MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Trinity Catholic Junior/Senior High School will begin the 2026-27 school year five days later than originally scheduled after an ongoing sewer line replacement project expanded beyond its initial scope.
Principal Joe Godina announced that the delay is necessary to allow construction crews to complete major plumbing work before students return to campus.
The school has experienced recurring sewer line problems for several years, making repairs as needed. However, school officials determined this summer that the main sewer line serving the original 1966 section of the building needed to be replaced to avoid the risk of a significant failure during the school year.
"It's been a pretty major construction project," Godina said.
Work on the project began June 12, but as construction progressed, crews discovered additional issues requiring more extensive repairs than originally anticipated. Those unexpected findings pushed the timeline beyond the school's planned opening.
As a result, Trinity Catholic has adjusted its back-to-school schedule.
Parent meetings originally scheduled for Aug. 3 and Aug. 5 have been moved to Aug. 12 and Aug. 13. Seventh-grade students will now attend their half-day orientation on Aug. 18, and all students will begin classes on Aug. 19 instead of the previously scheduled Aug. 14 start date.
Despite the delayed opening, Godina said the remainder of the school year will proceed as planned.
He noted that the Catholic Diocese of Wichita, which oversees Trinity Catholic, requires more instructional hours than the State of Kansas. Trinity had already scheduled additional instructional time beyond the diocesan requirement, allowing the school to accommodate the later start without affecting the academic calendar or required classroom hours.
School officials say the additional time will ensure the sewer line replacement is completed before students and staff return to the building, helping prevent future disruptions during the school year.