By Adam Stewart, Hutchinson Tribune Staff
HUTCHINSON—The Hutchinson USD 308 Board of Education approved the school district’s 2026-27 budget with a property tax decrease of more than one mill on Monday, Aug. 24.
Following a budget hearing, the board unanimously approved the budget with a property tax rate of 51.364 mills, down from 52.424 mills for 2025-26. That is a difference of $12.19 in taxes—$418.19, down from $430.38—on a home appraised at $100,000.
The mill levy includes 20 mills set by the state for the general fund, 15.546 mills (down 0.313 mill) for the supplemental general fund, 5.114 mills (up 3.498 mills) for capital outlay, and 10.704 (down 4.245 mill) to repay bonds and interest.
Director of Finance Abby Stockebrand said the district receives 60.5% state aid on its supplemental general fund, 69% state aid on capital outlay, and 67% state aid on its current bond and interest levy, although that would be 12% on new bonds, like the one proposed on the upcoming November election.
Superintendent Dawn Johnson said USD 308 was the only district out of 17 in the area that staff looked at that didn’t exceed the revenue-neutral rate. She also said that most have their capital outlay mill levy set to the maximum of eight mills and the maximum supplemental general fund percentage of 33%, while USD 308 approved a 32.4% supplemental general fund percentage on Monday.
Despite the lower tax rate, increasing property values in the district will result in a 1.3% increase in the total amount of local taxes collected, from $12.48 million to $12.64 million.
No members of the general public spoke to the board during the budget hearing.
Cell phone ban implementation
Deputy Superintendent Krystal Young gave the board an update on how implementation of the state-mandated electronic communications device ban has gone early in the school year.
“It has been a very positive implementation so far,” Young said.
She said that, during school visits, administrators have seen a real difference in the hallways and lunchrooms, with students interacting with each other much more.
Young said students have been understanding, and parents recognize that the schools are following state law. She said that consistency and accountability will be key as schools continue to implement the policy.
In other business:
The board approved an early release on Oct. 2 for the homecoming parade after Hutchinson High School Student Council representatives requested it. Students will be released one hour early that day. After the students’ request, Principal Ryan Ewy led the board in the high school’s chant, “Allagaroo,” that he said has been in use for more than a century.
Director of Nutrition Jennifer Tatro reported that the district served more than 70,000 meals through its summer lunch program in June and July, requiring the use of two production kitchens instead of the usual one. The program underwent a federal inspection, which found no deficiencies, she said.
Tatro also said she was asked about the November bond proposal’s inclusion of nutrition projects. She said those projects would be infrastructure-related, replacing flooring, hood systems, and walk-in refrigerators and freezers that can’t be paid for with federal food service funds.
As part of the consent agenda, the board approved an agreement with Dillon Nature Center to provide educational programs. Under the agreement, the district will pay Dillon Nature Center $6,000 to provide up to 45 programs meeting state science standards and promoting environmental education, stewardship and conservation at either the schools or nature center. The agreement also provides for a fourth-grade Arbor Day program in the spring, fifth-grade Conservation Day program on May 5, and two field trips to Dillon Nature Center in May.
The board selected board members Lindsey Hatfield and Cheryl Thompson to be its delegate and alternate, respectively, at the Kansas Association of School Boards’ annual conference in November.
The board met in closed executive session with Johnson for 9 minutes to discuss student matters and 20 minutes to discuss personnel matters. On return to open session, the board approved the personnel report.
The next board of education meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 14, at the Administration Center, 1520 N. Plum St.