Saline County is making progress on workforce initiatives and community outreach efforts as part of an overarching campaign to see a culture shift in local government. County Administrator Phillip Smith-Hanes provided a brief overview Tuesday of some ongoing efforts in areas the commission has identified as top priorities going forward. Those mentioned were part of a broader vision the County Commission created earlier this year. At a study session style meeting at the end of January, the commission spelled out what it would like to work on and provide to the community during their tenure. They honed in on key focus areas that encompass more specific goals.
Source: Salina Journal

Under these facts, the city of Kensington, as the employer of an independent contractor, is not liable for injuries caused by any negligence of an independent contractor. Expert witness testimony is necessary to show that an independent contractor hired to brush blast and paint a city’s water tower should have used different materials or a protective curtain to protect an adjacent landowner from injury. The standard of care for that work is outside the ordinary experience and common knowledge of a juror.
Source: Kansas Court of Appeals

Although it took time to get to Abilene, the city is not immune from the drug, said Police Chief Anna Hatter. “Larger jurisdictions, larger cities, have been dealing with it a lot longer than what we have,” Hatter said. “I don’t think that we actually started to run into it here in physical form, running into people who were under the influence of it and knowing that that was something that had infiltrated our community, until roughly a year ago.”
Source: abilene-rc.com

Despite some public pushback, permitting issues and a set of county regulations that its attorney says are too strict, a Florida-based company says it hopes to have its 3,000-acre solar project in Douglas and Johnson counties up and running by 2026. That was the message at an informational meeting Tuesday night hosted by Florida-based NextEra Energy Resources, the company behind the proposed West Gardner Solar project. The project, which would take up 1,000 acres of southeastern Douglas County and part of southwestern Johnson County, has been years in the making, but Tuesday was the first time that NextEra officials had hosted a public meeting and shared specifics about their expected timeline.
Source: LJWorld

Classified staff at Salina Public Schools are often paid above local market standards, but the district can do more to support staff like paraeducators and administrative support, a recent study reveals. This year, the district consulted an outside company, Educational Management Solutions (EMS), for a thorough review of Salina Schools’ classified salary schedule and compensation data for each of its classified positions. It found that while most staff are paid at and above market rates, some salaries have remained stagnant. … “(The study) was to give us some feedback and tell us (if) our placement on our salary schedule is comparable for other school districts and within our local market,” said Eryn Wright, executive director of human resources and legal services at USD 305.
Source: Salina Journal

The leader of the Kansas Highway Patrol defended a policy in court Wednesday that, if nixed by the court system, could have a significant impact on how the statewide law enforcement agency will handle traffic stops. Kansas Highway Patrol Superintendent Herman Jones said the agency has already implemented policy changes as a result of a series of legal challenges led by the ACLU of Kansas against a common tactic used by troopers that critics say violates the civil liberties of motorists.
Source: Salina Journal

A temporary provision that had allowed adults as young as 18 to substitute teach in Kansas classrooms will continue for at least two school years. The Kansas State Board of Education on Wednesday voted unanimously to extend its expanded emergency substitute teacher license through June 2025. Apart from standard background checks and fees, applicants for that type of license only need to have received a high school diploma.
Source: CJonline

Greg Lehr’s education career is coming full circle. Lehr, a 1996 Valley Center High School graduate who was an administrator in the school district for 12 years, was named the district’s next superintendent. “This is home. This is where we want to be,” he said. Lehr was one of two candidates the school board interviewed last week. The board’s appointment was announced after a special meeting May 5. “Greg’s track record here with the kids-first mentality and then throughout his interview, it was very centered on student achievement, getting kids involved, engaged in the school district, and that’s what we want in a leader,” board President Ben Wilson said. Lehr will officially start in July, although he has already been involved in the process of hiring a middle school principal and an assistant superintendent.
Source: Ark Valley News

Maize city administrator Richard LaMunyon is retiring at the end of the year. He was Wichita’s police chief for several years, and on Wednesday he was surprised with a blast from the past. Tom Masters, a retired federal law enforcement officer, began his career in Wichita as the first Asian police officer in the city. He credits his career to LaMunyon for hiring him back in the 1970s. He presented an award to LaMunyon for giving him his start.
Source: KWCH

A petition to disorganize the USD 112 Central Plains school district has been filed. The Wilson High School Future Committee asked the USD 112 Board of Education to delay the closure of Wilson High School for one year. With no action regarding the issue taken at Monday’s board meeting, the petition was filed with Ellsworth County Tuesday morning. Long-time educator Roberta Meier, who helped file the petition, was disappointed the issue was not discussed Monday. “That was very surreal because, with something this serious and historic, it shows their lack of understanding for what a disorganization is and how it will proceed,” she said. “The only discussion was about who would pay for the election and the date.”
Source: Hays Post