HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The USD 308 Hutchinson Board of Education Monday approved a plan that returns alternative education programming for high school students to the district as well as consolidates facilities.
Under the proposal approved by the board, the district would take over alternative education programming for Hutchinson High School students that are currently contracted with an area vendor. The high school programming will move to the MidTown Center.
A year ago, the district purchased the former Town Club near Hutchinson Middle School – 7 and renamed it the MidTown Center. Currently, the MidTown Center is an alternative school for middle school students who need a different setting from the traditional classroom. Under the approved proposal, the middle school students will move to Avenue A School in 2020-21.
The district also has elementary students who have had challenges in the regular classroom in programming at Avenue A School. At the same time, the district has offered services for some students with significant challenges at the old Grandview School in the Alternative Education Program. The kindergarten to eighth grade ALP students under the proposal will attend Avenue A in 2020-21 while the high school ALP students move to the MidTown Center.
These changes are designed to make alternative programming for district students better and more efficient in fewer buildings. There is an estimated annual cost savings of about $140,000 under the proposal. The savings happen by moving the education programming at Grandview to Avenue A and discontinuing the district’s contract with ESSDACK.