MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Newly elected Lindsay Hatfield will take her seat on the Hutchinson USD 308 Board of Education for the first time Monday night, bringing with her a parent’s perspective, deep local ties, and a focus on rebuilding trust with the community following last year’s failed school bond.
Hatfield, a Hutchinson native and Buhler High School graduate, was elected to an at-large seat in November. After leaving Kansas for college and starting a family, she and her husband chose to return to Hutchinson — a move she describes as a “boomerang” homecoming.
“I’m raising Salthawks,” Hatfield said. “My kids go to school here, and I’m really invested in this community and this district.”
Hatfield is the parent of two children who attend Allen STEM Magnet School, where she also serves on the school’s PTO board. She said her experience as a parent and volunteer influenced her decision to run for the board, emphasizing the importance of having decision-makers who are directly invested in local schools.
Allen STEM Magnet School, she noted, offers specialized programming in science, technology, engineering and math and is open to students throughout the district and beyond. One highlight, Hatfield said, is the school’s KidWind program, in which students design and test wind turbines. Allen teams have earned national recognition through the competition.
As Hatfield prepares to begin her term, she acknowledged the strain between the district and some community members following the defeat of a proposed school bond that would have funded a new middle school and other facility improvements.
“The bond was overwhelmingly defeated, and that tells us something,” she said. “We have work to do moving forward.”
Hatfield said a major early focus will be reassessing district priorities and determining how to move ahead without immediately pursuing another bond issue. She cited ongoing needs related to school safety, aging elementary facilities, and operational challenges such as shared gym and cafeteria spaces.
Early childhood education is another area she hopes to emphasize, particularly kindergarten readiness. Hatfield said her husband works as a paraprofessional at Allen, giving her firsthand insight into classroom needs and the growing demand for para support across the district.
“When kids come into kindergarten at very different readiness levels, it’s challenging for everyone — teachers and students alike,” she said.
Hatfield described the board position as a significant time commitment with no financial compensation, but said she views the role as an investment in the community’s future.
“The payoff is making the district better for our kids,” she said. “I plan to live here the rest of my life.”
During her first year, Hatfield said she intends to focus on learning the district’s operations, completing the current strategic plan adopted in 2024, supporting curriculum improvements, and encouraging greater parent involvement.
She also highlighted mental health, social-emotional learning, and community service as priorities, saying students benefit when they feel supported, engaged, and connected beyond the classroom.
“It takes the whole community,” Hatfield said. “Public education works best when parents, schools and the community are all invested together.”
The USD 308 Board of Education meets at 6 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays of each month at the district administration building. Hatfield’s first official meeting is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 12.