NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A public vote for Buhler USD 313 patrons on a proposed $8 million bond issue will take place in person on April 4th, 2023, with advance voting starting March 27th.
"There's really four main aspects of the project," said Director of Finance Shane Hecox. "We've got our Ad Astra Academies, that has grown from just a handful of students to about 175 students over the last two years. We've got the office space, where we're trying to consolidate all of our back of house staff that are now on the south end of town, bring them over to kind of our main campus for culture reasons. We've got some playground upgrades in that project. Those playground pieces of equipment, a very small piece could range from $30,000 all the way to a large piece, upwards of $300,000. Playground equipment is very, very expensive and very difficult to enhance out of capital outlay, and then there's the fourth part of the project, which is the indoor activity center."
Buhler High Activities Director Justin Seuser said the space will be large, but not quite football field size.
"The back side of the building is going to be dedicated to the activity purposes of the project," Seuser said. "I believe it's 60 yards in length and regulation width, or pretty close. The nice thing about that is, it gives us the ability to split that area up and have multiple programs going at one time."
The space will allow for multiple uses that could include:
Band, flag corps, dance
PE classes
Athletic space
Large district meetings
Community youth sports
Community event space
"Space is at a premium," Seuser said. "Not only in the wintertime are we housing and trying to find places for kids to practice, not just our high school teams but our youth programs. We also have our youth baseball, youth softball, volleyball is coming in, just trying to find places for those kids to go, so that they can practice."
For a full breakdown of the bond, go to https://www.usd313.org/page/raising-the-standard-bond-issue.
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