MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — Officials with Hutchinson Public Schools say the district is continuing to focus on staff recruitment and early childhood education expansion as it prepares to open a new child care facility this spring.
District administrators provided updates this week on hiring needs, academic planning and construction progress on a new child care center located on the Morgan Elementary School campus.
Deputy Superintendent Dr. Crystal Young said the district is actively recruiting educators ahead of the next academic year, with a particular emphasis on elementary teaching positions.
“We are looking for quality and elite educators to join our team,” Young said. “We have a focus on quality instruction as well as improving our academic achievement and culture of the district as a whole.”
District officials said current retirement projections among staff are lower than typical for this time of year, which they attribute in part to retention efforts that include staff feedback initiatives such as stay and exit interviews.
Young said those interviews have consistently pointed to building leadership and workplace culture as key factors influencing educators’ decisions to remain in the profession.
Meanwhile, the district is preparing to expand early childhood services through a new child care center expected to open in April. The facility will double classroom capacity from four rooms at the current site to eight classrooms at the new location.
Unlike previous district-operated programs, the new center will operate year-round and remain open until 5:30 p.m., serving both district staff and the broader Hutchinson community.
Applications are currently being accepted for preschool, child care and home-based services. Some programs are funded through Head Start and Early Head Start, which require income verification during the application process.
District officials said installation of a playground — required for state licensure — is scheduled for March, pending weather conditions. A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the facility is planned for April 3.
Administrators also noted that preschool programming plays a key role in the district’s strategic plan for improving kindergarten readiness. Officials said updated early learning curriculum adopted last year has already produced measurable academic gains in pre-kindergarten classrooms.
In addition to early childhood initiatives, the district continues work under the Kansas Education Systems Accreditation, or KESA, framework. Officials said the district has met its strategic goals within approximately 18 months of implementation and is entering its third year of accreditation.
As part of the next phase, administrators plan to more closely align instructional practices with measurable student outcomes while continuing to emphasize professional learning for staff.