By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Additional space for early childhood education for three and four year old students is something that Hutchinson USD 308 needs to plan for in the future. That will be a topic of discussion between RSP, the Superintendent's advisory committee and the school board at a meeting next month.
"The options would include building a new Early Childhood Center that maybe would have a daycare in it," said USD 308 Superintendent Mike Folks. "It would, of course, be in a centralized location. The other option that's going to be talked about is infusing all of the early childhood programs in our neighborhood elementary schools."
That already happens at three Hutchinson area schools.
"If the board decides, hey, we're just going to have a goal over the next several years of moving all of our early childhood services in all of our neighborhood elementaries, that might not take any additional tax dollars," Folks said. "If you're going to build a new early childhood center with a daycare, then are we going to piggyback with other community businesses and use ARPA funds? Possibly."
It really would depend on the price tag as to whether a bond vote would be needed.
"We do have some availability in our capital outlay to go from 5.9 to 8 mills and generate some additional equalization," Folks said. "I think we could do that through a lease agreement for about 10 years and not have to go and have a bond referendum. If we're going to go over probably $10 million, that's just kind of an arbitrary number, I think, if we're going to go to $20 million or beyond, yes that would take a referendum and it would take additional taxation."
The school board meeting where the initial discussions will take place is scheduled for Feb. 28.