Governor visits SAFE BASE kids

The Kansas Lottery indirectly has paid off big for SAFE BASE, USD 257’s after-school program.
GTECH Corporation, a global gaming technology and service company, provides online technology for the lottery and also is an educational benefactor to 152 schools in 24 states.
Angela Henry, SAFE BASE director since its inception 13 years ago, learned of GTECH, wrote a grant and the local program won $16,500 to purchase an iPad laboratory. Many of the 300 students in the program use the technology to improve their reading skills.
The advantage wasn’t lost on Gov. Sam Brownback, who came to Iola Wednesday evening for a SAFE BASE “blue plate special” dinner at Jefferson Elementary. Also attending were executives from GTECH, including Chris Shaban, company vice president, as well as Dennis Taylor, executive director of the Kansas Lottery.
Brownback, at the top of his game socially, spent much of the evening visiting with kids and parents and, for the first time an aide said she could remember, signing the backs of SAFE BASE children’s T-shirts.
When he paused to speak, Brownback lauded GTECH’s contribution and encouraged the kids to read.
“Reading is critical,” Brownback pronounced. “It’s important” to their education and a part of learning that “you need to continue. Your future is bright — some day you may be inventing technology to help others — but you have to be able to read.
“Too many kids in Kansas can’t read,” the governor lamented.
In his introduction of Brownback, Tony Leavitt, school board president, said the board made decisions “on what’s good for kids, and the decision to start SAFE BASE 13 years ago was a very good one. It’s a good one today to continue the program.”
He also commended Brad Crusinbery, Jefferson principal, and his staff for making the school available for SAFE BASE activities four days a week immediately after regular classes were dismissed.
“I know some days it is a challenge,” he said.
Brownback opened his remarks with remembrances of Emerson Lynn, Register associate editor who died early Wednesday morning.
“He was an icon of journalism in Kansas,” Brownback said, and told his young listeners their successes in reading would please Lynn, who spent his lifetime writing for others to read.
Shaban said it was a “rare honor to have the governor here,” and that as his company’s representative he was pleased GTECH was having a positive role in the education of Iola children.
Taylor noted the Kansas Lottery started with a vote of Kansans more than 26 years ago and that it had two roles, to entertain and raise money for economic development.
He added his compliments to GTECH, as a company that cared enough to help with children’s education.

SEVERAL students were recognized.
Making gains in comprehension or level of books they read were:
One to nine months gain: Jessica Tidd, Skyler Suchy and Drew Sirota.
Ten months to a year: Haley Smith, Destiny Shrum, Makayla Perez, Alora Doolittle.
One year to 16 months: Kyler Sigg, Tristen Radford, Dakota Kogan, Zachary Ganzer, Taelyn Maley, Heaven Wagner, Christopher Kogan.
Achieving accelerated reader status: Tia Barton, Gideon Gawlas, Ben Goudy, Asha Kilby, Beonka Lazzo-Barahona, Andrew Peterson, Kloie Rogers, Caitlin Sallee, Raedyn Smithback, Abbie Towner and Myriah Walls.