By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — USD 309 Superintendent Curtis Nightingale said that continued improvements to the schools in his district may cause need for another try at a bond issue in the coming years.
"When I interviewed, that was part of the conversation was whether or not that would be something worth taking another swing at," Nightingale said. "I think we're going to begin that process again soon. We've kind of already maybe started to lay the groundwork for it a little bit. We've had a couple of companies come out and just take a look at where we're at facilities-wise to give us some direction in terms of where are the burning fires, if you will. What are the things that we absolutely have to address in terms of our infrastructure?"
Nightingale believes the board is going to focus on those major issues most this time around.
"We have to be modest with that, addressing those needs that are of absolute importance," Nightingale said. "Once we get an idea of maybe some price points, we need to start having some conversation with our community and our staff. We're just going to start that process really slow, so that as we move forward, we make sure everybody understands what direction we're headed and why we're going there."
Nightingale acknowledges that inflation is going to increase the overall price tag beyond what the same work would have been if previous bonds had passed, but that may mean that things get done at a slower pace than they would have in previous years.