By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The interim superintendent in Nickerson-South Hutchinson USD 309 believes the stability provided in school funding by the work of the legislature has helped that district put its focus where it needs to be.
"For much of the time that I was superintendent in Ottawa, I spent a lot of my time working with legislators, working with my board, planning for the next cut," said Dr. Jeanne Stroh. "Making sure that our cash reserves were such that, if we had a major cut, that we'd be able to go on. Stability means that we can set our sights on the true meaning of education, do what we can for our kids."
After the latest bond issue failed, further communication needs to happen between the district and its patrons to find out where to go next.
"Our architects will be here on March 9th to talk through the survey questions with the board and get some further input from the board," Stroh said. "The survey really is to determine what kinds of things are supported out in the public by our voters."
Stroh said the next bond issue will not go on the ballot until at least 18 months have passed since the last one, which means she'll be gone before it happens, but the changes in technology and the new things that need to have emphasis may change what needs to be built.
"We teach kids differently," Stroh said. "We understand from research that kids learn differently. Unlike when I was a kid, you could have 28 kids in a class and all you needed was a worksheet, a book and a pencil. Now, we do all kinds of STEM activities with kids. We need bigger spaces to do that. We need smaller class sizes, so that teachers can have small group instruction with kids, because we know from research that's the best way to teach kids. Kids learn more quickly. They learn a lot more information that way."
Stroh will serve through the school year. Dawn Johnson will return from an 11-month unpaid sabbatical this summer.