LET THE GAMES BEGIN: OLYMPICS KICK OFF . 1B
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Saturday • August 6 • 2016
Classes start in less than 2 weeks. Here’s what you need to know.
BACK TO SCHOOL
GUIDE
PUBLISHED SINCE 1891
Panel brings election results into KanCare rebuke ———
Administration accused of ignoring voters’ concerns BY JOANNA HLAVACEK ••• jhlavacek@ljworld.com
By John Hanna Associated Press
T
here’s quite a bit more to the annual back-to-school routine than supply lists and spiffy new backpacks. For those in need of a little guidance, here’s a basic rundown of what you need to know and do before school starts up. In case you need a reminder, that would be Aug. 17 for grades one through seven — ninth-graders also have a half-day orientation that day, and seventh and eighth-graders will enjoy a two-hour delayed schedule — and high schools (as well as all others) kick off the regular schedule Aug. 18. Now, on to the fun stuff:
Nick Krug/ Journal-World File Photo
ENROLLMENT
IMMUNIZATIONS
New to Lawrence schools? Begin your child’s enrollment at www.registration.usd497. org and finish the process at the district Enrollment Center, 110 McDonald Drive, between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Walk-ins are welcome, and appointments are also available. Call 330-1921 for more information.
The Kansas State Department of Health and Environment has issued new regulations for required immunizations. Under state law, all children must be appropriately vaccinated upon entry to school. Here’s what’s new for the 2016-2017 school year: l A booster dose of Tdap is required for students in grades seven through 12 for those with no previous history of Tdap vaccination. l Two doses of varicella are required for kindergartners through 12th-graders. l Three doses of hepatitis B are required for kindergartners through 12th-graders. l Requirements for DTap (five doses), polio (four doses required; three doses acceptable) and MMR (measles, mumps and rubella, collectively — two doses) remain unchanged. You can also find a copy of your child’s current immunizations through Skyward Family Access at www.usd497.org or by contacting your school nurse. A complete immunization schedule can be found at www.kdheks. gov/immunize.
BUS ROUTES The state of Kansas provides transportation to students living more than 2.5 miles from school. Those eligible can enroll in the student transportation program through First Student, 1548 E. 23rd St., between 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Enrollment forms are available at First Student and online at www.usd497.org, and may be faxed to 841-4388. Questions can be directed to First Student at 841-3594. Because of construction at Pinckney Elementary School, Pinckney students will be bused (for free) to East Heights School during the 2016-2017 school year.
FEES & MEALS Student fees cover necessities such as books, technology and instructional materials, though additional fees may apply for certain courses. Waivers are available for students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals. Student fees and meal payments can be submitted online at www.usd497.org or the old-fashioned way. Checks, cash, cashier’s checks and money orders are all accepted at school offices and the district office, 110 McDonald Drive. If you have any questions about student fees, including your eligibility to have fees waived, contact the administrative assistant at your child’s school or the district business office at 832-5000.
NEW HOURS Sunset Hill Elementary School has changed its start time to 8:15 a.m. this year. There, school lets out at 3:20 p.m., except for on Wednesdays, when all elementary and middle schools dismiss students 90 minutes early.
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T opeka ( ap ) — Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback’s administration got a taste of what working with a less conservative Legislature could look like Friday in the form of an oversight committee’s angry, bipartisan scolding over issues within the state’s Medicaid program. The public dressing-down of Department of Health and Environment officials came three days after voters in the state’s primary election ousted a large number of Brownback’s conservative Republican allies in the Legislature. Senate Majority Leader Terry Bruce and 10 other GOP lawmakers lost their seats; three others narrowly trail in unofficial results. House-Senate oversight committee members were upset about budget-balancing cuts in payments to pharmacies, doctors and hospitals providing services to Medicaid participants. Lawmakers were frustrated with a backlog in Medicaid applications and angry that the state is still pursuing some changes opposed by many advocates and legislators.
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Forecast, 10A
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PUZZLES..........................7A SPORTS.....................1D-4D