family, multifamily type development along with staying on point with the revitalization of downtown.  We need the Partnership/Commerce to visit existing business more and ask "what can we do for you?"

     Grain Valley High School Theatre Department will present The SpongeBob Musical March 30 – April 1 at the Jerry Mueller Performing Arts Theatre at Grain Valley High School (GVHS). 
​    The SpongeBob Musical is based on the beloved animated series created by Stephen Hillenburg and features a book by Kyle Jarrow, with original songs by Yolanda Adams, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Sara Bareilles, Jonathan Coulton, Alexander Ebert of Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, The Flaming Lips, Lady A, Cyndi Lauper, John Legend, Panic! At the Disco, Plain White T’s, They Might Be Giants and T.I., and songs by David Bowie, Tom Kenny and Andy Paley.
     GVHS Theatre Director John O'Neil said the "it's a big, fun musical show, and one of the biggest we've ever attempted."
      "It's a very collaborative show in a lot of ways. Each of the songs in the show is written by a different musical artist, as opposed to one composer and one lyricist." 
     The show follows the characters as the town of Bikini Bottom is facing an apocalyptic threat from a volcano threatening to destroy the town. 
     "The characters are trying to figure out how to survive under these circumstances. Some of the characters have more evil methods of trying to survive. Other characters have more pure hearted ways. I really think it feels very relevant to me. It feels very similar to what we all faced in the pandemic. Are we going to survive this? What's the best solution? Who do we turn to in these times to lead us? Are we scapegoating people who are different than us? It handles all those themes very lightly while also touching on themes of friendship," O'Neil said.
     As the group enters its final week of rehearsals before the show, O’Neil said he has been very impressed with their dedication and talent.
     “Our props and set building crew has worked overtime on this show. The amount of work they have done on this show has been incredible. Everything you see on stage has been created by our students. All of our seniors involved in this show have just done an incredible job. I am going to be really sad to see this group go.”
     Senior Katie Hobbs plays SpongeBob SquarePants in the show, and says that SpongeBob’s character embodies the importance of self-confidence.
     “He struggles a lot with who he is, what he is good at. All he really knows is he’s a fry cook. Throughout the show, he proves to himself that you can do whatever you put your mind to,” Hobbs said.
     Hobbs said the cast and crew have worked really well together, and said one of her favorite scenes is also one of the most technically complex.
     “I’ve really enjoyed working on the volcano scenes. We have scaffolding that spins, and it’s been fun to work with the tech crew on these scenes.”
     Hobbs said her time in theatre has improved her public speaking skills, given her more confidence, and she plans to put these skills to work as she moves on to college.
     Hobbs plans to attend Metropolitan Community College (MCC) after high school to complete her associate degree, taking advantage of the A+ program and then plans to transfer to KU to study biology to pursue a career as a geneticist.
     Junior Autumn Ferrante serves as Technical Director for the show, and oversees all the technical aspects of the show from set design and production to moving sets and props on stage. Ferrante agrees with Hobbs that theatre has helped her confidence and social skills.
     “My freshman year I was very introverted and didn’t really talk to anyone. I went to theatre just to step out of my comfort zone. I got to meet a lot of new people, grew my social skills and my confidence,” Ferrante said.
     Tickets for SpongeBob the Musical are going fast, and can be purchased in advance at https://www.showtix4u.com/event-details/71339. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door. 
     “It’s a really fun show and will be a fun night out,” Ferrante said.

     The Grain Valley boys track and field team had a solid 2022 campaign.
     It especially thrived in the relays and the Eagles medaled in every event they qualified for in the 2022 Missouri State High School Boys Track and Field Championships.
     The 4x400 team of Mason McCain, Logan Pratt, Jace Weems and Keagan Hart took eighth overall and the 4x200 squad of Hart, Weems, Caleb Larson and Pratt finished seventh.
     McCain, who graduated last year, took seventh in the 800-meter run. Of the five boys that competed at state last season, three return to attempt to make another state run in 2023 as the Eagles bring back 17 letter winners from last year’s squad.
     This season, the Eagles aim to qualify more athletes for state and earn more all-state honors.
     “I think we can qualify more people this year,” Hart said. “We have a couple more athletes coming out this year. The guys have really been recruiting athletes to try out.”
     “This year’s motto is podium mentality. Last year, we had so many fifth-place finishes. We want to have that mentally in the back of our head to make it to the podium. We have more competition in practice so we think that will motivate the guys.”
     A prime candidate to take Pratt’s spot in both relays is senior Noah Olah, who was a speedy wide receiver for the football team. On the 4x400 a candidate to fill in McCain’s spot is sophomore Chase Anderson
     “Everything is about the same as last year, we might switch some things around,” Hart said of the relays. “We want to place higher this year because we are bigger, faster and stronger.”
     “We have some people that can come in and really step up. They are here every day to work for it.”
     Hart said it will personally help him to focus on just track and field this season. Last year, he participated in baseball and track at the same time. He will not be playing baseball this time around.
     He also still plans on competing in the individual 400-meter race as he was just one place outside of the top four at the Class 5 Sectional 2 meet, which would have qualified him for state.
     “Last year, I wasn’t able to get in many practices (for track),” Hart said. “I was tiring out a lot. We ended our baseball season earlier than we wanted to last year, so there was a couple of weeks that I could attend track practice at the end of the season.”
     “Those couple of weeks helped and I feel even faster than last year.”
     In other events, junior Stylz Blackmon will be the Eagles primary shot put competitor. Last season, he finished just two inches short on his throw in the shot put from qualifying for sectionals.
     In 2023, the 6-foot-4 junior will be looking for better results.
     “I feel really confident in making it far this year, considering last year I was just short by a few meters from making it,” Blackmon said. “This year I am really focused on my technique and listening to my coaches.
     “I am working on all the steps and getting them drilled into my head. I want to go out there and have a pinnacle performance every time.”
      Blackmon is a part of one of the largest teams head coach Erik Stone has ever had. Grain Valley has a ton of depth as they have around 95 athletes currently practicing with the team.
     Some all-conference competitors returning to compete include Anderson in the 400 and Nathan Landon Barnes, Carson Hill, Rylan Smith and Nathan Allen in the distance events.
     “We always try to get out,” Stone said. “A lot of kids don’t grow up running like they would playing football. Track is something a lot of kids do to become a better athlete. The guys have done a great job recruiting. I think they do a better job than the coaches because they are peers.” 
     Others to look out for include DJ Harris in the 100-meter dash, Jackson Stewart and Christian Lanear in the hurdles, Tyler Melton in the high jump, Braylen Harin in the high, long and triple jump events, William Peterson in the long jump and Korbyn Goodwin in the discus.
     “Braylen Hardin will be good for us, he does all the jumps,” Stone said. “He could possibly make some noise. Rylan Smith had a good cross country season, he can be a good distance guy for us. He’s a really hard worker. We also have Landon Jaynes. I am not sure what he can do yet but he’s a tall, lanky kid who has the build of a jumper.”
     Grain Valley will compete in its first meet Friday at the Raymore-Peculiar Invitational.

     Two weeks ago, I wrote an article about Patricia David Parr which enticed me to pull out the notebook she created about her Warren family ancestors. For readers unfamiliar with Pat’s family lineage, her mother was the daughter of Creola Warren and John T. O’Connell. The story in her notebook was written in 1991 by her aunt Nadine O’Connell Perry about her great-great grandfather.
 
My Most Interesting Ancestor

            My most interesting ancestor is my great-great grandfather, Benjamin Warren who came here from Tennessee and homesteaded land 7 miles south of Grain Valley. Until a few years ago I owned part of this land he had once homesteaded, although it had been sold and later purchased by my father. Benjamin was born 100 years before myself in 1806, and I was born in 1906, thus carrying out the tradition that there are five generations to each 100 years.
 
            Benjamin Warren and his wife Lucinda Wingo  are buried at Koger Cemetery and buried nearby is his son Zachariah (wife: Mary Terrance Doty) my great Grandfather.  My grandfather, William A Warren (wife: Mary Susan Lynch)  is buried at the Oak Grove Cemetery. My mother Creola Warren O’connell (husband: John T. O’Connell) is also buried at the Oak Grove Cemetery. My sister and I will eventually be buried in Oak Grove.  My niece Patricia Davis Parr (husband: Stayton) will be buried in Blue Springs beside their young daughter Janet. This makes seven generations either living or buried in Jackson County. This I think to be rather unusual. I also have other ancestor buried in  Koger Cemetery but their graves are unmarked.
 
            I have heard many interesting stories of my ancestors while a child but believe the one that impressed me most is about a brother of Benjamin who left Tennessee many years after his brother to settle in Kansas. He came through Missouri but did not know where his brother Benjamin had settled. As he was riding along he was overtaken by a neighbor of Benjamin who called to him and asked “Why are you moving, Mr. Warren?” Both men were surprised when they faced each other as they did not know each other but the resemblance to Benjamin had been so strong that he called to him. The brother was surprised how anyone in this strange country knew his name. It all ended by the brother going to visit Benjamin and spending the night. The next morning he headed on to Kansas.  They never met again.
                                                                                   
                                                                                                            Mrs. Nadine Perry
 
     We have a map at the Historical Society which shows all of the original homesteaders in Jackson County. Mr. Benjamin Warren’s land was in Township 48, Van Buren Township. The address was Tarsney, Missouri. Mr. Warren was a successful farmer.
     His great grandson, William D Warren (1880-1962) was a partner in Warren Webb Hardware, Circa 1900, located just north of the railroad tracks in Grain Valley. In 1905 he became a founding partner and President of The Bank of Grain Valley. 

     (StatePoint) Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States. While early detection can vastly improve a patient’s chances to lead a full and healthy life, the majority of those who are high risk are not getting screened.
     The American Lung Association, which is committed to defeating lung cancer and supporting those with the disease, is sharing vital information to help more people learn their risk and connect them to screenings and other life-saving resources:

Preventable Deaths
     According to the 2022 “State of Lung Cancer” report, a mere 5.8% of Americans eligible for a low-dose computed tomography (CT) scan were screened. A low-dose CT scan is a special kind of X-ray that takes multiple pictures as the patient lies on a table that slides in and out of the machine. A computer then combines these images into a detailed picture of the lungs. Studies estimate that if even just half of the approximately 8 million Americans identified as high risk for lung cancer were screened with a low-dose CT scan, over 12,000 lung cancer deaths could be prevented. In fact, since low-dose CT scans started to be used for screening, it has reduced cancer deaths by 20% and it has reduced deaths from other causes by almost 7%.

Risk Eligibility
     Many people who are at risk for lung cancer and are eligible for screening are not identified and are not referred for screening. Under the most recent lung cancer screening guidelines, those ages 50-80 who have a 20 pack-year smoking history or who have quit smoking in the past 15 years should get screened for lung cancer.
     The American Lung Association offers a helpful tool for determining your eligibility for screening, found at www.SavedByTheScan.org.

Eliminating Racial Disparities
     It is especially important for Black men and women to speak to their health care provider about their risk and get screened if necessary, as they are more likely to develop lung cancer and less likely to survive five years with the disease than people of any other racial or ethnic group.
     Research suggests that Black Americans have a higher baseline risk for developing lung cancer -- Black American smokers get lung cancer at least 20% more often than other people who smoke. Furthermore, systemic racism and injustices and issues continue to persist in the healthcare system, and Black people and other communities of color are less likely to be diagnosed early, less likely to receive surgical treatment, and more likely to not receive any treatment at all.

Fighting Barriers
     Despite the fact that lung cancer screening is extremely effective at improving life expectancy and has the potential to dramatically improve lung cancer survival rates, many patients are not getting screened, even when they have a referral from their doctor to do so. The reasons for low screening adherence range from practical concerns, such as financial and transportation barriers, to more elusive issues like distrust of the medical system and lack of awareness regarding the seriousness of the disease.
     Emerging resources are helping eliminate these barriers and are making it easier for people to assess their screening eligibility, locate screening centers, schedule appointments, and receive financial assistance if they don’t have insurance or transportation. Free tobacco cessation resources and other lung health resources also exist to help people to reduce their risk. To learn more, visit www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases.org or speak directly to a nurse or respiratory therapist by calling the Lung HelpLine at 1-800-LUNG-USA.
     When lung cancer is detected and treated in its earliest stages, more positive outcomes can be expected. That’s why it’s so important that everyone learns their risk and connects to resources to help them get screened.
​

     As a GVHS student myself, I believe that this bond issue is a very important step to improving the lives and opportunities for all students. I myself have been involved in the band program ever since early middle school, and the most recent addition of a new fine arts wing has drastically improved the capabilities of all 180 members of our high school band. I am also aware that this new addition of a gym and field house will again drastically improve the capabilities for not only our national ranking band, but all sports and activities alike. This new addition will allow for much more time coordination abilities between all school activities, improving all relations, and time able to spent practicing or rehearsing.

- Nathan Stokes, Grain Valley

by Rudi Keller, Missouri Independent

     On a Friday afternoon in late December, Geri Curtis received a disturbing phone call informing her she had only five days to find a new home for a developmentally disabled person.
     As part of her job as public administrator for Livingston County, she had become legal guardian of a person with severe developmental disabilities two months earlier. The person, autistic and unable to speak, was living in a residential support facility in Jackson County.
     Soon after she became the legal guardian, Curtis received notice from the facility that the person had to move within 30 days because of aggression.
     Despite the efforts of the case manager at a regional office of the Missouri Department of Mental Health, nothing was available. Just before Christmas, Curtis got the call informing her that she had just five days left to find a new residential placement.
     When the five days passed, the provider took the person to a hospital emergency room.
     And that is where they have lived since.
     “Our hospitals are not dumping grounds for these individuals but, the hospitals are full of our clients,” Curtis said.
     At the beginning of March, there were 650 adults with developmental disabilities in what the Department of Mental Health calls “inappropriate placements.” There are 39 residing in hospitals, plus a handful in jails and homeless shelters, representing the most critical cases impacted by widespread staffing shortages among local non-for-profit organizations.
     “This is a major problem,” Curtis said, “and it is not going to be fixed if we all put our head in the sand.”
     Two initiatives are underway to fill those vacancies. Associations representing those local agencies have launched a statewide recruitment campaign for direct service employees. And they are asking lawmakers to increase the base wage for those jobs from $15 to $21 an hour, as recommended by a study completed last year.
     When lawmakers return to work this week, a top agenda item for the Missouri House will be completing work on its revisions to Gov. Mike Parson’s $51.6 billion state budget proposal. The higher rates would add $400 million – including $185 million in general revenue – annually for the program already expected to cost $1.75 billion in the coming fiscal year.
     As of early March, there were 229 people in county jails deemed incompetent to stand trial with court orders for treatment. </p><p>Because it sees no chance of getting large numbers moved to its hospitals, the department is asking for legislative authority to deliver treatment in the local jails or on an outpatient basis if the person can be safely released.
     At a cost of $2 million, the department will contract with providers for programs in St. Louis, St. Louis County, Greene County and Jackson County and create two mobile teams, Director Valerie Huhn said.
     Clay County Sheriff Will Akin, who on March 9 had five people detained in his jail awaiting transfer to the department, is lobbying to be added to the list. Keeping those people detained is extra work for his jail officers, he said, and is not in the best interest of those who desperately need help.
     “That’s a challenge for us,” Akin said, adding that these individuals are in need of treatment “and we’re not able to get it to them, because we don’t have those capabilities.”
     Kristin Nobus worked for Sam’s Club for 17 years before she took a job as a community skills teacher at Community Opportunities about a year ago.
     She works in the day center on the campus that also includes two group homes and administrative offices. A typical day, she said, begins with exercise videos and then they pack and deliver Meals on Wheels in the community.
     Sometimes she is assigned to help a client in the evening.
     “We usually fix dinner and help them get their showers and just get them ready for bed so that they can have a nice relaxing evening,” Nobus said.
     She was recruited, Nobus said, by a former co-worker. The pitch – novel experiences, clients with sweet personalities and less stress – was attractive, she said. The pay is comparable to her wage at Sam’s, she said, and the work atmosphere is supportive.</p><p>“It is not like people are trying to stab you in the back here; everybody just works together as a team,” Nobus said.
     Community Opportunities provides rooms for 10 adults in two group homes and supports 13 more individuals living in apartments and homes in the community among its 300 total clients.
     A direct support employee doesn’t need any special credential, she said, but must be patient, have a good sense of humor and be prepared for anything that can happen to a person in life.
     “As a direct support provider, you’re a counselor, a teacher, a nurse, a chauffeur, you have all these different roles,” Sullivan-Thomas said.
     The best candidates for employment with an agency like Community Opportunities, Sullivan-Thomas said, are people comfortable providing one-on-one help to others. The issue, even for the best candidates, is the starting pay.
     “Right now, you can make 15 bucks an hour working at Starbucks,” Sullivan-Thomas said. “So, do you want to work at Starbucks and get 15 bucks an hour? Or do you want to work in a day program with people with developmental disabilities and help them in the restroom?”
     The state contracts with almost 1,200 local agencies to serve adults with developmental disabilities. Some, like Community Opportunities, are supported by local property taxes still identified by the 1960s authorizing legislation as levies.
     The Division of Developmental Disabilities provides services to almost 41,000 Missourians, including more than 7,600 receiving residential services in shared or supported living or group homes. The division’s funding is a mix of general revenue and local tax money used to leverage federal matching funds.
     The mental health department’s budget request didn’t include funding to implement the new rate study because it was completed too late in the year, Director Valerie Huhn said in an interview with The Independent. But the budget does include initiatives to help reduce staffing needs and incentives to increase training and retention.
     One aspect of what the department calls value-based programs would use remote monitoring instead of staff for overnight shifts. The clients have greater independence and the agency can redirect staff to more productive work, Huhn said.
     “You are taking that person out of the home and taking eight hours, seven days a week, where they can work another shift for someone else and give them access to care,” Huhn said.
     Child care providers and nursing homes are among the other employers competing for the workforce with experience and training suitable for developmental disabilities programs, Huhn said. There are very few spare employees in Missouri’s tight labor market . 
     “Our labor force that we utilize is in a very high demand right now,” Huhn said. “And there’s a lot of fields that can be less demanding than what we are asking of people.”
​     In Troy, Sullivan-Thomas must compete with the St. Louis-area labor market. If someone is a good fit for the job, she said, they usually stay with the agency a long time.
     “When we’ve looked back at our statistics, it seems as though if people are here two years, then they tend to stay,” she said.
     When agencies don’t have staff, or people who need help can’t navigate the service network, local agencies face enormous challenges.
     Community Resource Center in Chillicothe operates a shelter with 12 beds, and two are currently being used by men with developmental disabilities, Director Katie Hobbs said. 
     One of the men is estranged from his family and is not enrolled in disability or medical programs. Hobbs said she has been working with him to obtain services, but he needs a permanent placement.
     “I can’t just keep him here, but it is going to be very hard,” Hobbs said. “A lot of facilities will not take him without a guardian. He does not have $1,500 to get a lawyer.”
     When the division has a client in a homeless shelter, Huhn said, it will keep in daily contact to check on the safety and welfare of the person as it seeks a placement.
     “We call them critical for a reason,” Huhn said.
     The fate of the rate increase could depend on how willing the House Budget Committee is to dip into the massive surplus of general revenue and other funds that is approaching $7 billion.
     In a recent hearing, state Budget Director Dan Haug warned against committing the surplus to recurring costs.
     “‘Those are one-time funds we would be very concerned with using for ongoing provider rates,” Haug said.
     Several lawmakers appeared ready to fund higher rates. Rep. Steve Owens, R-Springfield, asked whether the state should pay more if current rates weren’t enough to fill the jobs. 
     “If the funds are there, obviously we are not offering a price, a payment schedule enough to attract those people,” Owens said.
     And Rep. Deb Lavender, D-Manchester, said it’s time to tap the surplus to retain staff that could be attracted away.
     “If we don’t pay these people now, we are not going to have them next year,” Lavender said.
     Sullivan-Thomas said she sees higher rates as the only way she’ll fill her vacancies.
     “It’s frustrating that we don’t get the appropriations that we need from the legislature to have adequate funds to hire more staff and to pay them commensurate with the responsibilities of their positions,” she said.
     On an average day, the Clay County Jail has eight detainees with behavioral health issues waiting for a bed to come open in a Department of Mental Health hospital. Some, like one transported to the department on Feb. 28, have a dual diagnosis of a developmental disability and behavioral issues.
     “Just being ruled incompetent to stand trial can take an unacceptably long time,” Clay County Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman Sarah Boyd wrote in an email. “One man who has autism and is nonverbal was booked into the jail on Nov. 13, 2021, and wasn’t declared incompetent until Nov. 10, 2022. With much pleading by our detention staff, he went to DMH on Feb. 28, 2023.”
     The inmates must be isolated from the regular jail population, which often means confinement to a cell 23 hours each day.
     “Many of them have severe hygiene issues, from refusal to bathe to spreading feces,” Boyd wrote. “One inmate awaiting DMH treatment must be regularly removed from his cell – which is often a physical struggle – so staff can clean the feces from it.”
     Those issues are why Akin is so eager to join the program for jail-based competency restoration.
     “It’s not a safe environment for the inmate,” Akin said. “It’s not a safe environment for the employees. And it’s not a safe environment for those who are in the general vicinity, which are, you know, other inmates.”
     The Missouri Association of Counties is pushing for lawmakers to expand the services and resources available to treat mental illness. Through its Policing, Justice & Mental Health Steering Committee, it says the increasing number of people with behavioral issues is overwhelming the courts, public administrators who are guardians of last resort and jails.
     The backlog of detainees waiting for treatment is a symptom of the larger community problems of mental health, the committee states in a 14-page discussion of the issue delivered to lawmakers earlier this year.
     “Individuals with mental health challenges and substance use issues can be found in every system that touches the justice system, from law enforcement to community-based placement options,” the report states.
     The jail-based program’s plan is to treat 80 detainees each year in jails or while released on bond with a goal of reducing the backlog to 25 or fewer waiting for treatment. To make space in hospitals and speed that process, it will combine residential facilities in Sikeston and Poplar Bluff, currently serving people with severe developmental disabilities and use one as a pre-release center for mental health patients on long-term commitments, Huhn said. 
     That will free beds in existing facilities, she said. The people transferred in will be ready for release but without an appropriate placement ready to receive them, she said.
     In a budget hearing, Huhn said she was pleased at how eager lawmakers were to get the jail-based program in their communities during a public hearing on the statutory bill needed to allow the program. Current law requires the department to provide court-ordered treatments in its facilities.
     Akin said he’s ready to designate a section of his jail as a treatment center, and accept detainees from smaller counties in northwest Missouri as a regional hub.
     “I’m willing to try something different,” Akin said. “Because what we’re doing, what we’re working with right now, is not the best way.”

     Are you looking for a way to be more philanthropic this year and make the most of your charitable donations? When the federal standard deduction doubled in 2018, many people found they no longer qualified for itemization. Since then, many donors have found that utilizing a “bunching” strategy with a Donor Advised Fund (DAF) allows them to continue to support the causes they care about and still get the tax benefits of their charitable giving.  
    If your itemized deductions are less than $13,850 for single filers and married filing separately or $27,700 if married filing jointly, you don’t meet the minimum requirements to itemize your federal tax deductions. There is substantial tax savings potential if you can exceed the itemization threshold.
     Charitable bunching works by bunching together an amount equal to two or three years of your normal charitable donations and contributing it to a DAF. By “bunching” your giving, you will exceed the standard deduction threshold in the year of the donation, and you can continue to give to your usual charities by making grants out of your DAF.
     Here is an example of how this might work. Fred and Wilma Flintstone donate around $9,000 each year to various charities around Bedrock. But even with their state and property tax and mortgage interest deductions, they are still below the $27,700 needed to qualify for a standard deduction. They consult with their professional advisor and decide to bunch three years of their usual giving into one year, in this case that would be $27,000.
     They donate the $27,000 to their Donor Advised Fund at the local Community Foundation. Because a DAF is designated for charitable use only, donations made to it are completely tax-deductible. With the addition of state and property tax and mortgage interest deductions, this tax-wise strategy allows the Flintstones to surpass the standard deduction threshold. They could realize additional deductions of more than $17,000, and the tax savings can be used to increase their support of their favorite causes.
     Charitable bunching is a way for people to be more philanthropic. Although you won’t bunch your giving every year, you can support your favorite organizations and causes even in “off” years through grants from your DAF. With just a few clicks in the online portal or a call to the office, your grants will be on their way.
     Because you set aside your charitable funds in advance, when things get tough, there is a natural disaster, the market drops, or some other unforeseen circumstance occurs, your funds are at the ready. Plus, the assets you don’t distribute continue to be invested so your giving can grow tax-free.
     If you are already regularly giving to charitable causes, a bunching strategy may be a better way for you to take best advantage of the current tax laws. Talk to your financial advisor or call Truman Heartland Community Foundation for more information on how you can give more and save more with charitable bunching.