Hutchinson Middle School 8 - Home of the Salthawks

📣 THIS WEEK AT HMS 8! 💙💛

It’s another great week to be a Salthawk! We have a busy week ahead as our students get started with fall sports and activities!

🏈 Football Practice — Monday–Friday at Don Michael
🏃 Cross Country Practice — Monday–Friday at HMS 8
🏐 Volleyball Tryouts — Monday & Tuesday
🏐 Volleyball Practice Officially Begins — Wednesday at HMS 8, then Thursday & Friday at HMS 8
📣 Cheer Practice — Monday & Thursday at Allen
🎾 Girls Tennis Practice — Monday–Friday at HHS Tennis Courts
💃 Dance Practice — Wednesday & Friday at Faris

We’re excited to see our Salthawks work hard, learn, and grow both in and out of the classroom! Let’s make it a great week! 💙💛

📚💙💛 Welcome to Hutchinson Middle School 8! 💛💙📚

We’re excited to welcome our students and families for a great school year! Here’s what’s happening as we kick off the first week:

🏫 Open House: Monday, August 10 | 4:30–6:00 PM
🎒 First Day of School: Wednesday, August 12 | 8:00 AM–3:20 PM
🚪 Doors Open: 7:30 AM | First Bell: 8:00 AM
🏈 Football Equipment Check Out: Friday, August 14 | After School at Don Michael Field

We can’t wait to see our hallways filled with students again! Here’s to new friendships, new opportunities, and a fantastic year of learning and growing together.

Welcome back, Salthawks! Let’s make it a great year! 💙💛

#WelcomeBack #HutchinsonMiddleSchool #HMS7 #BackToSchool #SalthawkPride #USD308

Loading eFunds has never been easier: meet the lunch pre-pay calculator

Just select your child's grade (or reduced lunch price status) and the month you'd like to prepay for—our calculator tells you exactly how much to load onto their eFunds account.

Try it now at www.usd308.com/nutrition.

Mark your calendar for Open Houses: Monday, August 10, from 4:30–6:00 p.m. at all elementary and middle schools!

This is a great opportunity to:
• Meet your child's teacher and school staff
• Visit the classroom
• Pick up your student's schedule

Middle school families can also:
• Practice opening lockers
• Walk through class schedules before the first day of school

We can't wait to welcome our Salthawks back for another great school year! Please note: Hutchinson High School and Midtown will not be hosting open houses at this time.

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¡Marque su calendario para las Jornadas de Puertas Abiertas!

Lunes 10 de agosto, de 4:30 a 6:00 p. m., en todas las escuelas primarias y secundarias (middle schools).

Esta es una excelente oportunidad para:
• Conocer al maestro(a) de su hijo(a) y al personal de la escuela
• Visitar el salón de clases
• Recoger el horario de su estudiante

Las familias de las escuelas secundarias (middle schools) también podrán:
• Practicar cómo abrir los casilleros (lockers)
• Recorrer el horario de clases antes del primer día de clases

¡Estamos ansiosos por darles la bienvenida nuevamente a nuestros Salthawks para otro gran año escolar!

Tenga en cuenta: Hutchinson High School y Midtown no tendrán Jornadas de Puertas Abiertas en este momento.

#SalthawkStrong #BackToSchool #USD308

The countdown is on! 🎒📚💙💛

The first day of school is filled with excitement, fresh starts, and new opportunities. But we also know that for many students—and parents—that excitement can come with a few butterflies, too. That's completely normal.

At Hutchinson Public Schools, we care deeply about every student. We want each child to walk through our doors feeling confident, prepared, and ready to learn. A few simple routines before school starts can make a big difference in helping students feel calm and ready for a successful first day.

As we count down to the first bell, we've put together a few easy ways to help your family prepare. Here's to a great start, a great year, and making every Salthawk feel like they belong! 💙💛

#BackToSchool #SalthawkStrong #EverySalthawkBelongs #USD308

🚨 Attention, early birds (and the parents who love them)!

However your child rolls up to school — on foot🚶, by bike 🚲, scooter 🛴, skateboard 🛹, car 🚗, bus 🚌, or unicorn 🦄 — one thing is guaranteed: a hot, free breakfast will be waiting for them at every building until that first bell rings! 🔔

Check the chart for your school's breakfast start time!

The USD 308 Board of Education will hold its regular meeting at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, July 27, at the USD 308 Administration Center, located at 1520 N. Plum Street.
The agenda is available at www.usd308.com/boe

Join us for an Open House on August 10th from 4:30-6:00pm.
Student schedules will be available at this time.
We are excited to see you there!

📚 Tomorrow is the Day! In-Person Enrollment is Here!

Need help enrolling your student for the 2026-27 school year? Join us Thursday, July 23, from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. for our districtwide In-Person Enrollment Event!

✅ Visit any Hutchinson Public Schools building to complete enrollment.
✅ You only need to visit one school to enroll all students in your family.
🏫 Hutchinson High School will also be open for self-guided campus tours during the event.
🏫 Midtown is closed during this event. Midtown staff will be at HHS.

Whether you're enrolling a new student or returning for another great year, our staff will be ready to help make the process quick and easy.

We can't wait to welcome our Salthawks back for another amazing school year! 💙💛

Enroll online anytime at www.usd308.com/enroll

#HutchPublicSchools #SalthawkPride #BackToSchool #USD308 #EverySalthawkForLife

USD 308 Board of Education — Regular Meeting Summary June 8, 2026 | 6:00 p.m.

The USD 308 Board of Education held its regular meeting on June 8, 2026.

Presentations
Hutchinson High School Principal Ryan Ewy presented the Trimester/Semester Committee Report. No action is expected on the subject until later this year. Any schedule changes would not be adopted until the 2027-2028 school year.

Abby Stockebrand, Director of Finance, presented a proposal to braid two funding streams into a single plan addressing priorities identified through the District's end-of-school-year bond survey. The plan includes approximately $36,000,000 of bond-funded projects along with $30,000,000 of projects funded through capital-outlay. Proposed projects would include storm shelters, roofs, safety and security, HVAC improvements, improvements to food service areas, restrooms, interior renovations, and playgrounds. Bond-funded projects would be completed after the passage of a bond, while capital outlay-funded projects would begin after appropriate funding levels have accrued. This dual-funding approach allows the District to address critical infrastructure needs identified by staff and the community, without placing the full financial burden on a single bond issue. No action was taken by the board at last night’s meeting. The board will continue to discuss potential bond options and facility updates at each meeting.

Consent Agenda
The Board approved the Superintendent's Consent Agenda, which included Accounts Payable for May 2026, the Treasurer's Report for April 2026, an Audit Engagement Letter, HutchCC Memoranda of Understanding, Grants, and Gifts to Schools.

Action Items
Workers' Compensation Renewal : The Board approved renewal of the District's workers' compensation coverage after a brief presentation from Allen Fee, CEO of Fee Insurance. During his remarks, Fee congratulated the district on keeping their insurance claims and premiums low.

Interfaith Housing MOU — Property Demolition: The Board heard a proposal from Interfaith Housing and unanimously approved a Memorandum of Understanding that includes demolition of a recently purchased property north of Allen STEM Magnet School.

Meal Pricing for 2026–2027: Jennifer Tatro, Director of Nutrition Services, presented a new meal pricing plan for the upcoming school year. The plan provides no charge breakfast to all K–12 students, increases student lunch prices by $0.20, and increases adult lunch prices by $0.25.

The District did not raise meal prices last year and, even with the 2026–2027 adjustment, remains below the average for peer districts. Tatro based her analysis on pricing data from Bonner Springs, Hays, Haysville, Garden City, and Wichita.

The new model also provides the option to expand breakfast service— buildings may offer traditional breakfast, grab-and-go, or a "second chance" breakfast served between first and second hours for students in grades 8–12. Other districts have seen a 40–50% increase in breakfast participation, which generates additional federal reimbursement and supports the financial sustainability of the program. Research links regular breakfast consumption to improved health outcomes, higher test scores, and fewer behavioral and health office referrals. The Board unanimously approved the new meal pricing.

Safe & Secure Schools Grant: The new middle school officer would rotate buildings annually alongside a school counselor and Assistant Principal, following the same student cohort from HMS7 to HMS8. The goal is to provide continuity for students who spend one year at each building.

Cell Phone Policy Update: The Board adopted revisions to cell phone policy JCDC in response to state legislation taking effect July 1, 2026. The updated policy defines the school day as beginning at the first bell and ending at the final bell.

Staff-to-Student Communication Policy: The Board adopted new policy IIBGC, which limits staff-to-student communications to District-approved applications only. This policy was also adopted in response to recently passed state legislation.

Executive Session
The Board convened in Executive Session to discuss potential items for 2026–2027 contract negotiations, pursuant to the employer-employee negotiations exception under KOMA, and to discuss personnel matters pursuant to the non-elected personnel exception under KOMA. Upon returning to open session, the Board approved the Personnel Report as published.

Next Meeting
The next regularly scheduled Board of Education meeting will be held on Monday, June 22, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at 1520 N. Plum, Hutchinson. The agenda will be posted in advance at www.usd308.com/boe.

Check out the USD 308 Summer Newsletter and Don't Miss a Thing This Summer!
✅ Last Day of School — It's Almost Here!
🎓 Graduations & Ceremonies — Celebrate Our Salthawks!
☀️ Summer Activities
🚘 Driver's Education
🍽️ Free Kids Summer Meals
📋 26-27 Enrollment Dates
https://app.smore.com/n/05v2g3

📣We’re listening, Hutch!

USD 308 is gathering community feedback following the November bond election. Your insights will help guide our next steps.

⏳ The survey only takes a few minutes!
🔗 www.usd308.com/survey

Thank you for helping us grow and improve. 💙

#USD308 #Salthawks #CommunityInput #BetterTogether

💬 Hutchinson Public Schools needs your input!

We’re reflecting on the recent bond election and want to better understand what matters most to our community.
✔️ What are your priorities?
✔️ What should we consider moving forward?

Take a few minutes to complete our survey today:
🔗 www.usd308.com/survey