By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson USD 308 Board of Education approved a change to the student start date for the upcoming school year to August 27 for Pre-K through ninth grade and August 28 for sophomores through seniors.
"We're going to continue with the August 12 day for teachers to report," said USD 308 Superintendent Mike Folks. "We're going to do professional development starting at that time. We moved it back a little over a week."
The length of an individual school day will not change.
"When we do professional development days, we can count half of those days toward our bell time or toward our 1,116 hours," said district spokesperson Ray Hemman. "Between a combination of that and a combination of another couple little wrinkles in there, there will be no additional bell time."
If your family isn't comfortable sending kids back to their building yet, USD 308 can accommodate you.
"We also have some families that no mmatter what happens, they want to do the online experience," Hemman said. "Either they had a very good experience last spring, or they are concerned about the COVID-19 virus."
Folks and Hemman noted that an order has been placed for personal protective equipment, but it won't be fully fulfilled at the beginning of the year, so they'll need to watch their supplies to make sure they don't run short. The calendar retains a two-week break at Christmas and Spring Break, which will be from March 22 to 26. The final day for students will be May 26, 2021.