Feb 01, 2023

Need for Ad Astra Academies space big part of Buhler bond issue

Posted Feb 01, 2023 4:13 PM

NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A public vote for Buhler USD 313 patrons on a proposed $8 million bond issue will take place in person on April 4th, 2023, with advance voting starting March 27th. One of the main needs for the district that would be met by the new building that is the source of the bulk of the bond is Ad Astra Academy space.

"We started the school year with about 40 students last year," said Erica Shook with Ad Astra Academy in USD 313. "As we grew over the course of the school year, we found that we also needed to add another learning model, so we added Ad Astra Alternative Academy this school year and we've also started doing adult diploma completion. Now, across all of our programs, we are up to just over 160 students."

Tax rates should be able to be held level, even with the new bonding.

"Our alternative academy students are in person, which is what most of the space is used for, the alternative students, our teachers, our staff for Ad Astra Academies," Shook said. "We pride ourselves in Buhler on providing exceptional experiences for all of our students, so even though our virtual students are virtual, we offer them opportunities to come in and work with teachers in person when they need additional help on their schoolwork. We offer field trips, in person activities for STEM challenges, STEAM challenges, all of those things. We need space for those students to come in and get help when they need it. We also have to do state assessments just like students in buildings do. They have to come in and do those in person. We need space for that."

The new building will be on land the district already has.

"It is located in Buhler, right next to the current district offices that we have right now, Burkholder Administrative Center," said USD 313 Superintendent Cindy Couchman. "It's just going to go right next door to it. There's an open field there that we would utilize to build this facility."

Please read the full information on the issue at https://www.usd313.org/page/raising-the-standard-bond-issue.

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