News

ELLY GRIMM

   • Leader & Times

USD 480 will be continuing its recruiting efforts with a new program approved at the USD 480 school board’s most recent meeting Monday evening.

“This is actually a two-part approval – the first is the pay scale, we want to make it one unified pay scale for all pre-certified staff like the ones in our Grow Your Own program and similar staff members,” Director of Recruitment and Education Ashley Kappelmann said. “What is in place now, which the board approved previously, is an interim pay scale, an advanced student teaching rate, and an apprenticeship pay scale. This would take everything and put it on one pay scale so it’s unified and more predictable for those who are going through the Grow Your Own program. It also includes, on that scale, the benefits and other similar information, which really helps with clarity and predictability and consistency so everything is there in writing and everyone knows when they sign up exactly what their progression would look like. The second part of this is putting together a handbook for what we’re calling SEED, which was approved by the board in December 2022. This would be taking up to $300,000, or up to $5,000 per year, for pre-certified staff and give them financial assistance and support in becoming certified. The goal of that handbook is to provide a lot more accountability and a lot more structure to what we’re doing so again, we’re consistent and predictable and equitable so someone doesn’t go to the wrong person with a question and they get a wrong answer.”

Special to the Leader & Times

The public is invited to Southwest Symphony Society’s holiday concert, “Christmas Favorites” at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the Showcase Theater at Seward County Committee College. Admission is a free-will donation at the door and refreshments will be served.

“Our local musicians volunteer their time and talents, and they have been working several months now on putting together a holiday concert that showcases some of the most timeless Christmas classics,” Conductor Josiah Smiddy said.

Smiddy has been serving as the conductor for the Southwest Symphony orchestra since August 2017.

Special to the Leader & Times

People in the community can make Christmas special for a senior citizen in Liberal nursing home by picking up a Silver Tree tag from the tree at the KSCB-The Legend radio station at 1410 N. Western Ave. during business hours. Sponsored by the Liberal Area Coalition for Families, there are 81 tags to choose from on the tree.

"The tags let you know if it's for a female or male and what the resident has listed as their interests and needs," LACF President Kay Burtzloff said. "There were some unique requests this year, including one gentleman wanting a leaf blower."

ROBERT PIERCE

   • Leader & Times

Like many rural areas, Southwest Kansas has a need for medical professionals, and thanks to a partnership between some area hospitals, including Southwest Medical Center, and Southwestern College (SC) in Winfield, that need could be reduced in the future.

SC recently announced the development of a physician associate program, and as part of this, the college will train physician assistants.

As part of this training, students would do 10 clinical rotations across many major subspecialties, including family, women’s health, pediatrics and surgery.

“Our goal as a college is to have half of our physician assistant graduates serve in rural communities in the course of their career,” SC President Dr. Liz Frombgen said.