Category: Education

Head Start programs in Wyandotte County receive funding

U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids announced the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded a total of $4,113,744 to two Head Start programs in Kansas’ 3rd District.

These Head Start programs work daily to emphasize children’s cognitive, social, emotional and physical development. Children who participate in Head Start programs receive benefits that appear immediately and last a lifetime, according to a spokesman.

HHS Head Start grant recipients include:
• Kansas City, Kansas, Public School’s (KCKPS) Successful Beginnings Head Start: $2,447,671
• The Family Conservancy (TFC) Head Start: $1,666,073

“It’s a proven fact – children in Head Start programs are healthier, have better social skills, and are more likely to graduate high school and achieve further education,” Rep. Davids said. “These two programs provide life-saving, family-centered services in our community that promote child development, enable parents to provide financially, and deliver significant returns on investment to our society long-term. I am grateful we have such strong early education programs in our community and will continue to support them.”

“We are grateful for the invaluable benefits that will come from this grant which will provide our children access to early education services,” Dr. Anna Stubblefield, KCKPS superintendent, said. “Regardless of a family’s socio-economic status, every child deserves the right to a quality education, and our school district is thankful for this financial support for our Head Start program.”

“The first five years of a child’s life represent a critical and unrivaled period of growth and development,” said Paula Neth, The Family Conservancy president and CEO. “During this time, they develop cognitive, physical and social-emotional skills that form the foundation for future learning. With this funding, we can continue our work to ensure those foundations are strong and stable for hundreds of Wyandotte County children.”

In order to curb child poverty and support early childhood development, Rep. Davids also voted for the American Rescue Plan which expanded and improved the Child Tax Credit (CTC) to deliver a new tax cut to middle- and working-class families with children, a spokesman stated.

Not only does the CTC directly benefit 77% of the children in the 3rd District, research finds that increasing family incomes has concrete positive outcomes for children, including higher test scores, higher graduation rates, improved health outcomes, lower rates of incarceration and higher future earnings, according to a spokesman. Last year, Rep. Davids announced a Head Start grant of over $3 million to the University of Kansas’ Project Eagle.

  • Story from Rep. Davids’ office

KCKCC names new residence hall to honor centennial celebration

Centennial Hall will open in summer 2022

by Kelly Rogge, KCKCC public information manager

After months of taking name suggestions for Kansas City Kansas Community College’s new student housing facility, a choice has been made – one that has a connection to the college’s centennial anniversary.

At its January meeting, the KCKCC Board of Trustees voted to approve Centennial Hall as the name of KCKCC’s student housing facility.

KCKCC will celebrate 100 years of serving the education needs of Wyandotte and surrounding counties in 2023. One of the first centennial events will be the grand opening of Centennial Hall. Additional activities will include community and campus celebrations as well as commemorative banners, athletic uniforms and other items to mark the historic milestone.

“We are excited to announce the name of KCKCC’s new student housing facility, Centennial Hall, as it marks an important point in time for the college, celebrating the last 100 years of service to our community and preparing to do even more in the next 100 years,” Dr. Greg Mosier, KCKCC president, said. “This facility will not only allow our students to live on campus but also offers students an environment to be surrounded by amenities that will help them reach their educational goals. This is a significant moment in KCKCC’s history.”

The four-story facility will allow 248 students to live on campus and be close to both classes and activities. Typical suites will have a shared living space, including a kitchenette with a stove and refrigerator, and private bedrooms for up to four students. The building, which was designed to inspire community building and to enhance learning, will include 57 four-bed units, five ADA mobility units, two three-bed units and units for the housing specialist, housing supervisor and resident assistants.

In addition, other amenities include group study halls, study spaces, multipurpose spaces, a community laundry facility, a FEMA-rated storm shelter and gaming room. An e-gaming area will allow students to play and build a community with fellow residents. Outside amenities include an outdoor amphitheater, an outdoor patio and grill area and a hammock grove which gives students an opportunity to relax.

Applications for the new Centennial Hall will open on April 1 and information on the new housing can be found at https://www.kckcc.edu/housing. Those who are interested in more information on the new facility and application requirements may contact KCKCC admissions at 913-288-7600 or admissions@kckcc.edu.

School, other events and buildings closed on Thursday

Because of a snowstorm in Thursday’s forecast, school has been canceled in some area districts.

The Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools have canceled school for students and staff. The district will be on “Plan D.” Also, KidZone will not be in session.

The Piper Public Schools, Turner Public Schools and Bonner Springs-Edwardsville Public Schools also have canceled school for Thursday, March 10, because of the weather.


Also, Kansas City Kansas Community College has announced that all locations will be closed Thursday, March 10, because of inclement weather. All day and evening classes and events are canceled.

All Kansas City, Kansas, Public Library locations also will be closed on Thursday, March 10, because of the weather.

Residential trash collection and recycling will not take place on Thursday, March 10, according to the Unified Government. It will be delayed one day for the rest of the week.

Wyandotte County is under a winter storm warning from 9 p.m. Wednesday until 6 a.m. Friday. From 5 to 8 inches of snow are in the forecast.

The Unified Government posted an update on its website that the UG’s snow crews will pre-treat the “hot routes” and secondary routes with salt. The UG stated it takes from 10 to 12 hours after the snow stops to treat the hot routes and secondary routes.

The Kansas Department of Transportation urged people to stay home if possible. When driving, wear a seat belt, lower your speed and put your phone down, KDOT advised.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment said a vaccine site, the Kansas National Guard Armory, 100 S. 20th St., Kansas City, Kansas, will be open from noon to 6 p.m. Thursday for COVID-19 testing, and on Friday, March 11, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.