

Barton Community College continues to support Volunteers in Action in its effort to purchase and deliver meals on a temporary basis for seniors recovering from illness, surgery or disability.
In April, the college learned it will no longer receive the federal grant that has supported VIA (formerly RSVP), a vital service for older adults across the region, which has existed for nearly five decades.
During Tuesday’s Board of Trustees' study session, Barton President Dr. Marcus Garstecki reported that he recently approved a grant application to Hunger-Free Kansas through the Kansas Health Foundation on behalf of Volunteers in Action. Although VIA is not funded by the college, Barton is the sponsor through which the nonprofit agency receives federal funding. Barton also supports VIA by providing office space.
“We’re just trying to find dollars where we can,” Garstecki said.
At the Barton Community College Foundation, Executive Director Lindsey Bogner has started a mini-campaign. on behalf of the program.
Linn Hogg, the local VIA director, said they have received the grant but the new program won’t start until October, after they do training, order supplies and find a lead volunteer coordinator for the program.
“This is separate from Meals on Wheels,” Hogg said. It will supply frozen meals once a week on a short-term basis, such as when someone has undergone surgery and can’t drive for three months.
“This is to help in a gap area not being covered in the community,” she said.
Hogg also recently made her annual allocation request for funding from the Barton County Commission. Allocation requests from various entities were scheduled as non-agenda appointments over several weeks. Hogg spoke to the commissioners on June 24, asking for “a little more” funding than in previous years.
The county’s annual funding supports VIA’s transportation program that helps people secure rides for non-emergency medical appointments, Hogg said.
“We’re doing whatever we can to make sure that the services we provide continue, to not only seniors but all community members,” she said.
Training in Sterling
Garstecki also approved an agreement with Jacam Catalyst in Sterling. Barton will provide the OSHA Training Institute Education Center (OTIEC) and Occupational Safety and Health Program to employees.
Board Chairman Mike Johnson commented that this type of training could be offered to other businesses in the future.
Garstecki routinely reports on items he has approved, including agreements that allow medical students to do their clinicals at other locations. Recent agreements (and renewals) include Norton County Hospital in Norton; LabOne LLC (Quest Diagnostics) Great Midwest Region, Minneapolis, Minn.; Stormont Vail Healthcare Inc.; and Sound Family Medicine, Puyallup, Wash., all for Medical Lab Technician training. At Coffey County Hospital in Burlington, BCC has an education agreement and a field internship agreement for Emergency Medical Services (EMS).
Also approved was a one-year extension with the Kansas Department of Agriculture for Weights and Measures continuing education, and an updated 2+2 agreement with Kansas State University for students in the Early Childhood Education program. (2+2 agreements help students at two-year institutions such as Barton transfer credits seamlessly to KSU for a degree program.)
Touring athletic facilities
The meeting ended with a tour of the athletic complex.
Last December, Barton trustees approved a contract with Mammoth Sports Construction to make renovations to the Physical Education Building, which includes the main basketball gym. The renovation will be paid for with private donor dollars and will not exceed $3 million.
Athletics Director Trevor Rolf said Tuesday the work being done this summer is only part of the planned renovation. The gym ceiling has been repainted, brighter and more energy-efficient lighting is being installed in the gym and concession hallway, the concession breezeway wall is being painted, and new wiring is being installed.
Work is also going on at the track.
In April 2025, the trustees approved renovating the track and soccer field constructed in 2010. In addition to replacing the track surface, the project includes replacing a failing drainage system that Rolfs said is behind most of the issues. Tarkett Sports Construction won the bid for $3.1 million.