HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Incoming Nickerson USD 309 Superintendent Curtis Nightingale told the board that, when it comes to another try at a school bond issue, it’s time to start over.
“We need to take a breath and start this process over,” he said.
Nightingale, who was not at the meeting in an official capacity, still let his feelings be known when it comes to a second try at a bond issue. Nightingale also suggested that, if the district tries for another bond issue, it should use the construction management at-risk process. The route is similar to what Hutchinson USD 308 did with its last bond issue and what the city of Hutchinson did for the Sports Arena project.
The board was in agreement that the district needed to be much more transparent this time around and put together a firm list of priorities. Any chance of getting the matter on the November ballot is gone and if the district wanted to take another crack at a bond issue it would be in the spring or next November. The pandemic and how it affected schools also has the district thinking more short term with a bond issue rather than looking 30 years ahead. The last bond issue, which was for $30 million, failed by a 4-1 margin.
One thing was agreed upon by the board: the district needs to be very forthcoming about what it wants in a bond issue and what the priorities are.
“We’re going to do this for an 'x' amount of dollars,” board member Luke Herren said. “We need to be realistic with what we need.”
No action was taken and the matter was up for discussion only. The board will bring the matter back to the table in July. Nightingale will be on board by that time.
Another matter that drew a lot of discussion was the current track and field project at the high school. Apparently the workmanship for much of the field event areas was so poor that much of the work had to be torn out. Board member Jay Mitzner said the district should push to start the whole project over. Some of the things that were found to be wrong include poor concrete work, which included a footprint in one of the shot put rings, a pole vault platform that is already cracked and overall poor workmanship.
The track itself is already running into problems due to the lack of a proper base for the new running surface. The base issue is forcing the price of the track up well beyond what was budgeted, but the work will need to be done. Until then, the district is going to see what it can do with Mid America, who is the contractor for the project, and what the district says is very shoddy work.
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