The Grain Valley boys golf team had a season to remember in 2022.
     For the first time in program history, the Eagles qualified for the Missouri State High School Boys Golf Championships as a team when it finished second in the Class 4 District 4 Tournament with a score of 348, just two stroked behind first-place Sedalia Smith-Cotton.
     That wasn’t the only milestone either. Then junior Owen Herbert become the first Grain Valley golfer to earn all-state honors since Shane Collins did it 17 years earlier.  Herbert took 11th place with a two-day score of 154.
     The squad now hopes to repeat of exceed that same success in 2023, with three of its top five golfers returning from that state team. With some talented newcomers expected to enter the mix, the Eagles could once against make some noise.
     “I think we have the talent to make it back to state and win the whole thing this year,” Herbert said. “We got some young guys who are good and some guys who have been in the program for a while. I am really looking forward to it.
     Herbert is one of the key three returners for Grain Valley along with junior Charles Aldred and senior Jaiden Wilson.
     Some other players will be counted upon to fill in the last two of the top five spots for Grain Valley. Some newcomers who could vie for those include Braxton Roach, Mason Morris, Eli Herbert, and Jack Hileman.
     “We are going to have some competition for those last two spots,” Aldred said. “They are all working to make varsity. I could see the people changing in those last two spots a lot.”
     That depth is something that should benefit the Eagles, according to head coach Andy Hebert.
     “We have as good of a group preseason as we have ever had,” Andy Herbert said. “We have a lot of depth and we have some kids who have dedicated their offseason to getting better. That is what it takes to be good.
     “For the first time, the number of kids who have bought in and pushed themselves is growing and that’s all you want. There are seven to eight kids who have a chance to be in that top five.”
     Owen Herbert will lead that group as he aims to be all-state for the second consecutive year.
     “Getting consistency back will be a big thing, especially with the irons,” Owen Herbert said. “I want to be all-state again this year. That is the goal.”
     Aldred, who finished 68th at the state competition last season, is working better preparing himself mentally this season.
     “In some of the smaller tournaments, I would do better,” Aldred said. “I am working on playing under pressure, so when I make it to district and state, then I can perform the way I want to.”
     “At state, I played well the first day, then I thought I needed to play better the next day, so I put pressure on myself.  I am just working on taking the pressure off myself.”
     The Eagles will play in their first tournament of the season at the Truman Invitational at 9 a.m. Monday, March 20.

    For the second time in the past year, the Board of Aldermen is considering a censure vote. In its March 13th meeting, the Board voted to bring up a formal censure of Alderman Dale Arnold at its next regularly scheduled meeting.
     The Board voted in April 2022 to censure then mayor Chuck Johnston for disclosure of executive session information on social media platforms. Arnold is facing censure after an admitted call to the Jackson County Election Board (JCEB) in the days following the judge’s decision in a recent suit between the City and JCEB regarding revised ward boundaries, and for allegedly disclosing executive session information related to the suit to former mayor and current Board of Aldermen candidate Johnston.
     Mayor Mike Todd opened the discussion by asking Arnold if he had contacted JCEB and when.
     “I just asked what their side of the situation was. I gave them nothing from our side,” Arnold said.
     Arnold stated he could not recall the date of the call, and believed that he only needed to wait 72 hours before making the call.
     City Attorney Joe Lauber clarified that this was incorrect, and that the 72-hour rule he referenced only pertained to employee matters.
     The concerns expressed regarding Arnold’s call to JCEB revolve around the fact that the Board had 30 days following the decision to decide on next steps, including an appeal of the judge’s decision in the case. Concerns were raised that the call to JCEB and subsequent leak of executive session information to Johnston could have jeopardized the City’s ability to act on an appeal.
     “It was clearly not final at that point,” Lauber said.
     “Private information was divulged during a private conversation. That information should not have been divulged,” Alderman Tom Cleaver said.
     “I guess the nagging question I have is why was the phone call made in the first place instead of checking with city staff, checking with our legal team before making your phone call. You could have got your answers from our staff, legal team and never divulged anything,” Alderman Rick Knox said.
     “It was a fact-finding phone call and nothing I ever thought would be a problem,” Arnold said.
      Alderman Ryan Skinner asked when the phone call was made to Johnston. Arnold could not recall the exact date but stated he believed it occurred after his call to the County.
     “The person we are talking about (Johnston) has a proven track record of disclosing executive session information, so we know that if it got to him, he wouldn’t have had an issue disclosing it,   which bothers me even more that we’re having this discussion with a person who was censured less than a year ago for letting out executive session information,” Skinner said.
     Skinner referenced a social media post by Johnston in which he indicated he knew Arnold was the only “no” vote in a closed session vote regarding proceeding with the suit against JCEB. Skinner asked board members if they had had any conversations with Johnston regarding the vote. 
     “No, and he somehow knew I voted yes,” Alderman Darren Mills said.
     “I didn’t have that discussion, so he got it from somebody,” Skinner said.
     “An assumption on his part,” Arnold said.
     “That’s a pretty good assumption when he puts out on social media that you were the only one who voted against it,” Knox said.
     “May have been,” Arnold said.
    “I’m very disconcerted that every answer is ‘might of been, could have been, I don’t know’. Were you advised to answer that way?,” Mills said.
      “I don’t want to get into a long discussion or debate about what I discussed with my attorney,” Arnold said.
     Alderman Shea Bass inquired about the timing and purpose of the phone call to JCEB.
     “As of right now, I’m failing to understand the purpose of the phone call,” Bass said.
     “You say you want to act in the best interest of the citizens…I totally understand that and I totally agree. I don’t know that contacting the Jackson County Election Board without speaking to City staff was necessarily in the best interest of the citizens that elected you,” Bass said.
     Lauber outlined the four options for the Board to consider: do nothing, issue a verbal admonishment, a written censure to be passed by the board at the next meeting, or impeachment.
     A motion was made for a written censure to be considered at the next board meeting. The motion passed with Arnold as the only “no” vote.   
     Reached for comment, Tammy Brown, Director, Jackson County Board of Election Commissioners, stated she spoke with Arnold by phone. Brown does not recall exact date but believes it was after the judge’s decision.
     According to Brown, Arnold asked her why there was a lawsuit.
     “I said, I assumed it was because the Board of Aldermen okayed the suit,” Brown said.
     Brown also said Arnold asked about Board of Alderman Chuck Johnston in relation to the ward boundaries and the Election Board’s view of the issue related to the suit.
     “I explained to him it was very clear. We had asked for the lines by October 2021, and we did not receive them until November 14, 2022,” Brown said.
     Brown said she also reiterated that the Board advised Grain Valley to run candidate filings for the April 2023 election off the previous ward boundaries.
     Reached for further comment, Arnold said he felt “it would be inappropriate to comment, while (the issue) is still under discussion”.
     Reached for comment regarding conversations he and Arnold had regarding the lawsuit, Chuck Johnston stated, “That’s between Dale and the Board of Aldermen. I’m not involved.”
     In other business, the Board approved a resolution for United Service Company Inc. to provide maintenance services to the city owned water tanks and tower. The interior of the water tower will be sandblasted and painted as a part of this year’s maintenance work.
     The Board also approved a resolution to collect the City’s $85,867 allotment of Jackson County COMBAT tax funding, and a resolution continuing the cooperative agreement with Grain Valley Schools to provide school resource officers.
     The Board approved the first reading of an ordinance to amend the City’s Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use map, changing the zoning of 11.5 acres currently zoned for residential to light industrial to allow for two planned businesses to locate in the area near Creekside Village. The Board voted down the second reading of an ordinance to establish a Community Improvement District for Creekside Village, as no residents attended a planned meeting by the property owners to gauge interest in establishing the district to address maintenance of private roadways in the subdivision.
     The next scheduled Board of Aldermen meeting will be at 7:00pm on Monday, March 27th at City Hall.

     Orchid Delirium, held at Powell Gardens through April 16th, returns in 2023 with a vivid and colorful display, celebrating form and shape. Drawing inspiration from the Victorian-era fascination with the flower that led to a collecting hysteria appropriately named Orchidelirium, this exhibit showcases hundreds of rotating blooms from the 2000-piece orchid collection cared for at Powell Gardens. 
     As the kick-off to the Gardens’ spring season, this indoor botanical exhibit provides an immersive tropical oasis for all orchid appreciators. 
     Tickets for Orchid Delirium may be purchased at Orchid Delirium - Powell Gardens, Kansas City’s botanical garden. 
     An Orchid Symposium for orchid enthusiasts of all levels will be held Saturday, March 18th from 10:00am - 4:00pm. Event highlights include two presentations on orchids with a hands on kokodama demonstration. Attendees will receive a boxed lunch, non-alcoholic drink, and a kokedama to take home. Tickets for this event are $95 (10% discount for members). Visit Orchid Delirium - Powell Gardens, Kansas City’s botanical garden for more information. 
​
​

     The Grain Valley girls soccer team needed the learning experience according to head coach Brett Lewis.
     That is how he and his players treated Tuesday’s jamboree at home as they got to see their first action against outside competition.
     Lewis said it was much needed because some of the Eagles’ starters just finished their basketball season last Tuesday so some just started attending soccer practice last week.
     Grain Valley worked on establishing its chemistry as they played two 40-minute exhibition games – one against Oak Grove and one against Blue Springs.
     After witnessing his team play, Lewis said there are still some kinks to work out.
     “We are trying some different formation and putting people in different positions,” Lewis said. “It was a good learning experience for us. We are just a couple of passes away from making everything click a little bit better. We’re still not on the same page in terms of the attack.”
     “But once we figure that out, we are going to score a lot of goals.”
     Despite that, the Eagles scored one goal in 80 minutes of play and did not surrender any, having an overall successful day.
     They won the shot battle with Blue Springs 3-2 and had one goal against the Panthers when freshman Radleigh Childers stole the ball from an Oak Grove ball handler near the Panthers’ penalty box and scored on an open shot.
     “I was pretty excited and nervous,” Childers said. “I am glad I got it over with and got to experience this at home and being surrounded by family.”
     The Eagles were on Oak Grove’s third of the field most of the match and appeared to be even possession wise against Blue Springs in the other game.
     From a talent perspective, Grain Valley has multiple players who can score and make plays for their teammates. The offense appears it will be led by juniors Annabelle Totta and Emma Thiessen and Childers.
     On defense, the Eagles looked sharp, too. They didn’t allow any shot attempts from Oak Grove and only gave up to long shots on goal from Blue Springs, which were saved by freshman goalkeeper Alayna Maybell.
     She had two saves and multiple collections on balls that rolled into the penalty box. She showed the ability to be aggressive at the right times. At one point, she was able to thwart an opportunity for Blue Springs by coming up in the box and knocking a Wildcat pass out of bounds before they could get a shot off.
     “She played goalie before with her club team in the past, so she has experience there. She understands when to come out and when to stay back. She has a good IQ of the game. I think we are going to be fine back there.”
     While the Eagles looked solid at both ends of the field, they also showed that several players can be versatile as Lewis had his girls play at multiple different positions. It’s something that Thiessen said could   be valuable to the team.
     “Coach Lewis has been able to find multiple sports for us to play in,” Thiessen said. “I played the 8, the 9 and 10. Everyone is pretty versatile. Everyone can go anywhere and that’s a pretty great skill to have.”
     The Eagles will play their first game of 2023 at the Platte County Invitational Saturday.

     The Grain Valley Board of Education has placed a $32 million school bond issue on the April 4th ballot to fund the site development, construction, equipping, and furnishing a new high school gymnasium/fieldhouse addition as well as district-wide maintenance needs.  According to the district, these projects are likely to include: heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems; replace roofing; upgrade athletic facilities; and address other repairs and improvements to existing facilities of the district. 
     The adjusted debt service levy of the School District is estimated to remain unchanged at $1.7000 per one hundred dollars of assessed valuation of real and personal property upon passage of the bond issue.
     If approved, the bond will allow the district to continue with Phase 6 of the GVHS Masterplan, which includes additions to the southwest corner of the existing building. This fieldhouse and student activities addition will include a new fieldhouse gymnasium that seats 2,000, renovation to the existing smaller gymnasium which will become the auxiliary gym, renovations to PE and varsity locker rooms, a new weight room, new student and activity entrance with student attendance office, and renovations to the existing commons/lunchroom.
     Demolition to the existing weight room, rooms previously used for band and choir, and the northwest corner of the existing gymnasium will make room for the new fieldhouse gymnasium and a wider Eagle Way student and activities entrance.
​     If passed, work would begin late spring/early summer, with a temporary weight room set up near the locker rooms and the exiting weight room and rooms previously used for band and choir would be removed. During the 2023-2024 school year, the new fieldhouse gymnasium, weight room, and student entrance with attendance office would be constructed.
     During the summer of 2024, renovations would occur to PE and varsity locker rooms, as well as to the existing gymnasium. Renovations would also occur in the commons area in the summer of 2024 as an alternate bid. Work on phase 6 is expected to be completed in time for the start of school in August of 2024.

     For more information on the issues and candidates on the April ballot, visit our Voter Resources page. 

A rendering of the exterior of the proposed addition to be completed as a part of the bond issue on the April 2023 ballot. Photo credit: Grain Valley Schools 

Video credit: Grain Valley Schools

     MODOT crews with the bridge replacement work along Interstate 70 at Route AA/BB in Grain Valley will close Route AA/BB (Main Street) at I-70 beginning at 6:00am on Saturday, March 18, until approximately 5:00am on Monday, March 20, for bridge demo work. There will be a signed detour for Route AA/BB.
     During this time, crews will also close the left lane of westbound and eastbound I-70 at mile marker 24 in Grain Valley. This work will cause delays in the area. Motorists are encouraged to plan ahead and seek alternate routes if necessary. All work is weather permitting.
     This project will be constructed over the course of three phases in the next year. Phase 1 includes bridge work and work within the median and is scheduled to be completed by early summer 2023. Phase 2 will address the westbound side of the project and Phase 3 will address the eastbound side. The project is anticipated to be complete by winter 2023.
     Motorists are reminded to slow down and pay attention while driving in work zones. Not all work zones look alike. Work zones can be moving operations, such as striping, patching or mowing. They can also be short term, temporary lane closures to make quick repairs or remove debris from the roadway.
     For more information about MoDOT news, projects or events, please visit our website at www.modot.org/kansascity. For instant updates, follow MoDOT_KC on Twitter, or share posts and comments on our Facebook at www.facebook.com/MoDOT.KansasCity/. MoDOT Kansas City maintains more than 7,000 miles of state roadway in nine counties. Sign up online for workzone updates or call 888-ASK-MODOT (275-6636).

     The Jackson County, Missouri Assessor’s Office will host four community meetings in coming weeks where property owners can learn more about the county’s property assessment process. A representative from the Assessor’s Office will be present at each meeting to share information and to answer questions about the following:

• Functions of the Assessment Department and new technology
• Information on the levy process and the role of the County Collector
• What the market is doing and where it is going this year
• Parcel by parcel review
• Assessment appeal process and reasons why a property owner may apply
• 
  

The meeting schedule is listed below.

• 5:30 p.m.-7 p.m., Wednesday, March 22 at the Mid-Continent Public Library – Colbern Road located at 1000 NE Colbern Rd., in Lee’s Summit
• 5:30 p.m.-7 p.m., Monday, March 27 at the Morningstar youth & Family Life Center located at 2525 E 27th St., in Kansas City
• 5:30 p.m.-7 p.m., Wednesday, March 29 at the Fleming Meeting Hall located at 21906 SW Woods Chapel Rd., in Blue Springs
• 5:30 p.m.-7 p.m., Wednesday, April 5 at the Mid-Continent Public Library – North Independence located at 317 W 24 HWY in Independence

     In Missouri, assessments are completed every other year, on the odd-numbered years. Property owners in the state should receive their Market Value Notice around mid-April. Taxing authorities in the county, not the assessor, are responsible for setting and adjusting tax rates. Taxing authorities include school boards, fire districts, water districts, libraries, cities, counties, junior colleges, and various funds – including the mental health fund, disabled services fund, and blind pension. Jackson County receives approximately 7 cents of every of tax dollar, while the remaining 93 cents of every tax dollar go to the taxing authorities.
     For more information, visit jacksongov.org/Government/Departments/Assessment.

by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society​

     Although this photograph is labeled Grain Valley, 1933, I cannot be sure exactly when it was taken. It appeared in a book entitled “Results of County Planning” published in 1933.
     In the late 1920s, Harry Truman was the Presiding Judge of Jackson County. Scarcely known outside Independence, he had the vision and foresight to plan and then to push to completion a county road system which had few equals in the entire nation.
     On May 8, 1928, the voters of Jackson County authorized a $6,5000,000 bond issue to finance the first portion of the proposed road construction program. During the next few years, 166 miles of concrete roads and 52 miles of secondary roads were built or improved in various parts of the county.
     In May 1931, a second bond issue was approved for an additional $3,500,000 to complete the road program. At the same time bonds were approved for other capital improvements which included improvements in the county’s park system. Throughout this period, Judge Truman remained the leader and chief architect of the county planning activities.
     In May 1932, the road program had been virtually completed and a celebration was held at Sni-A-Bar Farms in Grain Valley.  Judge Truman and other members of the County Court published the 125-page book, “Results of County planning,” to show the voters of Jackson County as well as state and highway officials throughout the country the beneficial results that the county had achieved as the result of careful planning.
     To look at the book and the newspaper article about the Celebration of Roads, visit the Grain Valley Historical Society, opened on Wednesdays from 10 AM to 3 PM or by appointment. Contact:  [email protected] or call Marty @ (816) 686-7582. (Thanks to Allen Lefko for bring this photo to my attention!)
​

      As I open my computer to prepare for my monthly column, I sometimes find myself struggling to think of a topic that I haven’t already discussed. That’s not to say that repetition is a bad thing…we typically need to say or do things more than once for them to become a habit. With a new vegetable or fruit, we also need repeated exposure and experiences. If we didn’t like the way something was prepared, a different recipe or preparation method might increase the appeal. This month, I’ve decided to focus on how herbs and spices can enhance your mealtime experience.
     Though we tend to say herbs and spices in one breath, botanically speaking, herbs are leafy and plant-like, while spices come from the roots, buds, seeds, berries or fruits of plants or trees. Some plants produce both herbs and spices, like dill which produces both dill week and dill seed; and cilantro which produces the herb used in southwest cuisine and the dried seed known as coriander.
     While herbs and spices are widely known for their culinary uses, they are also known for their cultural and economic roles in history. Spices in particular were valued for monetary and trade values when European and far eastern travel routes expanded. Both herbs and spices have also been important in healing and cultural rituals for centuries. Recent science has revealed that there indeed are specific health benefits for a great many herbs and spices.
     One of the primary health benefits of incorporating more herbs and spices into culinary use comes from reducing excess salt and sodium. Simply replacing some or all of the salt with a complementary herb or spice in food preparation can have positive effects on high blood pressure, a condition affecting almost half of adults in America. Other spices, like ginger and turmeric can help with inflammation that accompanies many chronic health conditions. As with all plants, herbs and spices contribute a variety of phytonutrients that function as antioxidants, which can help prevent diseases like heart disease and cancer.
     Spices tend to grow in tropical climates, hence, most of the spices we use are in dried form. Herbs, however, are widely available in both fresh and dried from. Herbs are also simple to grow, both indoors and outdoors. For information on growing your own herbs, MU Extension has a publication available here:  http://bit.ly/3l97YKA
     One of the biggest questions that people have when starting or expanding their culinary use of herbs and spices is "what flavors go with what foods"? While taste is a very personal thing, our colleagues at Arizona Extension have an excellent publication called Season for Health that gives some excellent suggestions; you can find it here:  http://bit.ly/3DzLLvh
     If you have eaten Mediterranean style food, you may be familiar with a salad known as Tabbouleh. The recipe below is a favorite at my house. Fresh parsley and mint are used in abundant quantities for flavor as well as bulk.

​
Bulgur Wheat Salad
(Makes 6 servings)
 
Ingredients:
½ cup bulgur wheat
1 cup boiling water
1 teaspoon za’atar seasoning*
2 cups flat leaf parsley, chopped
½ cup mint, chopped
2 tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1 English cucumber, seeded, and chopped
2 green onions, finely chopped
3 Tablespoons olive oil
¼ cup lemon juice
Salt and pepper to taste
 
Directions:

1. Place the bulgur in a large bowl with za’atar and add the boiling water. Stir to combine and cover. Set aside for 20 minutes.
2. Combine all other ingredients in another large bowl.
3. Fluff the bulgur with a fork and drain any excess water, add to vegetables.
4. Adjust seasoning by adding more lemon, salt, or pepper as needed. Refrigerate and serve cold.

* Zaatar is a blend of dried herbs often including thyme, oregano, marjoram, sumac, toasted sesame seeds, pepper flakes and salt.

Nutrition information: Calories: 120, Total Fat: 7g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 20mg, Carbohydrates: 13g, Fiber: 2g, Protein: 3g
 
Recipe from North Carolina Extension Med Instead of Meds, analyzed by verywellfit.com


Denise Sullivan is a Nutrition and Health Education Specialist for MU Extension in the Urban West Region, serving Jackson and Platte Counties.

     St. Mary’s Medical Center, a member of Prime Healthcare, today announced that it has been recognized by Healthgrades as a 2023 Patient Safety Excellence Award™ recipient. This distinction places St. Mary’s Medical Center among the top 5% of all short-term acute care hospitals as evaluated by Healthgrades, the leading marketplace connecting patients and providers.
     For the eighth year in a row, Prime Healthcare, one of the nation’s leading health systems, had more Patient Safety Excellence Award recipients than any other health system, according to Healthgrades.
     “St. Mary’s Medical Center is invested in clinical quality and patient care.  As we approach the third anniversary of COVID-19, we continue to prioritize patient safety.  This award is the result of the contributions of all our staff, providers and leaders and we are honored to be recognized," Kelly Pearce, CEO at St. Mary’s Medical Center, said.
     During the 2019-2021 study period, 164,592 potentially preventable patient safety events occurred among Medicare patients in U.S. hospitals. * Healthgrades found that just four patient safety indicators accounted for 74% of all patient safety events: hip fracture due to an in-hospital fall, collapsed lung resulting from a procedure/surgery, pressure or bed sores acquired in the hospital, and catheter-related bloodstream infections acquired in-hospital.
​     Healthgrades’ analysis also revealed that patients treated in hospitals receiving the Healthgrades 2023 Patient Safety Excellence Award were, on average:

• 61.4%% less likely to experience an in-hospital fall resulting in hip fracture, than patients treated at non-recipient hospitals*
• 52.7% less likely to experience a collapsed lung resulting from a procedure or surgery in or around the chest, than patients treated at non-recipient hospitals*
• 66.1% less likely to experience pressure sores or bed sores acquired in the hospital, than patients treated at non-recipient hospitals*
• 67.3% less likely to experience catheter-related bloodstream infections acquired in the hospital, than patients treated at nonrecipient hospitals*

Consumers can visit healthgrades.com for more information on how Healthgrades measures hospital quality and access the complete methodology here.

The following information is derived from Grain Valley Police Department daily calls service log for the week of March 8-14, 2023.
 
March 8, 2023
500 Blk Elizabeth St
Citizen contact

800 Blk SW Woodland Dr
Suspicious vehicle

100 Blk Royer Ln
Property damage

RD Mize/Barr
Suspicious vehicle

200 Blk Royer
Disturbance

1100 Blk Buckner-Tarsney Rd
Motor vehicle accident

300 Blk Creek Ridge
Welfare check

400 Blk SW Eagles Parkway
Alarm check

EPW/EB Old 40
Motor vehicle accident

400 Blk Wolf Creek
Suspicious vehicle

 
March 9, 2023
3300 Blk S Outer Belt Rd
Area check

Main St/40
Motor vehicle accident

1100 Blk NW Pamela Blvd
Motor vehicle accident

1400 Blk SW Cross Creek
Child Custody

3500 Blk E Old Hwy 40
Agency assist

 
March 10, 2023
BB/ RD Mize Rd
Area check

600 Blk NW Yennie St
Property damage

700 Blk Main St
Suspicious person

PHQ
Citizen contact

PHQ
Citizen contact

BB/ SW Nelson
Motor vehicle accident

1900 Blk NW Hedgewood Dr
Agency assist

600 Blk SW Nelson Dr
Welfare check

600 Blk Willow
Area check

800 Blk SW Lee Ann Dr
Physical disturbance

900 Blk NW Eagle Ridge
Stealing

1200 Blk NW Baytree
Area check

 
March 11, 2023
PHQ
Citizen contact

200 Blk SE Salem
Agency assist

100 Blk NE Sunny Ln
Noise complaint

300 Blk NW Woodberry Dr
Welfare check

1000 Blk SW Ephraim Dr
Area check

600 Blk SW Whitestone De
Area check

SW Nelson/SW Brome
Suspicious activity

500 Blk N Main St
Alarm check

1100 Blk RD Mize Rd
Physical disturbance

 
March 12, 2023
350/63rd St
Agency assist

PHQ
Citizen contact

NE McQuerry Rd/Main St
Motor vehicle accident

700 Blk NW Baytree Cir
Verbal disturbance

1200 Blk NW Long Dr
Welfare check

1600 Blk Hilltop
Area check

500 Blk N Main St
Alarm check

PHQ
Citizen contact

 
March 13, 2023
100 Blk Hudson
Agency assist

S Buckner-Tarsney Rd
Agency assist

1300 Blk NW Golfview
Verbal disturbance

800 Blk NW Thieme
Stealing

1400 Blk EPW
Agency assist

1700 Blk NW Asbury Ct
Lost animal

PHQ
Citizen contact

PHQ
Citizen contact

500 Blk SW Hamilton Ln
Citizen contact

100 Blk S Main
Found property

200 Blk SW Rock Creek Dr
Burglary

PHQ
Citizen contact

 
March 14, 2023
PHQ
Citizen contact

PHQ
Citizen contact

900 Blk NW Scenic
Physical disturbance

31000 Blk E Pink Hill Rd
Agency assist

 
Additional calls for service this week:
Order of protection: 1
Domestic violence: 1
Suicidal subject: 1

     A Cars and Coffee meetup has been organized for the second Sunday of the month starting March 12th from 8:00am - 11:00am. The event is free and open to all. 
     All Makes and models are welcome to attend what organizer Brian Bray says is intended to be an enjoyable social event where everyone can all meet, admire and discuss cars.
     Whether you show a car or just stop by to look at cars, Bray encourages attendees to grab a coffee and waffle from Joeshmoes, enjoy the cars between 8am-11am, and then head over to catch brunch at Captains Sports Lounge after 11am. 
     Sponsors this month are Joeshmoes, Hughes Off-Road and Captains.   More info on the event can be found at https://www.facebook.com/GVMO.CarsAndCoffee

     The Board of Education met March 2nd, with curriculum development and review a dominant topic of discussion.
     The meeting began with recognitions for the high school wrestling and girls swim and dive teams for their accomplishments at State competition, and recognitions for teacher of the year Jessica Dierking and support staff employee of the year Julie Bunton. 
     Mendi Spencer, GVHS science teacher. spoke during patron comments regarding the curriculum development policy and administrative procedure on the agenda for discussion. Spencer had several pointed questions for the board, asking if any board member attended a curriculum writing session prior to the issue being raised, and how it would be determined which parents are qualified to serve on a curriculum development committee.
     "Has data been collected that indicates there is a need to change the current policy?  If the answer is no, it is important to note that change and new initiatives are based on data and not whims or wants of a few patrons," Spencer said. 
     The district's Salary and Benefits Committee presented its recommendations to the board as a part of its annual process. Member and district elementary teacher Shannon Stone presented for the committee. The committee is comprised of team members from each building in the district. The committee recommended a levy increase be placed on the April 2024 ballot, noting there has not been an increase since 2003. The committee noted that with a levy increase of $.71, the district will continue to have one of the lowest levy rates in the area. 
     The committee noted concerns regarding the district's ability to offer competitive salaries, particularly in order to attract experienced staff. The committee noted the average years of experience for certified staff is 14.7 years, and stated the district is receiving 1/4 of the resumes received three years ago. 
     In addition to concerns regarding competitive salaries, the committee outlined additional issues they believe could be addressed through a levy increase, including additional resources for students, additional support staff, and reduced class sizes. 
     Under action items, the Board approved an amendment to the 2022-23 budget with adjustments made due to construction of the new Leadership Center and phase 6 of the high school and approved the preliminary non-binding tax rate for 2023. Superintendent Brad Welle reported the district submitted its preliminary estimate of the 2023 tax levy to Jackson County. The non-binding estimate for 2023 totals $4.9271. 
     Under unfinished business, the board was offered an opportunity to discuss curriculum review for eight courses: AP Calculus, Biology, Honors Biology, AP US History, PLTW (Project Lead the Way) Human Body Systems, PLTW Biomedical Innovations, PLTW Engineering, Design, and Development, and PLTW Principles of Engineering. There was no discussion and no questions for these courses.
     Moving to curriculum development, the board discussed recommended changes to curriculum development policy and administrative procedure (Board Policy IF/Administrative Procedure IF-AP). 
     Board President Jared English requested clarification regarding what exactly the changes mean at the ground level in curriculum review meetings. Welle clarified that the superintendent would appoint committee members, and pointed to the positives he sees in having parents and potentially students involved in the process, pointing to community involvement in events around strategic planning as an example.
     Board member Eddie Saffell pushed back on the comparison, noting there is a difference between a community member voicing opinions regarding placement of a new building, or what park amenities the city needs in terms of the city's recent strategic planning efforts, and a member of a curriculum committee having the background knowledge needed to be helpful in the process.
     "I struggle with this a lot. What is the function of that parent? How does a parent come in and offer any intelligent insight about what we should be teaching. I struggle with it. I'm not saying our parents are dumb by any means, and we may have some parents out there with this type of expertise, but that's not the person you're going to get. You're going to get me. You're going to get the parent that wants to try to be involved, but when I stand my ground and say 'no, you're not teaching this'. At what point are you going to say, 'yeah, we are and thank you for your time," Saffell said.
     Board member Jeff Coleman countered by saying "I don't think that is the function of that committee. I think the function of that committee is to listen to what they are doing. You might have that strong of an opinion, but that is not their role. Their role is to be a part of the committee to report to us as a board who then makes that decision," Coleman said.
     Saffell disagreed. "That is not how the policy and procedure is written. The policy and procedure is written under curriculum development. These people are going to be brought in to be part of curriculum development. They are going to be offering insight into what curriculum these guys are offering. And I struggle with non-educators who are uneducated in these topics offering insight."
     "Now if we need to change the wording of that policy to where it is a review, fine. We know there are books and other things in our libraries that have been used as resources that shouldn't have been. We went through that earlier this year. Maybe that's where parents can help. The way it's written, they're part of a committee that is going to help with curriculum development. I struggle with that. They don't have the background to be offering insight into what these guys are developing," Saffell said.
     "I agree with Eddie on that, and I don't think parents should be involved when it comes to that. I think parents should be allowed to see what the curriculum is and what that entails in case there is controversial issues, which is the reason why we are here," board member Tisha Homfeld said.
     "That piece is another policy. Parents already have the right to request any of the materials and have access to what we are teaching," Welle said.
     "But even as board members, we don't see the different books that are a part of that. That's what I'm talking about," Homfeld said.
     "I don't know if this will fix it, and I don't know that it is necessarily a bad thing, but I know I have some heartburn over the way it is being presented right now. Parents who are not educators and/or uneducated in that topic, should not be helping with curriculum at all," Saffell said. 
     Board member Jeff Porter, who raised the issue initially for discussion, emphasized the administration holds the power to determine how these committees will function.
     "It is up to the administration to set the guidelines on what the whole committee or those parents and guardians and students, how they're going to be involved. No one is saying they are going to be involved for the whole sausage making process. They're going to be used where it is deemed necessary or useful to review some of the materials just to make sure they can add input where they can and to see what is happening and what it is going to be about," Porter said.
     Assistant Superintendent for Academic Services Dr. Beth Mulvey shared her concern and pushed back on comments regarding transparency. 
          "We wanted to be as transparent as possible about the process and the product. And I feel like I should say that I feel we have, because every time we bring something to you, whether it is a working document or something that needs approval, you've had the link. School board members are part of the review, and you are also parents and community members. Elected community members that represent this community. You've had the highest level of transparency and access to this for its approval. I feel like that needs to be mentioned. There is nothing that we were trying to hide about this process. In fact, we shared it all. And I want to say that resources and material are listed as suggested, because the reason behind developing curriculum when Glenna (Bult) and I started was because teachers didn't have anything. When teachers were hired, we did not have anything to hand them. We might have a textbook, we might have a computer program, but we did not have a board approved curriculum to hand to the teachers. So the resources on those documents are listed as suggested resources intentionally. A teacher should have some freedom to make selections based on their students' needs. If the rub is about resources, I think there are measures that we can take outside of this policy to put safeguards in place to make sure parents feel at ease about whatever content is being covered. We do have some of those things in place already where if a book, in an English class for example, is offensive to a particular parent, they have the option to choose something else. We can go even further than that and provide a list of the readings before the class even starts and parents can make an informed choice then. I just think we're going after a policy for curriculum development when it is not about the curriculum itself, it is about the resources."
     English added that when he drills down into the curriculum links provided by Mulvey, he often asks "Why are we teaching this?", and the response is often that it is a state requirement. 
     "I just want to make sure that roles and responsibilities are really clear, because people are going to get frustrated when they join a committee, spend a lot of time, and find out that they can't change a lot of what they think they can, because it is mandated by the state," English said.
     "I do feel like we have framed both the policy and the administrative procedure in a way that emphasizes the importance of the role of the professional in that process, but also validates the importance of engaging our community, meeting the needs of our community," Welle said.
     Porter requested the policy be brought up as an action item for approval. With member Eddie Saffell as the lone 'no' vote, the changes were approved. 

Prior reporting: Quick News - Grain Valley News

Curriculum development policy and administrative procedure:
View Policy IF: CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT (eboardsolutions.com)
View Administrative Procedure IF-AP(1): CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT (eboardsolutions.com) 
     

     Lance Pollard is running for a seat on the Grain Valley School Board, and while he understands it may take a bit of explaining, he looks forward to being a part of “the band”.
     Pollard and his wife moved to Grain Valley 12 years ago and are raising their five children in their “forever home” they’ve built on the north side of town. Pollard operates plumbing and property management businesses out of Grain Valley and is an independent Nashville country music recording artist through Sony.
     Pollard said he is a third generation pastor’s son, and had studied biology and then accounting before the band he was a part of got signed. Pollard said that family and business commitments now keep him off the road for extended periods of time, but he does get out for the occasional mini tour.
     “The music industry is a huge part of my life. It allows me to meet new people from all walks of life. The band isn’t about playing music. It’s about hanging out. You play music for one hour a day, and you hang out for 23 hours a day.”
     In talking about his approach with employees and board service, Pollard said he pulls inspiration from the dynamics of working in a band.
     “I’m not going to say the school board is a band,” Pollard said. “What I’m referencing is, a group of people like minded or not, that are all moving in the same direction.”
     Asked about his reasons for running for school board, Pollard said, “Since I fell in love with the Grain Valley community, I felt like I saw some things, not from a lack of leadership, but from a lack of direction for the community. I think in our ever changing society, there has to be a foundation that can be built upon.”
     Pollard identified four priorities he would focus on if elected.
     First, teacher pay and benefits are at the top of his list.
     “Being a small business owner, I understand inflation firsthand when I am dealing with my employees’ payroll. I also understand the hours and commitment that it takes to be a teacher.”
     “Why isn’t there money for a raise? Why can’t we do better? I want our Grain Valley school district to be the envy of Jackson County. If we have the best pay, if we have the best benefits, I believe that will attract more teachers.”
     Second, Pollard plans to recommend what he terms a “Student Personal Privacy Act”.
     “In an ever changing society, I understand communities change, and obviously culture changes. I believe that change can be done without affecting the foundation of the community.”
     Pollard explained that the proposed policy is intended to further clarify the privacy rights of all students, and accommodate all students equally. Pollard gave the example of locker rooms as an area in which he feels the policy would be helpful, providing privacy for female, male, and transgender students equally.
     “Every student has to be accommodated equally. No bullying, no set apart,” Pollard said.
     Pollard shared the district’s current policy on transgender students in a campaign Facebook post on February 25th with the statement, “We need to stop accommodating stupidity.” The post resulted in many comments and back-and-forth, and Pollard said the post illustrated the difficulty of having conversations on social media.
     Pollard said he has since reached out to several of the commenters and invited them to coffee or to meet with him at upcoming candidate forums.
     “I believe people are way more similar than not. At the end of the day, we all care about our community. We all care about our children. I don’t think there’s anybody out here that does not care about kids. I just want to make sure that all of our kids’ privacy and rights are protected.”
     The third priority for Pollard is to ensure that sexually explicit content remains out of the elementary grades.
     “I just don’t feel those types of books have any benefit to young kids.”
     Pollard said he understands that content needs change as students enter middle and high school grades, and once explicit content policies are addressed at the elementary level, “we could then look at policies that would make sense for the middle school and high school students. I would absolutely support this.”
     “I do not believe that currently any person is purposefully allowing material in. I think we have great teachers and great staff. But I think if there was an oversight committee that would look through some of the content to look at where that content is coming from (it would help). It’s not that an accident won’t happen, but we make sure we correct it when it happens. There’s not a policy on that now, but I would like to see a policy written or some sort of wording created that would make sense.”
     “I believe a policy like that would absolutely benefit the students and the district.”
     Finally, Pollard believes the board needs to continue to focus on supporting the growth of the district. Pollard supports the bond issue on the April 2023 ballot.
     “As our community continues to grow, we have to keep up with the demand of the growing community. The high school renovation is going to be incredible. That (bond issue) benefits students, the community, the staff.”
     A cursory Google search of Pollard not only reveals his Nashville connections, but links to a Fox4 article identifying Pollard as having attended the rally which preceded the attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021.
     Pollard said he took a bus trip to Washington, D.C. to attend the rally but had no part in the attack and was not near enough to the Capitol building to know what was happening until he began to receive texts from family members inquiring about his safety.
     Asked for comment regarding his attendance at the event, Pollard said,
     “I’m an American citizen. I went to the capital city on January 6th to support a sitting president. Everyone has the peaceful right to assemble, and everyone has a right to assemble no matter what the assembly is. I do not in any way, in any way, agree with the stupidity that took place at the Capitol building. I was not involved in it. I do not know anyone who was involved in it. People were hurt. I have five kids and a wife at home. Even if I didn’t, I would never participate. If I had, I probably wouldn’t be sitting here today.”
     “I hope that clarifies. I believe that people assume things without reaching out.  I’ve been called many names over the last few weeks, but I was prepared for that because I knew that the foundation that I believe in, that I stand on, of supporting all of the community, depending on how that was worded might be viewed as a disruption.”
    “Again, I appreciate healthy dialogue. I enjoy meeting all the residents of the community, and I just want to see our community continue to get better.”
​
Valley News will profile each candidate on the ballot in the weeks leading up to the election, provide a voter guide, and plans a candidate forum on March 21st at Grain Valley South Middle School. To search for all election related articles, click on “Elections” under the categories on our News page. For voter information and links to resources, visit our Voter Resource page. 
 
     

     MoDOT crews with the bridge replacement work along Interstate 70 at Route AA/BB in Grain Valley will close Route AA/BB (Main Street) at I-70 beginning at 6:00am on Saturday, March 11th, until approximately 5 a.m. on Monday, March 13, for bridge demo work. There will be a signed detour for Route AA/BB.
     Crews will also close the left lane of westbound and eastbound I-70 at mile marker 24 in Grain Valley beginning Friday, March 10th at 8:00pm. Detours will be directed to I-70 and Adams Dairy Parkway and the Oak Grove exit.
     This work will cause delays in the area. Motorists are encouraged to plan ahead and seek alternate routes if necessary. All work is weather permitting.
     This project will be constructed over the course of three phases in the next year. Phase 1 includes bridge work and work within the median and is scheduled to be completed by early summer 2023. Phase 2 will address the westbound side of the project and Phase 3 will address the eastbound side. The project is anticipated to be complete by winter 2023.
     For more information about MoDOT news, projects or events, please visit our website at www.modot.org/kansascity. For instant updates, follow MoDOT_KC on Twitter, or share posts and comments on our Facebook at www.facebook.com/MoDOT.KansasCity/. MoDOT Kansas City maintains more than 7,000 miles of state roadway in nine counties. Sign up online for workzone updates or call 888-ASK-MODOT (275-6636).