Latest news with #ParkviewHighSchool
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘A gut punch for sure'; Impacts from failed HB 19 felt on local level
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — 'We were expecting that $1.5 million to be approved a couple of weeks ago, and then we learned that it wasn't and it was a gut punch for sure,' Brandy Harris, the CEO of The Boys and Girls Club of Springfield, said. For Harris, to say she's frustrated with state lawmakers would be an understatement. That's because just a portion of their next project, the Risdal Family Teen Center, around 1.5 million of the $12 million needed to fund it, was part of House Bill 19. House Bill 19 was also going to give millions for other projects in the state, but didn't even make it to Governor Kehoe's desk after Republican lawmakers refused to vote on it. 'A lot of our kids already feel like they're not worth this building or they don't deserve the things that we're providing them. They've actually said that to me and focus groups, and now the state has essentially sent a message that like, actually you're not,' Harris said. 'Intentional or not, that's the message that's being received, and that's incredibly frustrating because they are.' Harris calls the teen center, located at 804 West Catalpa, a one-stop shop for teens. 'One of the really good things that Missouri has done over the last several years is put a heavy emphasis on early childhood education, and what that's unintentionally done is neglected middle school and high school students. A lot of people think like if you're in middle school or high school, you can just like walk home, go home, hang out with friends, and more, but that's what we're realizing, especially post-COVID, is that kids are engaging in really risky behaviors and they deserve a space to go that safe where they can learn, grow, and that's what this building does,' Harris said. 'It's 32,000 square feet. It is walkable from Parkview High School and Jarrett Middle School. The location is really important to us. It's in a neighborhood that really could use our services, and we have the neighborhood support, which has been incredible. So this building is incredibly important not only to that neighborhood and to local middle school and high schools, but also to the mission of Boys and Girls Clubs of Springfield. It's going to be like this one stop shop for teens. So like if you need to get a haircut, there's a barber shop inside. If you need mental health services, we have a partner that's going to be providing them a health clinic, an e-sports lounge, a gym, a games room, a cafeteria and a teaching kitchen where we're teaching life skills.' She's hopeful that a special session starting this week could shed more light on the issue and bring it back to lawmakers. 'I think what this decision has done has made a lot of us question Jefferson City in general, what their priorities and commitments are,' Harris said. 'Our legislators have a really unique opportunity today there's a special session, and this HB 19 is going to be talked about, and I like to have generous assumptions because that's the kind of leader I want to be. So I just want to assume that maybe some of the people who did not talk about HB 19 were either misinformed or just didn't understand the impact it would have on their own districts and their own communities.' Courtney Simpkins works with teens directly, and hopes people are help to help with donations for the funding. 'I think it's really vital because it helps teens get off the streets. So it is a safe place that they can come every single day for them after school in the summertime at night, time to come and do a lot of different activities, have that supervision, have those role models in their lives to help guide them. We have lots of opportunities and programs for them to be able to further their education,' Simpkins said. 'The teens … they've shown a lot of excitement. In the past, we've heard, well, I don't want to come to the club because it's with little kids, but now that they have their own space, they're super excited to be able to have their own areas that they can hang out.' Including Neveah H., who says she can't wait for the center to open. 'It's really big, and I've seen that there's going to be cooking and stuff, so I'm excited about that too,' Neveah said. 'I think it's going to be really cool because there is going to be people my age.' 'One thing that I'm very confident about is that we will reach our $12 million goal. There's no other option, and I'm confident in this community. I'm not as confident in Jefferson City right now, but the building will be done on August 19,' Harris stressed. Harris says she's had bipartisan support for the funding from Springfield state house and senate reps, including Rep. Melanie Stinnett, Rep. Betsy Fogle, and State Senator Lincoln Hough. Ozarks First reached out to lawmakers on both sides of the issue, but only Rep. Fogle responded to the request for comment. 'House Bill 19 was the capital investment bill that had been worked on in both the House and the Senate, totaling about $513 million worth of capital investments across the state. On the day that we served and passed the budget out of the House, House Bill 19 was omitted from debate. It was not up to a vote from the Republican leadership in the House. The budget chair did not communicate that with me, did not communicate that with Senator Hough as appropriations chair in the Senate. I was quite blindsided that all of our hard work that we had done and, you know, in a bipartisan way, there were a lot of projects. There were a lot of projects in House Bill 19 that Democrats had put in. There were a lot of projects that Republicans had put in and for it not to be brought up for a vote is something that I have never seen in my time in the General Assembly,' Fogle said. 'I think it is the only other ever happened, and one other time in our state's history.' She says the Boys and Girls Club of Springfield wasn't the only group in the Ozarks with funding in that bill. 'What that means for us here in Springfield, of course, there were projects in House Bill 19 that would impact our institutions of higher education, impact our nonprofits, and notably $1.5 billion going to our Boys and Girls Club, $2.4 million intended to go to Mission University on the north side on Kearney Street, money for Discovery Center, a lot of projects not only here locally, but across the state that had been well vetted and compromised on, and it was very frustrating for me and for a lot of people that the budget chair in House leadership decided to completely gut and kill those investments,' Fogle said. Fogle says the path is narrow, but the hope is that lawmakers can introduce House Bill 19 during the special session this week. 'I think that that path is narrow, but I can tell you myself in my position, I'll do everything I can to make sure that the promises we made, we hold true. I think if you had the opportunity to speak with Appropriations Chair Hough in the Senate, I think he would echo those sentiments. I know no one is more frustrated that House Bill 19 died other than myself,' Fogle said. Harris says she's not too confident in the entire Missouri legislature. 'If for some reason the answer is no, I will be incredibly frustrated. I will question a lot of things. I will be very sad, but then the next day I'll get up and figure out how we need to raise $1.5 million because the building is still happening. It needs to and we're just going to have to press on,' said Harris. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wisconsin football offers top-ranked class of 2027 safety
Wisconsin football extended an offer to top-ranked class of 2027 safety Kevin Caldwell Jr. on Thursday. Caldwell Jr. immediately becomes the highest-ranked safety on Wisconsin's class of 2027 offer sheet, leapfrogging four-star prospect JayQuan Snell. 247Sports ranks Caldwell Jr. as the No. 75 overall recruit in the class, the No. 7 safety and the No. 10 prospect from his home state of Georgia. Advertisement Despite being a rising junior at Parkview High School in Lilburn, Georgia, Caldwell Jr. has already received nearly 30 offers from programs across the nation. The Badgers join Tennessee, Nebraska, Miami (Florida), LSU, Louisville, Georgia, Auburn and Arkansas at this stage of his recruiting process. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound athlete starred for Parkview in limited touches as a sophomore. He totaled 199 yards and three touchdowns off 21 touches on offense this past season, averaging nearly 20 yards per touch. Defensively, he also notched 49 total tackles, four for loss and one fumble recovery. On top of Caldwell Jr.'s two-way capabilities, he returned 10 kickoffs for 204 yards and six punts for 72 yards last season, including a 52-yard return. That three-way versatility makes him one of the more attractive prospects in the class, which is reflected by the bevy of collegiate suitors on his offer sheet. Advertisement While Caldwell's college landing spot is unclear at this stage, On3's recruiting prediction machine considers LSU the heavy favorite with a 50.0% likelihood to land a commitment as of May 16. Meanwhile, 247Sports has yet to release a crystal ball and zero Rivals' insiders have shared a FutureCast. Given Caldwell's trajectory, he could blossom into a five-star recruit by the time he's a senior. That type of talent will certainly attract even more programs, so Wisconsin's involvement at this juncture is encouraging. Fresh off his sophomore season, the Georgia native is already one of the top defensive talents on UW's list of 2027 offers. His status will be worth monitoring. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinions This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin Badgers Football Offer Kevin Caldwell Jr. Safety
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Voters trickle in to cast ballots for Springfield mayor, city council, school board
With elections to decide Springfield's new mayor, council members and school board members, turnout was decidedly anemic Tuesday morning. On Monday, Greene County Clerk Shane Schoeller projected a turnout of 13% to 15% of registered voters. As of 8:45 a.m., the polling place at Parkview High School had only seen 13 voters, according to an election judge. Among them was Angie Snyder. She expressed concern about local nonpartisan races becoming polarized, with money from PACs increasing and Democratic and Republican parties endorsing school board candidates. "One thing I love about Springfield is that the City Council is nonpartisan and I wish that more local races were nonpartisan. ... I think that has benefited Springfield a lot over the years, that the candidates have run on what they believed and the people came out and voted for them," Snyder said. "As much as people will disparage Springfield and this area, and I work closely with Springfield employees, our council over the years has actually been pretty good and pretty forward-thinking, because we're electing the people who actually want to go out and do something. Even the ones I might disagree with ideologically, I feel like they still tried and they really wanted to make their community better. I hate to see that partisanship seep into it." At the Delaware Elementary School polling place, voters had different opinions on the idea that partisanship was bleeding into municipal races. One voter, Dan Cunningham, was unconcerned by it. Others simply viewed it as local politics reflecting what's going on nationally. "I think a break from (nonpartisanship) is concerning, just the polarization of our community. It happens on the federal scale, so it's going to happen on the local scale. That's just happening," said voter Matt Case. "Was it concerning? Yeah. But I get it. It's not upsetting, and I kind of notice it." For Cunningham, preservation was an important factor in who he voted for. "I hope they'll grow and further expand Springfield. I'm used to seeing Springfield doing a good job of building and preservation of good things, historical (things), which get torn down a lot," Cunningham said. "I'm a past president of Wilson Creek's Civil War Roundtable. They tore a lot of things down historically, so I hope there's somebody I'm voting for who will be a preservationist." Case explained that mayoral candidate Mary Colette's preservation work and community-building on Commercial Street helped him decide to vote for her. Additionally, he thought Springfield could use someone who isn't part of the status quo. "Schrag, with his entrepreneurial background, I just thought he was more 'normal' for Springfield and I wanted something a little bit different," Case said. "It's only a few years. If we don't like somebody, we can move on." After this election, the new mayor will be the first to serve a four-year term instead of two years following a City Charter change last year. More: Here are the races, issues on April 8 election ballots in Springfield, other area cities Anyone who registered by March 12 is eligible to vote in Tuesday's election. Voters should make sure to bring a government-issued photo ID, like a Missouri driver's license, non-driver's license, passport or military or veteran ID card. People without their IDs can still cast a provisional ballot by stating their name and address, and the ballot will be counter if either an ID is brought back before polls close at 7 p.m. or the signature matches the one on voter registration. While voters can reference their voter registration card to find their polling place, they can also go online to where they can enter their information and find their polling location, as well as the candidates and issues that they will be voting on. There are five central polling places in Springfield where any voter registered in Greene County can cast their ballot: Missouri State University's Davis-Harrington Welcome Center at 705 S. National Ave.; Mercy Hospital at 1235 E. Cherokee St.; City Utilities Transit Center at 211 N. Main Ave.; CoxHealth Medical Center South at 3801 S. National Ave.; Greene County Historic Courthouse at 940 N. Boonville Ave. Room 113. Polls will be open until 7 p.m. tonight. Anyone in line at 7 p.m. has a right to cast their ballot. This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Springfield election underway for mayor, council, school board races
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Community members write in support of Hough, Smart for Springfield school board
As a Springfieldian of 30 years, I know the importance of strong, principled, local leadership — especially in education. Schools are more than buildings; they are the foundation of our future. My daughter is a Parkview High School graduate. Public education prepared her for success. I am, therefore, proud to support Gail Smart for Springfield school board. Gail has dedicated herself to service, education, and uniting people to improve our community. Her work with organizations, including the Springfield Public Schools Foundation and Every Child Promise, has demonstrated her deep commitment to ensuring that students are given every opportunity to succeed and that teachers have the resources they need. Our schools must be safe places of learning, free from political division and distractions. Gail understands that parents should have a voice in their children's education; teachers should feel empowered to do their jobs; and all students should have the chance to reach their God-given potential. Good stewardship and accountability matter, and Gail will ensure that taxpayer dollars are used directly to benefit students and classrooms. She will bring transparency, fairness, and steady leadership to the board — qualities that meet the needs of today. On April 8, I encourage you to vote for Gail Smart for school board. Springfield needs leaders who will put students first. I am confident that Gail will do so. She will serve with wisdom, fairness, and a heart for this community. Rev. Kenneth L. Chumbley United Springfield's mission is to endorse our local Springfield Public Schools board candidates who will serve with skill and commitment to support our students, their families, and our educators with excellence and care. Our children really are our future, and they deserve the strongest support to achieve their highest potential. As the largest and most complex school district in Missouri, we need a school board with a clear focus on our students, teachers, the administration and staff along with the needed resources and facilities that ensure a strong and healthy school system. Sarah Hough and Gail Smart are two candidates with a passion for our students, families, educators, staff and all that is needed to have a thriving SPS. They have personal experience as SPS parents, PTA leaders, volunteers, advocates, and fundraisers. Equally important, Sarah and Gail have a demonstrated history of supporting the continued development of SPS. They have a clear focus on serving all students, families, and educators to nurture student success and a thriving community. In addition, they bring a wealth of professional, legal, and community experience with large, complex organizations. They each demonstrate a clear understanding of the critical role of a board member and the ability to collaborate and track progress. And an added benefit is their experience advocating for our schools at the state level. United Springfield encourages eligible voters to join us in voting for Sarah Hough and Gail Smart for our SPS board. United Springfield steering committee includes co-chairs Jim Anderson and Terri McQueary along with Alexis Childs, Orin Cummings, Steve Edwards, Emily Givens, Jay Guffey, Jeff Johnson, Mark Powell, David Ross, Debbie Shantz-Hart, Carol Taylor, and Claire Whitlock. For years, I've had the privilege of being the voice of the Missouri State Bears, calling the plays and sharing the excitement of college athletics with our community. I've always believed in the power of teamwork, preparation, and leadership — qualities that make a winning team both on the field and in life. That's why I'm supporting Gail Smart for Springfield School Board. While I've been the voice of the Bears, I know Gail will be the voice for our students, teachers, and parents. Gail understands that education is about opportunity, preparation, and putting people in a position to succeed — just like in sports. She will work to ensure that our students have every resource they need to thrive, our teachers are supported, and our tax dollars are spent wisely. Gail is committed to keeping politics out of the classroom and focusing on the real issues: student success, school safety, and fiscal responsibility. Springfield Public Schools need strong, thoughtful leadership, and I have no doubt that Gail Smart will be a tireless advocate for our kids and community. Just like a coach leads their team with purpose and vision, Gail will lead with integrity and a deep commitment to our schools. I encourage you to join me in voting for Gail Smart for School Board on April 8 — because strong schools make for a stronger Springfield. Art Hains, Springfield As former Springfield school board members, we have seen firsthand the responsibilities and challenges that come with governing our district. Board decisions directly impact students, teachers, parents, and the entire community. That's why this election is so important — and why we strongly support Sarah Hough and Gail Smart for Springfield Public Schools. We are steadfast in support of Hough and Smart and here is why: We are confident these individuals have the best interest of students and teachers in our school district as their number one priority. These two candidates believe every child deserves to feel safe in their school, and every parent deserves to have a voice in their child's education. These two candidates are endorsed by SPS teachers and will listen to teachers' input, as teachers have expertise in managing a classroom so that it is a safe environment for learning. We believe Hough and Smart understand the role of an SPS board member is to stay focused on governing the district and working collectively to improve student learning. These two candidates did not seek the political endorsement of either political party, rather they chose to follow the state law which states school boards are to be nonpartisan. We support Hough and Smart because they are each committed to ethical leadership and honest and respectful discourse with other board members, staff and citizens about the issues that come before the board. As former SPS board members, we all believe a strong public education system is the backbone of a society — of OUR society in Springfield, Missouri. We are proud to have served on the SPS board with others who focused on supporting the district so students are safe, can learn and thrive. Please join us in voting for Sarah Hough and Gail Smart on Tuesday, April 8. Annie Busch, Kris Callen, Dr. Denise Fredrick, Gerry Lee, Dr. Alina Lehnert, Jill Patterson, Bruce Renner, Tim Rosenbury, Dr. Charles Taylor and Jean Twitty are former members of the Springfield Board of Education. As a retired Springfield Public School teacher and principal, I lived the challenges facing Springfield Public Schools. Every day, teachers walk into classrooms dedicated to preparing students for the future, working to inspire, encourage, and equip them with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed. That's why I am proud to support Sarah Hough for Springfield school board. It was not surprising Sarah was endorsed by our SPS teachers. Sarah understands the importance of supporting teachers, prioritizing student learning, and ensuring that classrooms remain focused on educating our students. She has spent years working alongside educators, parents, and community leaders to strengthen our community and ensure every student has the opportunity to succeed. We need school board members who will listen to perspectives of teachers, students and parents, advocate for thoughtful policies that enhance learning, and ensure that resources are directed where they are needed most — in the classroom. Sarah is a collaborator and holds a solution-oriented mindset. She is committed to making sure that teachers have the tools, funding, and respect they deserve to do their jobs effectively and has the experience and leadership skills to ensure that tax dollars are used efficiently to benefit students, educators, and families. As a retired educator, I care deeply about the future of Springfield Public Schools. That's why I'm encouraging you to vote for Sarah Hough on April 8. Janell Bagwell, Marshfield This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Community members endorse Hough, Smart in SPS board election | Opinion
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Flags flying at half-staff in memory of Gwinnett soldier killed in DC midair collision
Flags are flying at half-staff at the Georgia State Capitol on Monday in memory of an Army soldier who died in the Washington, D.C. mid-air collision. Gov. Brian Kemp issued the executive order for Staff Sgt. Ryan O'Hara who 'paid the ultimate sacrifice during a routine training mission,' according to the order. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] O'Hara served as the crew chief on board the Black Hawk helicopter that collided with an American Airlines jet and landed in the Potomac River last month. All passengers on board the helicopter and plane died. O'Hara grew up in Gwinnett County and graduated from Parkview High School in 2014. He was a member of Parkview High School's rifle competition team and color guard. 'He was a kid you could count on,' said Daniel Erwin, O'Hara's former Marine Corps JROTC Instructor. O'Hara is survived by his wife and 1-year-old son. Kemp's flag order will last through the end of the day Monday. RELATED STORIES: American Airlines pilot from GA killed in D.C. plane crash laid to rest Helicopter crew in collision with plane may not have heard key instruction from tower, NTSB says Remains of all 67 victims of the midair collision near DC recovered as NTSB probes altitude data [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
