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Friday, April 6, 2017 Vol. 100 Issue 8
District Hires New Admin
Words by | USD 250 school board members unanimously approved Richard Proffitt as the district’s new superintendent of schools at their meeting on March 26. Proffitt, who will replace superintendent Destry Brown, was selected from a nationwide pool of 38 applicants compiled by hiring firm Ray and Associates. “I knew that Pittsburg was going to attract a lot of quality candidates, so it was validating that my skill set had been recognized as compatible with the goals and vision of the Board of Education and the district,� Proffitt said. Proffitt has served as superintendent of Chanute Public Schools for the past three years. Before then, he was the superintendent at Southeast of Saline. He received his bachelor’s degree from Kansas State University, master’s degree from the University of Kansas and superintendent’s licensure from Pittsburg State University. “[Proffitt] has a tremendous servant leadership belief that will be pivotal in empowering our teachers, staff, and administrators to move our district forward,� said school board president Marlene Willis in a press release. During Proffitt’s tenure, Chanute Elementary School (CES) was awarded with the National Blue Ribbon School Award for closing the achievement gap for low-income students. “There was a lot of leadership that needed to take place for that to happen,� Proffitt said. “It’s quite an honor to be named that.� Proffitt said one of the greatest assets he will bring to Pittsburg is collaborative decision-making with a “students first� mindset. “It is a public school and a lot of people need to have a voice in how the decisions moves forward, with the idea that several voices are going to make it better,� Proffitt said. “So it’s our plan, not my plan.� At the USD 250 board’s “Meet the Candidates� event, Proffitt said his biggest challenge in education occurred when a Chanute resident forwarded a picture of “The Head of Christ� --- a portrait hanging from the wall of the district’s middle school --- to the Freedom From Religion Foundation. The foundation demanded the picture be taken down, thus pulling the district into a national media frenzy. Griffin Cooper, a sophomore on PHS’s student leadership committee, said Proffitt’s leadership during this matter shows that he will do well at PHS. “I really respected that [Proffitt] was able to not put it off onto his [other staff members] and he was able to address the people directly,� Cooper said. “He seems to make good decisions when under pressure.� Proffitt said he will visit Pittsburg and work with staff members prior to formulating any plans for the district. “I don’t have any goals or preconceived notions coming in,� Proffitt said. “What I really need to do is learn as much about the district as I possibly can and see where the strengths lie and how we can enhance those, but then also try to take inventory on where some improvements need to be made and [how to] improve those.� Proffitt will begin working for the district starting July 1.
Top: Seniors Ximena Ibarra, Journey Jaramillo photo by Hannah Abarca. Left: Senior Caleb Blansett photo by Connor Balthozar. Right: English teacher Mellissa Fight Johnson photo by Shannon O’Hara.
Walking out to speak up Words by |
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he clock struck 10:00 on March 14, students rose from their seats, walked down the halls and assembled in the courtyard. The high school was one of around 3,000 schools, according to USA Today, across the nation to participate in this walkout in response to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooting on Feb. 14. Junior Ximena Ibarra and senior Journey Jaramillo, leaders of the Equality Club, sponsored by Spanish teacher Angie PallarĂŠs and English teacher Melissa Fite Johnson, felt the need to bring this movement to the school. It started as an Equality Club event, but then drifted from just the club turning into a school-wide call to action. “After the shooting in Florida there was some talk about a walkout as a nationwide situation. Ximena was interested in getting something started,â€? PallarĂŠs said. “I helped very little, it was all Ximena and Journey. All I did was help them letting the staff know. They did the planning, footwork and talking to administration.â€? According to Ibarra and Jaramillo, the toughest obstacle they felt they faced planning the walkout, was the reaction administration would have. “After the Florida shooting I started seeing posts on Twitter about student activism,â€? Ibarra said. “We were hesitant to do it at first, but we ended up talking to administration. In the meeting with them we talked about our proposal and they welcomed it.â€?
With the administration’s approval the walkout was planned. Assistant principal Kelynn Heardt saw it as a different educational opportunity for students. “It is important to encourage learning outside the walls of PHS. We were able to work together developing a plan extending beyond students leaving class to join a walkout,� Heardt said. “I commend the students for encouraging participants of the walkout to make their actions and stance more meaningful. Even though students left class, they still took part in learning.� The nationwide event was set for a total of 17 minutes to commemorate the 17 lives lost. The school’s walkout lasted about 25 minutes due to students wanting their voice to be heard. “At the walkout, we wanted to speak about gun violence and gun control, but we didn’t realize what we were doing gave voices to more than just us,� Jaramillo said. “People were going up to speak who I wouldn’t have thought would of. Their messages were just as powerful as ours.� Multiple viewpoints were expressed at the walkout. According to Ibarra, she wanted to make it known even as high schoolers, they can instigate change. “We’ve seen the effect of threats against our school. Bags were checked and we had to sit in the cold, we know how little it takes to get a weapon,� Ibarra said. “It extends past Florida. Just because it hasn’t happened in Kansas or Pittsburg doesn’t mean it won’t happen. We need to take
action against it now.� As tears welled up, Jaramillo shared her personal connection to gun violence. “I feel more passionate about gun violence,� Jaramillo said. “It became a bigger issue to me because my brother was killed by gun violence. I realized we need to stand up, let people know this is a problem and we need to do something about it.� At the walkout Ibarra and Jaramillo advocated for gun-control, but other factors going into a school shooting were mentioned. The idea of being kind to one another was a message conveyed by senior Sean Scales. “After everyone was talking about gun control, no one realized bullying damages people. I don’t think anyone understands it besides the people who are bullied. They rarely get the chance to share their opinion,� Scales said. “This was my one chance to take all the years of depression and built-up rage, to tell everyone to leave each other alone.� Students were not the only ones to walk out and speak up. Teachers also had a passion for the cause. Fite Johnson was one of these adults. “It felt good to believe in something enough to take action. I felt an urge of pride in the students, but in myself too. I am proud I am not scared to share my opinions,� Fite Johnson said. “But, these students are half my age and they did this. I know they have support from community members and the school, which makes me feel really lucky.�
Assuring security
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n March 6 a threat was found in a textbook and brought to the administration’s attention by two students. Local law enforcement agencies were immediately contacted by administration. “Everything that comes to us as a threat gets investigated,� principal Phil Bressler said. “We had Crawford County Sheriff’s Department and Pittsburg Police Department involved. They know more about this investigation and what they’re looking for.� Instead of cancelling school for March 7, administration and law
because it wasn’t credible. The kid enforcement officials increased was administratively put on leave security. for a few days. It was taken care “You have to be very judicious of.� to call school off for this. We don’t Students and staff were still want [threats] to become a habit,� Bressler said. “We do everything we required to enter through the main doors on March 7 to have their bags can, and that’s why we involve law checked. enforcement as soon as we know.� “If we thought the precautions After the threat was investigated, we took Wednesday wouldn’t have it was not found credible, and no guaranteed students’ safety, we arrests were made at this time. wouldn’t have had school,� Bressler “[Law enforcement] went to the said. “I felt like there was enough house, investigated it, took the of a police presence, and [checking weapons out and secured them,� bags] eased their minds knowing school resource officer Jessica every kid coming into the building Franklin said. “There weren’t was going to be searched.� any charges filed against the kid continue story online at Boosterredux.com