Free complimentary copy August 26, 2016 • Volume 3, No. 44
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Raytown schools aims to increase attendance with car giveaway
Photos by Kris Collins File photo As part of a new incentive program to increase student attendance at the high schools in the Raytown C-2 School District, Superintendent Allan Markley, front, introduces the “Attend to Win” incentive program — and more importantly, the Ford the administration is giving away two Ford Focuses in a drawing at the end of the school year. Students must maintain a Focus prize — to Raytown High School students on Tuesday. 95 percent attendance rate in order to have his or her name added to the drawing pool monthly.
By Kris Collins The Raytown C-2 School District wants students to be in class. To that end, the administration is giving away two cars to encourage students to “Attend to Win.” On Tuesday, Superintendent Allan Markley inched around the track at Ted Chitwood Stadium in a blue Ford Focus before coming to a halt before bleachers packed with Raytown High School students. He parked the car and walked to a
nearby microphone to inform the sophomores, juniors and seniors that they all have a shot at earning the keys to the car at the end of the year. In partnership with Dick Smith Ford, the district has two Ford Focuses (the other for Raytown South High School is red) to give to students who maintain a 95 percent attendance rate each month. Those students will have their names deposited in drawing pool. At the end of the year, two students will
have a new set a wheels. “I actually had 100 percent last year so I’ll try and repeat it this year and see how it goes,” said Kevin Johnson, a senior. If a student maintains the attendance requirement, she or he will have had nine — 10 if the school year goes into June — tickets deposited into the drawing pool. The board of education approved the partnership with Dick Smith Ford earlier this month. The district will get the cars at or be-
low cost to the dealership. At the meeting board director Rick Moore thanked Jeff Bethel, general manager of the Dick Smith Ford, for being involved in the community after the dealership changed ownership in January. “I just think it’s a great opportunity for me to put my money where my mouth is and invest in the community and in our students because I think we can all agree this is the future of our community,” Bethel said. “I appreciate
the opportunity and look forward to many years of a mutually beneficial relationship.” Kionna Dickerson, junior at RHS, said she was surprised by the giveaway and hopes her usual punctuality doesn’t waiver this year. She said she is going to pay it forward if she wins the car. “I’m a people person, and because I know where I’ve come from I would try to go and help the homeless or feed the hungry,” she said. “I love doing that stuff.”
Park board votes to temporarily close Super Splash, seek additional funding By Kris Collins The Raytown Parks and Recreation Board voted Aug. 15 to close Super Splash USA temporarily while the board explores funding options to renovate the park. This week the board moved to formally request the Board of Aldermen approve a sales tax increase question to appear on the April 2017 ballot. On Monday, the board voted to request a question be put on the ballot asking voters to increase the parks/stormwater sales tax from 1/8 to 3/8 of one cent. A second part of the same questions would ask voters if they would support the issuance of general obligation bonds to renovate Super Splash if the bonds were paid for with rev-
enue from the sales tax. Plans are in motion for members of the park board to meet with the city’s finance committee to discuss the exact ballot language that would be proposed to the aldermen for final approval. The parks board, which typically meets monthly, held a special meeting this week to formally make the request. When the board voted this past week to close Super Splash temporarily, it did so with the condition that the board also seek funding to renovate the park, per the recommendation from a consultant team that has been working with the board over the past year on a renovation plan for Super Splash and revising the parks master plan. The consul-
tants’ renovation plan, which includes a reduction in features of the water park and the construction of a new wet deck and play structure in place of Catalina Cove, costs $4.7 million. The board has discussed the future of the park for months, and how a renovation might be funded. The board ultimately moved to let the voters decide the fate of the park. A 3/8-cent sales tax is projected
to generate $840,000 annually. The parks department is guaranteed $200,000 of the revenue and the remaining funds are split 75:25 between parks and stormwater projects, with the majority of funds going to the parks department. Jeff Bransford, of PROS Consulting, said additional revenue would also help the parks department to operate a fully funded park system. The Board of Aldermen have expressed apprehension about investing more money into the aging water park and its increasing need for costly maintenance. Alderman Eric Teeman, liaison to the park board, said the aldermen may be more receptive to the tax increase if the revenue is not solely for Super Splash.
“It’s kind of a mixed bag, best I’ve been able to feel out,” he said. “I think there’s an understanding by members of the board that, yes, there is a need for more funding for the parks system. A lot of it is going to depend on … their perception of what they money is for.” Alderman Josh Greene, who attended the Aug. 22 meeting, noted he was in favor of the issue going to voters. The board of aldermen are holding a budget hearing Aug. 30. If the parks department budget is approved as presented, Super Splash will be shut down. Parks and Recreation Director Kevin Boji budgeted $25,000 in the upcoming fiscal year to close, secure and winterize the park.
Raytown bus involved in crash By Kris Collins Two people sought medical attention after a Raytown C-2 School District bus and an SUV crashed head-on Wednesday morning before school. Danielle Nixon, director of communications and community relations for the district, said one student was released to the care of his or her parent to seek medical attention at a hospital. The driver of the SUV also sought medical attention.
The rest of the students, Nixon said, were taken to Raytown High School on another bus. All the injuries were minor. “This was a pretty serious accident,” Nixon said. “It was a headon collision and when I first got the call the worst things go through your mind.” The crash occurred on Sni A Bar Road near Eastwood Place at approximately 7 a.m. Nixon said the SUV crashed head-first into the bus. The students were examined
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on scene after the crash and examined a second time by the school nurse after arriving on campus. Parents were notified of the crash. “The bus had to be completely turned off because the bus driver noticed the bus started to smoke,” Nixon said. “Immediately he made sure the kids were safe while other personnel arrived to secure the scene. The kids were completely calm and patient and allowed the adults to do the work they needed to do to keep them safe.”
The $96,000 bus, only two years old, is likely totaled, Nixon said, and will need to be replaced. Nixon commended the district staff and administrators, first responders and students for a job well done in an emergency situation. “It’s definitely something that could have ended a lot worse, and were just thankful everyone was able to get the care they needed,” she said.
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