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by Cole Arndorfer
The Grain Valley Schools Board of Education met on Thursday, July 18th for their monthly business meeting. The board kicked off the meeting by recognizing the Special Olympics smedalists from this year. Superintendent Dr. Brad Welle began his monthly report by talking about the new Parent Square communication tool the district is implementing. Welle then discussed some contingency provisions as phase six of construction on the high school is nearing completion. Some projects with options to be completed include improving lighting at the playground at Sni-A-Bar Elementary, window film updates, new classroom communication options, and security upgrades. Assistant Superintendent Dr. Amanda Allen then gave a report over summer school this year. Allen said that summer school enrollment had increased to an all-time high, as did the amount of positive feedback that was received in various areas such as experience and pick up and drop off. Moving forward, Welle went over the exit interview summary for faculty and staff not returning to the district for the upcoming school year. The district had 24 teacher resignations, which is down from 32 last year. Of those 24 resignations, the district received 19 responses on exit survey forms. Welle said feedback on these forms is very important for future recruiting and retention purposes as they show what needs improvement and what is going well. Allen then spoke on the district’s updated communications plan. One big goal of that plan is an updated “work for us” page online. Another important update is new crisis scripts. These are templates the district can use to make statements on certain situations very quickly. The board moved onto unfinished business with an action item over the school board meeting calendar for the upcoming school year. The board approved the calendar that was set forth in front of them. This brought the board to new business. The first item was approved to add two new paraprofessionals for the upcoming school year. The board then approved adding a 0.2 occupational therapist position for the upcoming school year. Welle said that this brings one of the district’s current occupational therapists from a 0.8 to a 1.0. Under board policies, the board looked at a multitude of policies for review and to be brought back at the next meeting. The next Board of Education meeting will take place on August 15th at 6:00pm at the district’s Leadership Center.
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Metropolitan Community College will host a ceremonial groundbreaking at 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 16, to kick off construction of the MCC-Longview Automotive Institute and a major overhaul of the campus’ cornerstone automotive program. The event will be held in the Education Center at MCC-Longview, 500 S.W. Longview Road, Lee’s Summit.
The $27.9 million project is expected to be completed by the start of the Fall 2025 semester. MCC-Longview President Ryan Crider said the facility will more than double the square footage for automotive programming, which will allow for expansion of the existing automotive technology and collision repair programs and make way for a brand new diesel technology program. The project will include renovation of the existing 28,000-square-foot automotive high-technology building and construction of an all new 39,000-square-foot Automotive Institute. Sheryl Farnan, Longview’s dean of instruction, said the new building will link the existing building to the center of campus, forever altering the footprint at Longview and allowing automotive students to be more engaged in activities on campus. “This will now become the crown jewel of our campus,” Farnan said. “When you park by the main entrance and turn up the main sidewalk, you will see this beautiful building front and center at the end of our campus.” “We’ve always had high caliber programs,” Crider said. “Now we’re going to have a facility that will be a worthy home for those programs.” Crider said adding the new diesel program will go a long way toward addressing a skills gap in the field, as there is an identified need for diesel mechanics in the region. “Employers have been asking for diesel for years,” Crider said. “We already have folks involved in diesel who are looking for ways to get in front of our existing students even before we had the program.” Industry partners and Longview’s automotive advisory board, which includes leaders from local shops and dealerships, were also involved in planning. Features of the ultramodern space will include:
“It will look like a showcase space,” Crider said. “Everything will be transparent. You will be able to look into the space from the bridge on the second floor, into the classrooms and labs. There will be glass dividers so you can see what’s going on in there.” Students completing the associate of applied science (A.A.S.) degree in automotive technology with medium- and heavy-duty truck emphasis will be ready to accept a position as an entry-level diesel mechanic when they graduate in two years or less. MCC-Longview’s automotive technology arsenal also includes numerous degree and certificate options in automotive service (including Ford ASSET and GM/ASEP) and collision repair. All MCC automotive curriculum is designed to ensure students are prepared to pass the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) exams at graduation. Lead architect for the project is DLR Group, and McCown Gordon is the general contractor. Funding came from both public and private resources and includes:
The public is invited to the event. Please RSVP by emailing [email protected] or calling 816.604.2144. by Cole Arndorfer
The Grain Valley Schools Board of Education met briefly on Thursday, June 27 for their monthly business meeting. With no patron comments or recognitions, Superintendent Dr. Brad Welle, kicked the meeting off with his monthly report. Welle started by announcing a new, two-year, personalized learning program for educators called “Valley Learning Pathways.” This falls into the CSIP plan to provide personalized student learning experience and high-quality training or professional learning. The first step for teachers in this program is to pick a focus area during district professional development days. Welle then highlighted some important dates for the board. On July 31, the district is hosting an initial welcome event for teachers new to the district at the leadership center. The district will hold its annual back to school convocation with faculty and staff on August 16th at the high school. Following Welle’s report, the board moved into unfinished business to take action on the 2024-2025 budget. This action passed unanimously. Next up was new business where the board took action on two items and discussed the school board meeting calendar for 2024-2025. The board approved the 2024-2025 salary schedule, 2023-2024 budget transfers, and a 2023-2024 budget amendment. The board then took an initial look at the draft of the 2024-2025 school board meeting schedule. For the final section of the meeting, the board took action on five board policies. With no discussion, the board approved all five polices regarding faculty and staff leaves, board member removal from office, use of artificial intelligence, and administration of medications to students. The next Board of Education meeting will take place on July 18th at 6:00pm at the Leadership Center. In a June 20th press release, Brian Bray, Alderman of Grain Valley Ward III, shared he is sponsoring a bill to create a new city ordinance aimed at tackling bullying of minors. The proposed ordinance seeks to hold both the bully and the parent or guardian of the bully accountable for bullying behavior, whether it occurs within the school environment or outside of it.
In the release, Bray explains that as part of the proposed ordinance, parents and guardians will be encouraged to take an active role in understanding and mitigating their child's behavior. Bray says this approach aims to foster a collaborative effort between the city, schools, and families to create a safer and more supportive environment for all children. "Bullying has far-reaching consequences that extend beyond the immediate impact on the victim. It affects the entire community and can have lasting effects on a child's mental and emotional well-being. This ordinance is designed to address the root causes of bullying and to ensure that we are all working together to protect our children and promote a culture of respect and kindness," Bray said in the release. The proposed ordinance includes measures such as mandatory counseling for bullies, educational programs for parents, and potential fines for repeated offenses. Bray states the goal is not only to punish but to educate and rehabilitate, providing the necessary tools and resources to prevent future incidents of bullying. For more information on the proposed ordinance and how to get involved, please contact Aldermen Bray via email at [email protected]. (StatePoint) It's never too early to start working with a financial advisor. There are many stages in your life when you could benefit from the advice of a financial professional, including when you are young and taking out student loans, or in the process of paying them off.
With a record $1.7 trillion in outstanding student loan debt among U.S. students, it’s likely that your own debt is burdensome on your wallet. Here are several ways a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional can help: Understanding your loan terms. Before you take out a loan, a CFP® professional can help you understand its terms -- including whether it’s a fixed rate or variable rate loan and what its repayment terms are -- and can help you make a selection that works best for your budget and anticipated future salary. They can also help you strategize so that you borrow only what you need. Paying your loan back. It can be tricky to determine a loan repayment strategy that will reduce the overall cost of your loan while allowing you to budget for and manage other expenses. Lean on the wisdom of your CFP® professional. They can help you weigh the pros and cons of consolidating your student loan debt with other consumer debt and may suggest other options based on your unique circumstances, such as refinancing your loan. Improving your credit. As many young people soon discover, the way you manage your student loans can have a large impact on your credit history, particularly if you default on payments. Your CFP® professional can help you maintain a healthy credit score during the repayment process and beyond so that you don’t adversely impact your future ability to finance big-ticket items, like cars or homes. Preparing for the future. It’s never too early to create a holistic financial plan that accounts for your retirement and other future financial goals. In fact, small contributions now have the power to grow exponentially in the years ahead and can help you avoid playing catch-up when you’re in your 30s, 40s and 50s. Your CFP® professional can help you draft an overall budget that balances paying down your student debt, meeting today’s day-to-day expenses and preparing for your golden years with tax-advantaged savings strategies. As a young person, it’s especially important to work with someone you know you can trust. To find a CFP® professional committed to acting in your best interest, visit LetsMakeAPlan.org. With a thoughtful borrowing strategy informed by the expertise of a financial advisor, you can earn the college degree you need for the career you want while maintaining healthy finances. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) has introduced “My Life, My Quit,” a free tobacco cessation service for Missouri teens who want to quit using electronic cigarettes, vape products, cigarettes and smokeless tobacco.
“More Missouri teens now vape than adults who smoke cigarettes,” Abby Newland with the DHSS Tobacco Prevention and Control Program said. “This is significant given that Missouri has one of the highest national smoking rates.” Teens 13-17 who enroll in “My Life, My Quit” will receive confidential and personalized support from a trained quit coach who helps them build a quit plan to become free from nicotine. The program provides coaching sessions over text, live chat or phone. Teens earn incentive items along their journey and receive a completion certificate. Find Missouri-specific cessation information on the Tobacco Prevention and Control Program’s (TPCP) website here. Ways to enroll in My Life My Quit:
The program also includes resources and information for guardians, educators and healthcare professionals, which can be found on the "My Life, My Quit" website and through an online referral portal. HIPAA-covered and non-HIPAA-covered entities can refer youth to this resource with the teen's consent to participate. Order free “My Life, My Quit” promotional materials, including posters, rack cards and info cards on the order form. Copies of materials can be downloaded for digital distribution through the "My Life, My Quit" website as well. For additional information on the “My Life, My Quit” program, contact the DHSS Tobacco Prevention and Control Program at [email protected] or (573) 522-2820. Good News: Smithsonian traveling exhibition examining democracy in America coming to Grain Valley5/30/2024
Smithsonian traveling exhibition examining democracy in America coming to Grain Valley
The Smithsonian’s Museum on Main Street, in cooperation with Missouri Humanities Council, presents “Voices and Votes: Democracy in American.” The exhibition examines the nearly 250-year-old American experiment of a government “of, by and for the people,” and how each generation since continues to question how to form “a more perfect union.” Opening at the Grain Valley Historical Society, “Voices and Votes” will be on view through November 1 - December 13, 2025. Grain Valley Historical Society and the surrounding community has been chosen by the Missouri Humanities Council to host “Voices and Votes” as part of the Museum on Main Street program—a national/state/local partnership to bring exhibitions and programs to rural cultural organizations. “Voices and Votes” explores the action, reaction, vision and revision that democracy demands as Americans continue to question how to shape the country. From the revolution and suffrage, to civil rights and casting ballots, everyone in every community is part of this ever-evolving story—the story of democracy in America. Exhibition sections explore the origins of American democracy, the struggles to obtain and keep the vote, the machinery of democracy, the right to petition and protest beyond the ballot and the rights and responsibilities of citizens. “Voices and Votes” features historical and contemporary photos; educational and archival video; engaging multimedia interactives with short games; and historical objects like campaign souvenirs, voter memorabilia, and protest material. Designed for small-town museums, libraries and cultural organizations, “Voices and Votes” will serve as a community meeting place for conversations about democracy, the freedoms and responsibilities of citizens, participating in government, and more. With the support and guidance of state humanities councils, these towns will develop complementary exhibits, host public programs and facilitate educational initiatives to raise people’s understanding about their own history, the joys and challenges of living rural, how change has impacted their community, and prompt discussion of goals for the future. “Voices and Votes” is based on an exhibition currently on display at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History called American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith. by Cole Arndorfer
The Grain Valley Schools Board of Education met on Thursday, May 16th, for its monthly meeting. This month’s meeting was held at Grain Valley High School in conjunction with the Sni Valley Academy graduation. The meeting included recognitions of four high school groups, two reports, and one item under new business. To start the meeting, the board recognized four high school groups. The first group recognized were members of the high school journalism team, who earned All Missouri Best of Show recently. The next group was speech and debate state champions and national qualifiers. The third group recognized was Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), which received Chapter of the Year honors. Three members competed at state and also qualified for nationals. The final group recognized was DECA. Several members competed at the state competition, including two who went on to compete in the DECA Internationals in Anaheim, California. Following recognitions, the board moved into reports. The first report was the extracurricular program evaluation from High School Activities Director Brandon Hart. In the beginning of his report, Hart noted that two thirds of the high school population is involved in some sort of activity, whether it be sports, music, or theater. Hart also said that this year, 33 student-athletes have signed to continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level. The high school won its fourth-straight Suburban Conference All-Sports Trophy, while 13 of the schools 20 teams won their conference title. Hart said that one of the things he is most proud of is the addition of Esports and trap shooting, as well as boys volleyball. He said that the Esports and trap shooting teams have been so successful that they have grown to a point where the coaches have had to stop recruiting kids to join. Hart said that the activities department has goals to expand in social media as well as getting moved into the new facilities that are opening on the high school campus. Next, Dr. Brad Welle shared the superintendent's report. In his report, Welle highlighted that the board’s community engagement plan had been shared through various methods of social media and emailed to all the district’s parents and had been receiving positive feedback. The board then moved into new business, where the board approved the hiring of a new technology field technician. Due to time constraints with the Sni Valley Academy graduation, the board tabled one item of unfinished business and three items under policies. These items will be brought back at the next meeting. The board then moved into executive session and the meeting was adjourned. The next Board of Education meeting will take place on Thursday, June 27, at 6 pm in the Leadership Center. Metropolitan Community College, Kansas City, has announced the Dean's List for the Spring 2024 semester. The 2,839 students who received Dean's List recognition earned a grade-point average (GPA) of 3.5 or higher while being enrolled in six or more credit hours.
Earning a spot on the Dean’s List “is an indication of your hard work, dedication and academic achievement, all of which are a great foundation for future success,” MCC Chancellor Kimberly Beatty said in letters to the honorees. Students from Grain Valley named to the spring 2024 Dean's List: Josie Adams Jayleigh Askew Jada Bailey Jessi Ball Oakley Barham Kylie Barnett Lilly Barszczak James Bassett Jason Bassett Greg Bennett Jacob Bennett Grace Brotherton Brooklyn Burks Nate Camby Skyla Carrasco Adelyn Caswell Spencer Chase Ella Clyman Carter Compton Kade Compton Taylor Creswell Morgan Darling Caitlin DeBerry Benjamin DeMonbrun Cole Doolin Tyeler Duncan Laura Dustin Fiona Edwards Ivy Elliott Clare Fleischmann JingJing Gao Kaitlynn Goosey Justin Groover Kiara Hawkins Hailey Hemme Dru Iles Ariana Isayko Kaden Jeffries Kristina Johnston Ruthie Keats Tara Kent Walker Kenyon Stacy Knapp Forest Kruse Kathryn Kudrin Taylor Lackey Theo Luce Cody McElroy Michael Montgomery Hunter Morales Mason Morris Emma Oerly Joel Palecek Abigail Pascoe Brian Patton Chloe Plummer Kira Potter Collin Raymond Thalia Roberts Grant Self Natalie Shackleton Tiffany Sherry Allison Shields Micah Siems Emma Smith Alexa Specker Keili Stevens Delaney Wendleton Olivia White Olivia Williams Congratulations to the 310 members of the 2024 Grain Valley High School senior class who will graduate Monday, May 20th at Cable Dahmer Arena in Independence. Below is the list of graduates:
Aidan Maxwell Adams Cameron Christian- Henry Aguirre Walker Thomas Albertson Charles Brian Aldred Harper Grace Allie Dane Gerous Anderson Tatum FaLai'Liva Anderson Zachary Tyler Antes Luke Anthony Arndorfer Anthony Jaxon Arreguin Curtis Douglas Ault Aven Iosefa Aumua Sevreign Senia Aumua Brody Jaxon Baker Ayden Michael Baldridge Brianna Lynn-Marie Barker Kierstin DeEtta Faith Barker Jake Kenneth Barncord Savanna Rose Barndt Shane Garrett Barnett James Michael Beard Kayley Nicole Bell Roy Jeanpiere Bellido Limardo Ashley Slade Bennett Kassie Ann Berthelson Tauheed T Bhatti Delacey Ella Bierbaum Aliah Marie Bishop Justyce Faye Suzann Bixler Stylz Ki'ante Blackmon Mia Marie Blair Benjamin Donald Blanchette Emily Rebecca Bloom Maranatha Hannah Blum Adrian Chad Bobzien Bryce Andrew Boland Ava Christine Bollinger Seth Allen Bradfield Kylee Renee Bragaw Edgerrin Michael Brown Makenzie Leann Brown Brayden Michael Brunk Alexander Kenneth Bucko Julia Ngoc Ly Bui Coleman Michael Bulloc Collin Wayne Burd Keya Marie Butler Salvatore Jaden Caldarella Katie Sue Camp Vincent Allen Carbah Juan Jose Carrillo Struve Benjamin Tomas Casado Devlen James Case Lucas Samuel Castle Campbell Ray Childers Landon Salvatore Clark Nicholas Warren Clark Jordis Nicole Clay Nicholas Elliot Clements Celsi Faeon Paige Coffey Abigail Brooke Collins Kristopher Harrison Cook Paisley Ann Cornwall Mackenzie Tracey Craver Chloe Laurelyn Crawford Kale Eugene Crist Gabriella Caroline Crocker Christopher Alexander Crowder Ryan Michael Damm Megan Joy Davies Natalie Michelle Davis Brianna De La Paz Naranjo Pierce Alexander Deardorff Evan Antonio Dennard Jenna Marie DeWeese Justin Ryan DeWeese Kaelyn Paige Dickerson Olivia Faith Dickson Manning Christian Dobson Karsyn Grace Doctor Samantha Jayne Doerman Charles Joseph Garcia Doubledee Kennedi Jensen Douglas Carter Lawrence Downing Benjamin Albert Drinkwater Cheyenne Elizabeth Driscoll Jocelyn Monaye Dunn Sara Yixi Eaker Elias Christian Earley Ivy Isabella Anastasia Elliott Leland David Elliott Jaden Victor Emery Jayveon Dawnte' Ervin Hope Marie Essig Autumn Rose Ferrante Weston David Flake Christopher Philippe Fossinger Brayden James Fox Brooklynn Nicole Gaage Ethan Anthony Galvan Sergio Eudardo Galvez-Gutierrez Dayton Paul Garrison Kevin Edward Garrison Colette Aniela Gehrt Lilli Marie Gervy Landon Alan Gilbert Sophia Ann Giuliano Alexi Lauren Gonzales Michael Anthony Gonzales Anna Marie Gonzalez Kaya Elizabeth Gorrow Andrew James Gottman Raif Lee Graham Allison Maree Gray Anthony Michael Greco Ella Lane Guyear Anisa Surette Haddock Christian Alexander Hall Kaylee Elizabeth Hall Max Bradley Halteman Jacari Latrell Hamilton Rachel Ann Hanenkratt Kollin Reece Hansuld Jordyn Lee Harris Kamry Marie Harris Kefir Zedekyah Harris Kaci Marie Harter Emerson Reese Hartung Meadow Juliana Harvey Ella Margurite Hayes Pierce Matthew Heard Roman Seth Heard Cole David Helmich Jackson Robert Hermon Allen Anthony Hernandez Nolan Alexander Hessenius Makenzie Ryah Hibdon Jack Stewart Hileman Patience Lynn Hininger Ava Kathryn Hixon Logan Taylor Hodson Xander Leon Wyatt Hopkins Ty Warren Hoppe Wyatt Cole Houston Adrian James Hubbard Brayden Christopher Hull Charlee Jo Hunter Brayden Michael Hyde Shaymus Kale Ireland Jaxon David Ireland-Killday Ariana Mihaylovna Isayko Tristian Shamar Jackson Alaiya Lurae James Clara Joye Jaques Landon Sterling Bryce Jaynes Kylie Josephine Jeffries Haylie Elaine Jennings Luke Dale Jinkens Isaiah Maurice Johnson Ashlynne Marie Johnston Ethan Robert Jones Matthew Stephen Jones Bailie Charlize Julien Ian Dale Kamstra Chloe Lynn Kaps Jackson James Kartchner Jacee Marie Kaylor Emma Rose Keats Nathaniel Kenneth Keeton Michael Nathaniel Kenig Jr Jake Austin King Aden Robert Kinser Meghan Elizabeth Knust Allison Leigh Koepkey Hunter William Kohne Katie Joe Kondas Aaron Michael Koontz Addisyn Rose Krell Meadow Marie Kudart Finley Danielle Laforge Brody Troy Lafrentz Isabelle Rosalie Lamb Brandon Joseph Lee 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