Sports: Cubs win at new sports complex
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See B1
The Weekender Saturday, April 5, 2014
Same story
KANSAS SENATE
Plan eliminates Common Core
different place
By JOHN MILBURN Associated Press
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Senate approved a Republican education funding plan early Friday after expanding it to include a measure blocking public schools from using multistate reading and math standards. The vote was 23-17 and sent the measure to the House, only hours after its Appropriations Committee finished work late Thursday on a more generous alternative plan. The full House planned to debate its measure later Friday. Before the Senate’s debate began, Majority Leader Terry Bruce, of Nickerson, urged GOP senators to vote for the proposal even if they thought it was flawed, to keep the Legislature’s work on school funding issues progressing. Seven hours later, nine GOP senators broke with the party’s leaders and joined all eight Democrats in opposing the bill. Conservative Republicans have attacked the multistate Common Core reading and math standards since the State Board of Education adopted them in 2010. The measure GOP senators added to the funding plan, on a 27-12 vote, would prevent the spending of tax dollars on implementing the standards through June 2017. See CORE | Page A3
Garnett Elementary School, above, opened its doors to students in 2011 after an $11.5 million bond issue was passed in the district. Kindergarten students, right, complete an activity in class. The new facility houses kindergarten through sixth grade. Kindergarten has its own wing from the rest of the students.
REGISTER/KAYLA BANZET
USD 365 enjoys elementary facility By KAYLA BANZET The Iola Register
GARNETT — Looking to improve student education, last week USD 257 board members proposed a $35 million bond issue to construct a new elementary school and make renovations to the high school and middle school buildings. The facilities are starting to fall apart and personnel are running out of space. Neighboring school district USD 365 in Garnett had a similar story just a few years ago. The district had two facilities in town; a kindergarten
through first-grade building and a second- through sixthgrade building. Krista Hedrick, Garnett Elementary principal, was the principal for both. “There were many reasons we needed a new building,” Hedrick said. “The deterioration of the building was a top one.” Garnett Elementary School was built in 1921 and Irving Primary Center was built in 1937. The doors of the new building were opened in 2011 and the project cost the district $11.5 million. With that money the new building was constructed and schools in Greeley, Westphalia and
Mount Ida Elementary were renovated. Because both buildings were so old, faculty ran into many issues. “There were lots of doors at the other building so safety was a concern,” Hedrick said. “Technology was huge. We couldn’t run wires through the cinder block rooms very easily.” Utility bills were very high in the old facilities. The buildings ran on an old boiler system. In the new school, utility bills have gone down significantly. Motion-activated lights in every room control when the lights are on and energy efficient win-
dows prevent drafts. Garnett used Hollis and Miller Architects, Overland Park, the same firm hired to oversee the USD 257 project. Selling the idea of a new school took some time, Hedrick said. “Lots of patrons were tied to the school and wanted to retain it,” Hedrick said. Garnett Elementary School librarian, Cheri Peine, has been with the district for 32 years. Many community members attended school in the two elementary buildings. Peine said some people’s attitudes See GARNETT | Page A6
Humboldt instructor flies high MOMS playground
workday postponed
By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
HUMBOLDT — Humboldt High students have carted home a truckload of journalism awards over the past nine years for good reason, they’ve had Kim Isbell as their leader. Isbell is this year’s winner of the coveted Jackie Engel Award, given to top Kansas high school teachers who have demonstrated excellence in publications advising. Isbell gave credit to the enthusiasm and dedication of her students for her winning the award. To wit: Humboldt High journalism students have won five state championships and will compete for their fourth straight this spring. The other four years with Isbell as their adviser they finished second. They have reason to be confident. Cubs Tracks, their school
Work today and Sunday to put in place playground equipment for special-needs children has been postponed because of weather conditions. Wednesday night’s heavy rain left the playground site a sea of mud.
Mothers of Miracles (MOMs) and Iola Kiwanis Club raised over $190,000 for the project. A new construction date for the project, which will depend heavily on volunteers, will be announced later.
New Rotarians tell their stories Kim Isbell, publications adviser at Humboldt High School, was this year’s winner of the coveted Jackie Engel Award. REGISTER/
BOB JOHNSON
newspaper, won the regional title at Pittsburg State University and qualified 30 entries for the upcoming state competition at the University of Kansas on May 3. “That was out of 38 entries,” Isbell crowed.
Quote of the day Vol. 116, No. 112
Humboldt’s success story has a strong foundation. Isbell succeeded longtime adviser Allen Wilhite, who also was named a Jackie Engel Award winner in 2005. See ISBELL | Page A6
Iola Rotarians got to know three new members a little better Thursday. Connie Knight, Nathan Fawson and Matt Stuckey gave short biographical sketches. Knight has worked the past year for Security First Title after many years in several phases of banking
“I am always ready to learn although I do not always like being taught.” — Winston Churchill, politician 75 Cents
with local institutions. She and husband Paul, a Gates Corporation employee, live on a farm near Mildred. Fawson is associate director of Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center. He originally is from “the high plains of southern Utah,” and spent two years See ROTARY | Page A4
Hi: 62 Lo: 44 Iola, KS