Kinsley High School - Kihischo Yearbook (Kinsley, KS)

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HIGHLIGHTING Counselor recommends seniors taking the ACT Why should a senior take the American College Teat (ACT)? This is a question that the counselor hears often when registration for the ACT is begun. The students have every right to know what use will be made of the test scores at schools, and also who will have access to their scores here. They need to know what they can expect to learn in turn for paying a registration fee of S9.50. One of the most important things a student gains from taking the ACT is learning how well prepared he is when compared to other seniors in the Midwest. These others are the students with whom he will be competing the next year. There are four tests in the ACT battery, and each provides the student information on that subject. In addition, a statistical average called composite score is also reported. These individual tests as well as the battery have been found excellent predictors of a student's ability to do college work in the specific areas as well as overall. ACT is constantly engaged in research and test items are revised annually. Tests are therefore appropriate for current secondary students. Their research has also studied the benefits of taking the test later in the school year. No gains can be expected as higher levels of success are expected as time into a school year passes. Schools want test results early but the student can also benefit from knowing his scores early. Strengths and weaknesses can be given time and attention when the student sees the need to maintain or improve performance. Unless factors such as personal illness or excessive anxiety pulled results down on the first testing, a retest may not be called for A brief interest inventory and a rather extensive self-description also alert students to decisions that they will need to make. For example, what factors have been used to select the choice of schools? Was it school location, reputation, costs, specific field of study available, size of school enrollment, private or public that led to the choice? Not all graduating seniors will attend a community college or a university next year, but even so, results from the ACT will be required later should they decide to enroll. Students will be better able to show up well on ACT taken now rather than after an absence from attending school. Results are maintained by ACT for five years and can be sent to almost any school or agency in the nation for a small additional fee. Results from the ACT will provide valuable information for the student and the parent as well as the schools in which the student has an interest. Results are given on an individual basis to each student and confidentiality of the results is maintained. The results do become a part of one’s permanent record. Any senior or a former graduate who has not taken the ACT is encouraged to spend $9.50 and approximately three hours to learn much about himself and to meet admission requirements of each and every two-year and four-year school in Kansas. -Nadine L. Stallard School district counselor BOE president remains involved Yearbook to incorporate increased coverage I make it my business to be concerned! So says Julie Ackerman, president of the local board of education. Mrs. Ackerman is a former graduate of KHS and also has had two children graduate from KHS. Perhaps Mrs. Ackerman's most pressing concern is making sure that a wide curriculum exists. I want to make sure that everybody in the school has everything they need to prepare them for life. she says. For a small school, we offer almost everything the bigger schools do. Mrs. Ackerman also realizes the issues connected with merit pay for teachers. Merit pay will be very, very hard to do because of the human factor. How do you determine which teacher deserve a raise and which ones don’t? she asks. “If we can find fair ways to determine merit pay, it's a very good idea. Mrs. Ackerman supports the weighing of classes. This means that harder classes such as chemistry, algebra, and history would be worth more weight to a student than music and home economics. A chemistry class might be worth five points whereas a music class would be worth two. By the board of education requiring a student to have a certain number of points to graduate from high school. Mrs. Ackerman believes that this will require a student to take harder classes instead of just coasting along on easy classes. Balance Mrs. Ackerman feels sports and other activities are very important but feels that there’s too much emphasis put on sports by parents and armchair quar terbacks. We must keep academics and activities in per spective. Mrs. Ackerman also feels that the media can play a very impor tant role in all activities of the school. We need to make sure that all school events are well publicized. This is not only for sports but also for academics. plays, musicals. In short, the media can either work with us or against us. Several changes are planned for the 1984-85 yearbook, now on sale at the high school office. First, says Dr. Galen Boehme, publications adviser, the coverage will be extended. The book will cover the school activities. not just of the high school students, but of students in grades K 12. Plans call for the final book to be approximately 160 pages long with the members of the high school publications’ class respon sible for several aspects of the book: the selling of the adver tising, the writing of the copy, the taking of the pictures, and the laying out of the copy and the pictures for the printer. Second, the book will contain Focus, the school district newsletter published approximately every three weeks. The students will help with the writing of this copy. To get Focus into the year book.” explains Boehme. we had to devise a special printing for mat. Every time we publish four pages of Focus, we will print 12 pages of the yearbook.” Third, the final bound yearbook should be ready for distribution in July 1985. “This distribution date, says Boehme. is approximately eight weeks earlier than we have had with the previous yearbook companies. Consequently, the year book should have more meaning to the students-especially to the graduating seniors before they leave for college or employment. Students in all grade levels made requests for yearbooks during the fall enrollment. Com munity individuals wanting to order may do so through the high school office (659-2126). A book requested before October 1 sells for $12.50: after October 1, the price increases to $15 per book. We need to confirm our order by October 1, says Boehme. We originally ordered 200 copies. We now have to extend that number as we already have more than 200 requests. Focus will be distributed at no charge as it was last school year: by mail to those school patrons requesting such: as such centers as the local grocery stores, the Offerle Cafe, and the local pharmacies. 8

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THE KINSLEY-OFFERLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS Homecoming 1984 Parade - 2:30 p.m. Coronation - 7 p.m. Game - 7:30 p.m. Dance - 10 p.m. Friday. September 28, 1984 VOLUME 2, NUMBER 2 SEPTEMBER 27,1984 KINSLEY, KANSAS 67547 District tries to fulfill EPA regulations concerning asbestos; challenging the assessment could show guidelines were followed Superintendent of schools Robert J. Shanks explains at a board meeting the implications of the Environmental Protection Agency fine against USD No. 347. Board member Larry Olsen listens as to how administrators hope to show that the proper records concerning asbestos do exist. Trying to comply with federal asbestos regulations has brought an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) penalty fine against USD No. 347 of $22,500. School administrators, legal counsel, and board members are presently contesting this charge through prescribed avenues, saying that proper records do exist and that asbestos in any building area has either been properly removed or abated. John Wire, board member, summarizes the feelings of the other board members by asking. How did the EPA arrive that we weren’t in compliance? We know that we as board members and the superintendent acted in good faith in carrying out EPA regulations, and now EPA responds with this fine. School attorney J. Byron Meeks says, Nothing is wrong with the asbestos legislation. Neither is the school assessed for not dealing with the asbetos matter. We’re cited for not keeping records as required by law . . . but we compile enough infor mation to satisfy the EPA on what has been done. Then we can hope that the fine will be reduced. Meeks has responded to the complaint by filing a request for an informal conference and a hearing before the EPA regional center in Kansas City, Missouri. At that time, Robert J. Shanks, superintendent of schools, and Meeks will challenge the penalty by presenting the data dealing with the treatment of asbestos in the local system. Regulations In May 1982. the EPA published in the Federal Register rules and regulations governing asbestos in the schools: the regulations were mailed to school districts in June 1982. Local compliance was to be effective March 1983. According to Shanks, the regulations required school districts to perform two tasks: First, to identify the presence and the location of any asbestos substance and to take the necessary steps to see that the material is either removed or abated so that the health of em ployees and students is not negatively affected; Second, to document inspections and corrections made and to inform the employees, the students, and the public of the work accomplished. One regulation states that a certain form must be posted in the school indefinitely, stating that no friable asbestos material is present within the building; if such substance is, then the location is stated. Process Local school officials first became aware of the implications of these regulations when Shanks and Meeks attended a conference on school law in June 1984. At that time, Wilson and Company, Salina, was doing electrical evaluation at Southside Elementary School, so Shanks asked the company to examine the boiler room for the presence of asbestos. The representative found that the steam line from the boiler was covered with layers of corrugated asbestos paper insulation; furthermore, a canvas jacket covering the steam boiler had split, exposing asbestos. Writing for Wilson and Com pany, Damon P. Swain tells of the company’s contact with the Kansas City, Missouri office of EPA as to the recommended way for abating the asbestos fibers at Southside. The local board then hired F H Insulation of Wichita to do the work, completing the job August 13,1984. Wilson and Company’s letter to Shanks outlining the problem areas and stating the recommended solution is dated July 16, 1984. However, five days earlier, July 11, EPA inspector Robert E. Combs came into the school district, asking to see the local records containing the asbestos matter and to inspect the local buildings. “He gave us one day’s notice, says Shanks. And when he came, we did not have in our hands the Wilson and Company letter stating the recommended solution for the asbestos situation we had. On behalf of the school district, Shanks received the assessed fine from EPA Thursday. September 13. with these charges: •$6,000 for not having had in spected the friable material on the pipes in the high school cafeteria storage area and in the boiler room and for not making proper documentation; $6,000 for not having inspected the friable material on the boiler at Southside School and for not making proper documentation; •$6,000 for not having proper documentation concerning asbestos material within the school district on file at the Cen tral Office; •$4,500 for not having proper documentation at Offerle Middle School even though inspection revealed no friable material present. Sequence The irony of the situation. explains Shanks, is this: Before school began this fall, we had (Continued to page 9) 7

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Its People Bear as mascot helps convey the message— ‘Southside Cares'; booklet staff created helps open avenues of understanding t«o •• k u 8 i 9 ‘Southside cares has become the motto for this year's staff and students at Southside School. A cuddly bear with open arms has become the symbol displayed not only in the individual classrooms but also in the trophy case; parents, students, and staff members have ordered 135 T shirts having the picture of the bear with the wording “Southside Cares printed at the bottom. According to Sharon Colberg, first grade teacher, the idea originated last spring when she and Dora Herrmann, a former second grade teacher at Southside. visited Northwest Elementary School in Dodge City. When we walked into the building.” says Mrs. Colberg. we were given a booklet that gave important information about the school to the students and the parents: important dates; names of the staff mem bers; building. playground, lunchroom, bus rules: student illness and injury; administration of medication; etc. After sharing this idea with other Southside teachers. continues Mrs. Colberg. we thought this would be a good way to build spirit among our students so that they would have pride about their school and be happy to be here. The committee of Wanda Adam Froetschner. Ryan Boyd, and Sharalee Mathew h involve the care bear as they read in the reading corner of Mrs. Sharon Colberg'n first grade classroom. Wilson-kindergarten. Judy Shepard-secretary. Mary Ann Schinstock-first grade. Darlene Wears-music. along with Mrs. Colberg composed a 10-page booklet printed with graphics on white-and-rose colord paper. The content of the booklet deals with student conduct, with the headings from the Dodge City booklet and others used as the organizing points. Inderstanding Since the distribution of the booklets to the parents and the students at enrollment time. Schinstock has noticed that the students understand and follow the policy of the school much more closely than before. This booklet is probably the first time that a lot of policy at this school. says Mrs. Schin stock, “has been put into writing. The parents and the students now have something to relate to. Mrs. Shepard describes how fewer students are requesting to use the telephone during the school day as “students know that the usage of the phone is limited to necessary calls. Mrs. Colberg describes that she now receives more notes from parents when parents change the usual destination of the child. A first grader can tell us that he's supposed to go somewhere else after school than home. says Mrs. Colberg. but we aren’t sure unless we have a note from home. Less confusion has resulted because the parents know that we need those notes a matter discussed in the booklet. The section dealing with medication, according to Mrs. Shepard, has informed parents why the school cannot dispense aspirin or any other medication. The diagnosis or the treat ment is not one of the respon sibilities of the school according to the opinion of the State Department of Health and Environment and the State Depart ment of Education. says Mrs. Shepard. The teaching staff is not trained to make what are essentially medical decisions. Courtesy Mrs. Colberg says that the essence of the book is to show us how to use good common courtesy. We really have three rules: Walk on the right hand side in the hallways; talk softly in the halls so as not to disturb others; follow directions as you keep your hands, feet, and other objects to yourself. All staff members are involved in the teaching of these prin ciples of courtesy, even the bus drivers. Bus driver Dewey Blank, who drives th - shuttle bus between Southside and the high school, organize? the bus so that the females have the bus before the males. And when students walk in front of each other. 1 stress the importj'.nce of saying ‘excuse me’ or ’pardon me.’ The mascot of the bear and his motto summarize the current Southside School program: We care because as Mrs. Colberg summarizes, we care about each other. Matters of interest. .. EFA case (Continued from page 71 made the proper documentation; we had corrected the areas where asbestos was found in all buildings according to engineering recommendations. The sequence of events is showing us perhaps the weakness of the original law-no provision for warning and inspection periods. When in Kinsley. EPA inspector Combs informed Shanks that the Kinsley-Offerle Schools were randomly selected for determining compliance to EPA regulations. Shanks has no regrets about the steps the local school district followed during the summer in dealing with the asbestos mat ter. “We were making an honest effort to correct the situation-according to the information that we had. Now,” continues Shanks, we intend to present our case by showing the EPA that our recor ds are not only now complete but were as much as they could be when inspector Combs visited us in July 1984. So because of this. say Shanks, we are an example to other schools. Within the past ten school days, I have had telephone calls from 11 other school superintendents, won dering how to handle the EPA regulations. The hearing has been scheduled for October 17 in Kansas City. Missouri. ACT center Kinsley has been designated as a testing site for the October 27 giving of the American College Testing program with Nadine L. Stallard. high school counselor, acting as the coor dinator. “Several benefits exist for the student to take the test here, says Miss Stallard. One is that the students do not have to drive to another location. An even more important one is taking the test this early in the school year. The ACT consists of four academic tests measuring educational development in English, math, social studies, and natural sciences. An accom panying detailed questionnaire collects information relevant to career planning. Registration packets are available from Miss Stallard with registration deadline for the Oc tober 27 test tomorrow. The basic fee is $9.50. The test lasts three hours. 9