Phil Wilke
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Past articles by Phil:
Shawnee Heights superintendent says board must prepare for possibility of court closing schools
TECUMSEH - The Kansas Supreme Court might not close down the schools on July 1, but the schools do have to prepare for the possibility, Shawnee Heights superintendent Marty Stessman told the school board Monday night. → Read More
Random drug testing policy praised at Seaman board meeting
Seaman High School is a safer place because of the random drug testing program implemented this year, the Seaman Unified School District 345 school board was told Monday night.The program, which began in August, had 96 percent of high school parents sign up their students for random testing. Students eligible for random testing are those who participate in activities, sports or drive to school. → Read More
Silver Lake school board approves upgrades to science equipment, technology purchases
SILVER LAKE - The Silver Lake Unified School District 372 school board on Wednesday approved upgrades to science equipment and technology in the district's schools. → Read More
Tecumseh South to host weeklong Invention Camp during summer for students
TECUMSEH - Budding Thomas Edisons will get a chance to test their skills this summer at Tecumseh South Elementary School. → Read More
Seaman school board vets capital outlay plan for 2016-17 school year
Roof repairs, maintenance requests and equipment purchases for the upcoming school year were vetted at Monday night's Seaman Unified School District 345 board meeting, as the board heard the administration's proposed five-year capital outlay plan. → Read More
Washburn Tech praised by Shawnee Heights school board
TECUMSEH - Washburn Tech was front and center at Monday night's Shawnee Heights school board meeting. Clark Coco, dean of the college, gave the board a presentation about the college's programs, goals and vision. → Read More
Tecumseh elementary schools could become sites for Boys and Girls Club of Topeka
TECUMSEH - Tecumseh North and South elementary schools could become sites for the Boys and Girls Club of Topeka before and after school and during the summers. → Read More
USD 450 school board gives superintendent two-year contract extension
TECUMSEH - Shawnee Heights superintendent Marty Stessman was given a two-year contract extension at Monday night's USD 450 board meeting. The extension will keep him with the district through the end of the 2017-18 school year. → Read More
Shawnee Heights USD 450 releases 2016-17 school calendar
TECUMSEH - Save the date: Tuesday, Aug. 15. It will be the first day of school in Shawnee Heights Unified School District 450 for seventh- and ninth-graders. Other students will begin on Wednesday, Aug 17. → Read More
Phil Wilke: The father I wish I knew
When my dad died last summer, I inherited two things from him: a set of beer steins, which had belonged to his father, where the handles were women in different stages of undress; and his old photographic slides and projector. → Read More
Shawnee Heights school board discusses test results
TECUMSEH - The Shawnee Heights Unified School District 450 school board heard a summary of last year's state assessment test at Monday night's meeting. On the whole, district administrators accepted the student scores, but it comes with an asterisk. → Read More
Seaman school board president 'impressed' with finalists for superintendent position
The biggest issue at Monday night’s Seaman Unified School District 345 school board meeting went unanswered: Who will be the new superintendent? After a 30-minute executive session to discuss the opening and the two finalists — Steve Noble, Hillsboro USD 410 superintendent, and Tim Hallacy, Silver Lake USD 372 superintendent — the board adjourned the meeting.Board president James Adams said he… → Read More
Seaman school board discusses out-of-state travel
Questions and concerns about staff out-of-state travel were raised Monday night during the Seaman Unified School District 345 school board meeting. → Read More
Shawnee Heights to email students' report cards to parents
TECUMSEH - Parents of Shawnee Heights students will receive their report cards by email this fall, the Shawnee Heights Unified School District 450 board was told on Monday night. → Read More
Phil Wilke: Tenderfoot eats hot lead in western film
"After he fires his weapon, kill him." Those were the directions the cameraman gave the special effects technician. I was "gunshot victim #5" on a movie set in a replica Western town. "Red Bird" is wrapping up its Kansas filming this month. → Read More
Curriculum director: More Shawnee Heights seniors taking math classes than ever before
TECUMSEH - Shawnee Heights Unified School District 450 students are taking math as high school seniors at unprecedented levels, the school board was told Monday night. → Read More
Search for new USD 345 superintendent sped up
The search timeline to replace retiring Unifed School District 345 superintendent Mike Mathes has been sped up. → Read More
Shawnee Heights board sets goals, hears update on ACT scores
TECUMSEH - It is a new school year and a new set of school board goals for Shawnee Heights Unified School District 450. At Monday night's school board meeting, the board approved its goals for 2015-16. → Read More
Phil Wilke: An ex-punk looks at 55
I don't know what you did during the 1970s, but I spent it having too much fun, doing too little school work and participating in too many sketchy activities that I later forbid my own kids from doing. → Read More
Shawnee Heights USD 450 board adopts budget
TECUMSEH - The Shawnee Heights Unified School District 450 board adopted a budget Monday night that slightly raises the district mill levy. The 2015-16 rate will be 53.145 mills, up 1.6 mills from last year. → Read More