> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.citizenjournal.us/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # McPherson County commissioners were set to weigh funding for early-intervention program serving 112 children - URL: https://www.citizenjournal.us/mcpherson-county-commissioners-were-set-to-weigh-funding-for-early-intervention-program-serving-112-children/ - Published: 2026-08-24T12:07:33.000Z - Updated: 2026-08-24T12:07:33.000Z - Description: The program is federally required under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and delivered in homes and community settings across the county at no expense to families. - Author: Greg Loving - Tags: mcj, dnn, #news Nobody else sits through the council meetings. Subscribers keep our reporter in the room. Become one today. [Become a subscriber](https://www.citizenjournal.us/?ref=cta-2#/portal/signup) McPherson County commissioners were scheduled Monday, Aug. 24, to hear a funding request from McKIDS, the early-intervention program serving 112 county infants and toddlers. The program's presentation warns that its fiscal agent could change hands. The meeting was set to open at 9 a.m. Monday with public input in the fifth-floor meeting room of the McPherson County Building, 200 N. Maple. McKIDS Coordinator Charissa Highsmith was set to bring the request at 9:10 a.m. The presentation says the program performed 65 evaluations between January and June, averages roughly 120 evaluations a year and sees about 90% of families opt into services. It says providers are carrying caseloads of about 30 children each, against a state recommendation of 20 to 25 for a full-time caseload. The presentation says [McCSEC](https://mccsec.mcpherson.com/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC%5FID=2889184&type=d&pREC%5FID=2346823&ref=citizenjournal.us) has handled McKIDS' financial and administrative responsibilities since 2021\. It says that if McCSEC steps down as fiscal agent, the role would be offered to the county or the local health department, and failing that would fall to the state. It lists the program's money as coming from Medicaid, categorical state aid, a state grant from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, a federal Part C grant and local grants. Public Works Director David Bohnenblust was scheduled at 9:40 a.m. to ask the board to sign the plans, specifications and contract documents submitted by Kirkham Michael for the replacement of Bridge 075010, south of Inman on Arapaho Road. The request for action says the bid was awarded to L&M Contractors Inc. on Aug. 3. Bohnenblust was also set to ask commissioners to renew 10-year leases on 16 of the county's 20 gas cylinder bottles, used for cutting torches and welding at the asphalt plant, the Public Works shop and work trucks, through McPherson-based Lampton Welding Supply Co. Inc. at $6,724.61\. A Public Works memo says that if the leases are not renewed, the bottles would go to monthly rent, which the memo puts at more than $42,000 over 10 years. At its Aug. 17 meeting, the board unanimously approved the final canvass of the Aug. 4 primary election and approved opening and counting 69 qualified and 18 partially qualified provisional ballots, then toured the county courthouse. The published agenda lists routine business for Monday's meeting, including minutes, checks and claims, payroll, personnel and a $2,732.64 property tax abatement. The board next meets at 9 a.m. Aug. 31 and has no meeting Sept. 7 for Labor Day. *This article was written using our proprietary AI system, Cronkite. The final decision to publish this article was made by a human. For more info, read our* [*AI policy*](https://www.citizenjournal.us/ai-policy/)*.* --- --- Found a mistake? Have a news tip or feedback to share? Contact our newsroom using the button below: [Contact Us](https://www.citizenjournal.us/contact/) ---