HESSTON, Kan. — Residents in Hesston USD 460 go to the polls tomorrow to vote on a $33.4 million bond issue that would combine the high school and middle school under one roof and make significant improvements to the 50-year-old high school.
“It is a significant change to the format or the structure of the district moving from a three building concept . . . to a two building concept,” Superintendent Kevin Logan said. “The middle school and high school would be housed under the same roof, still retaining two separate identities.”
The biggest issue deals with the current middle school, which was built in 1959. After several expansions, the building is falling under disrepair, to a point that some residents want to see it removed.
“The majority of folks in town did not want to see that building stay up and continue to need repairs done to it,” Logan said. “They would rather see it razed or torn down rather than continue to do repairs on it.”
How much of that building would be removed remains to be seen as several additions have been made to it over the past 20 years. The other discussion from both opponents and proponents of the bond issue stems from the combining of the two schools, which would mean one building holding fifth graders all the way up to seniors in high school.
Logan addressed that issue: “It’s done all over the state right now, smaller schools do it, larger schools do it. When you’re inside a school building, the school days are very structured so you don’t have that direct interaction.”
That includes moving class schedules along with other activities.
“Schedules would be different, so passing periods wouldn’t be common even if students were moving from their wing to a gymnasium or from their wing to a shop area, it wouldn’t be common,” Logan said. “Lunch schedules would be set . . . so they wouldn’t all be using the cafeteria at the same time.”
The bond issue includes a new auditorium, new gymnasium and updates to the current high school.
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