EMMIE BOESE
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — USD 308 wants to inform the community before changing what buildings its students are in. Wednesday, April 10, the district hosted its fourth facilities meeting.
The district formed a Facility Steering Committee that started meeting on a regular basis in early 2023 to discuss options for a facility plan and what shifts were needed between buildings in the district. The committee is made up of about 50 members that include parents, community members, staff and administrators.
"And so as we were looking at facilities as widgets, and how do we move these facilities around and how do we assess them, it became evident a couple of months in that I don't think just looking at property is where we need to go," Superintendent Dr. Dawn Johnson said. "What we need to do, is to understand, where is it we are trying to go? What is our vision? What is our value in USD 308 to the community? What do we want for the future and not just how we move pieces around? So looking at the facilities isn't looking at taking care of our students or looking after the community. Its what do we value. What is our vison? Who are we and how do we get after that?
The committee found two key factors that they believe would be helpful for USD 308 which are the need to streamline and strengthen the early childhood education process and the need to streamline and strengthen middle school transitions and environment. The proposed solution is to create a dedicated early education center in the district and one dedicated location for a middle school. The middle school would include grades 6-8. The committee found that one early childhood education center will provide a seamless transition to kindergarten and barriers to childhood development that could be spotted early.
"We are rich in early childhood programs, but if you are a new young person coming into the community, or you're not imbedded into the programs that exist because for me it seems simple," Johnson said. I know where all the pieces are. I know how they all work but we talked to a lot of young communities. A lot of young families and you know Kari's (Mailloux) co-chair in this facility is Jordan Fee (committee members) and Jordan was really key in opening my eyes, to say we don't understand it. I don't know where to go. Do I go to the Early Education Center? Do I go to Park Place where you have early childhood? Do I go to Morgan Elementary where you have (early childhood)? What's happening at Shirley J. Hutcherson?
A few positive factors to creating a 6-8 middle school the committee found is more space for STEM, computer and music classrooms in the elementary schools. Currently, sixth graders are a part of the elementary schools in Hutchinson and there are two separate buildings for seventh and eighth grade. The committee said it would also reduce maintenance cost to have one middle school building and more opportunities for stronger relationships between staff and students.
"I see several benefits to having middle school in one dedicated location,"Assistant Principal and Athletic Director of HMS-7 Melissa Evans said. "When you think about your students, I see them being a building for three years, being able to establish those relationships with adults in their building, being familiar with their surroundings and then academically to accelerate and provide interventions as needed but being one grade level in a building is difficult. Every single school year you start over with an entirely new student population and I think several educators would attest to that. It takes some time to build relationships and trust with these kiddos."
The mill rate in the Hutchinson school district for Bond and Interest is set at 10.380. Assistant Superintendent of Finance Sheila Meggers said to generate $80 million dollars for a bond issue, the district would need to ask for more four mills in taxes on an election ballot. A mill rate of 1 means you pay $1 in taxes for every $1,000 of your property's assessed value. Meggers told Hutch Post that the district owes 27 million dollars owed in previous bonds.
"If we kept the 10, it still would take four (mills) and there are two reasons for that," Meggers said."One,things cost more to build but the other piece to it is the state formula. The state pays a percent of every dollar that we pay on these depending on districts across the state that are a little bit lower wealth district property value wise. We are one of those that reap the benefit of a lot of state aid when we did our last bond. That formula has changed several times in the last few years."
In addition to the middle school and Pre-K projects, a portion of a potential larger bond issue could also go towards the following elementary school projects in USD 308:
Faris:
Remodel
- Breakout Rooms
- Remodel Restroom
- HVAC Updates
- Security Upgrades
Graber:
Additions
- Two Classrooms
- Storm Shelter
- Gym Addition
Remodel
- Breakout Rooms
- Remodel Restroom
- HVAC Upgrades
- Security Upgrades
Allen:
Additions
- Special Education and Art/Flex
- Storm Shelter
- Gym Addition
Remodel
- Restroom Remodel
- HVAC Upgrades
- Security Upgrades
- Playground Upgrade
Wiley:
Additions:
- Music and Art/Flex
- Storm Shelter
- Gym Addition
Remodel
- Restrooms Remodel
- HVAC Upgrades
- Security Upgrades
- Site Development
Morgan:
Additions
- Art Classroom
- Shelter
- Special Education Classrooms
Remodel
- Kitchen/Serving Remodel
- Restrooms Remodel
- HVAC Upgrades
- Security Upgrades
Lincoln-McCandless:
Additions
- Flex/Art Classroom
- Shelter
- Breakout and Restroom Addition
Remodel
- Restroom Remodel
- HVAC Upgrades
- Security Upgrades
- Roof Replacement
Johnson said after gathering all feedback in April, the board of education will meet about the feedback from the committee in May. The BOE will hold an additional meeting in May to vote if they want to go forward with a resolution for a bond issue or if they want to set the idea aside for awhile.
The middle school would be about $78.5 million if built new and the Pre-K center would be about $17.6 million.
The options presented to the board will be for bond issues between $60 million and $120 million depending on how much of the work they decide to put in front of the voters.
Johnson said the board can put out a special bond election in September, put the ballot question on the federal and national election ballot in November or put out a special bond election next Spring.
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