USD 308 Board Advances School Safety, Construction Planning and Teacher Pipeline at Sept. 28 Meeting
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The USD 308 Board of Education unanimously approved every action item at its regular meeting on Monday, Sept. 28, at the district's Administration Center. The approvals included security and safety upgrades, the next step in construction planning, and a new effort to recruit elementary teachers mid-year.
Elementary Teacher Pipeline Initiative
The board approved the Elementary Teacher Pipeline Initiative, presented by Deputy Superintendent Dr. Krystal Young. The initiative included a request for six positions. Dr. Young explained that the district needs to make mid-year hires to replace long-term substitutes, and grant funding may cover the cost of four of the new hires. Hiring December graduates, she said, gives new teachers the chance to grow into their roles over the rest of the school year. As part of the initiative, Dr. Young will attend the Kansas State University College of Education Roundup in October. The district connects with many four-year colleges and universities during the fall hiring season.
Construction Manager at Risk Selection
After reviewing submittals, the board selected Wiens Construction, Hutton Construction and Simpson Construction to receive requests for Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) proposals. Superintendent Dr. Dawn Johnson explained that taking this step ahead of the bond vote means projects can move quickly if the bond passes. If the bond does not pass, the district has no commitment to a CMAR, and the firms will not be paid.
Security and Safety Investments
The board approved a $132,611 replacement of the district's security video storage system. The new system allows for growth as the district's needs change and has an anticipated lifespan of eight years. As part of the consent agenda, the board also approved $24,365.19 to replace vape detectors at Hutchinson High School through INA Alert. That purchase is made through Greenbush, which is on the state-approved bid list, and is funded by the Safe and Secure Schools grant.
Professional Learning and Family Engagement
The board approved $35,100 in additional Professional Learning Community (PLC) support through Seraphim Ed. It also adopted the district's Parent and Family Engagement Policy, which formalizes the family engagement practices the curriculum team already uses. The district supports family engagement through brochures, events and surveys. The curriculum team compiles the survey results and uses them to evaluate the program on an ongoing basis.
Early Literacy Update
Dr. Young and Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Lisa Yantes updated the board on early reading. This fall, 51% of incoming kindergartners tested at grade level, up from 41% two years earlier. Dr. Young credited the improvement to three things: the success of Lil Hawks programming, changes to the kindergarten curriculum, and continued professional development for kindergarten teachers.
Across kindergarten and first grade together, 38% of students scored at grade level. The curriculum team is examining how summer learning loss and the more demanding expectations at the start of first grade screener may be affecting those results.
The district measures early reading with FastBridge. Because FastBridge is only one of several screeners in use across Kansas, the district can't use it to compare its results with other districts or with statewide data. For the 2027-28 school year, the Kansas State Board of Education will adopt a single statewide screener, which will make allow for a uniform comparison of regional and statewide screener data.
Learning Walks
Yantes also reported on the district's recently completed learning walks. Over the past three weeks, the curriculum team and administrators made 151 classroom visits, covering every grade level at every school. During each visit, observers look for trends in four areas: the learning environment, teacher clarity, academic discussion, and high-level questioning. Yantes paid particular attention to the district's new math curriculum, but observers saw lessons across a range of subjects.
Students were part of the process too. Observers gathered 528 student responses, asking students whether they understood what they were learning and how they judge their own success. Yantes praised teachers and support staff for the strong work she saw in classrooms throughout the walks.
The district will conduct its next round of learning walks in spring 2027. In the meantime, each school conducts its own learning walks regularly to give teachers and support staff ongoing feedback.
Semester vs. Trimester Discussion
In her update, Dr. Johnson asked the board to reconsider the timing of its semester vs. trimester discussion. Delaying the decision until early 2027 would give the board more capacity to focus on the bond, CMAR selection and the superintendent search, along with other ongoing key initiatives. The district will remain on its current trimester schedule for the 2027-28 school year either way. Board members expressed support for delaying the conversation so they can fully consider the options.
Enrollment Count
Dr. Johnson also reported on this fall's official enrollment count. Each fall, Kansas schools take an official headcount on Sept. 20, or on the next school day if the 20th falls on a weekend. The number of students enrolled and attending on that day largely determines how much state funding the district receives for the entire school year. To soften the immediate impact of a decline, Kansas allows districts to use the prior year's enrollment for budgeting.
This year's count came in at 3,929 students. That number was expected, but it is down 172 students, or 4.2%, from last year's total of 4,101. Much of the decrease comes from the difference between the outgoing and incoming classes. The Class of 2026 had 357 graduates, and this year's kindergarten class has 242 students. The count will not be final until it is verified in the district's annual enrollment audit in summer 2027.
The decline mirrors a statewide trend. Kansas public school enrollment has dropped about 3% over the five years since 2019-20, a decline the Kansas Association of School Boards attributes mainly to falling birth rates and more people leaving the state than moving in. The state's 2023 birth rate of 11.6 births per 1,000 residents was the lowest on record.
Other Business
The board also approved:
Minutes of the Sept. 14, 2026, regular meeting
The August 2026 Treasurer's Report
The Head Start Federal Financial Report for 2025-26
Grant requests and gifts to schools
The personnel report
The board met in executive session to discuss employer-employee negotiations for 2026-27 contracts and non-elected personnel matters, as permitted under the Kansas Open Meetings Act.
The next regular meeting of the Board of Education is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 12, at 6 p.m. at the USD 308 Administration Center, 1520 N. Plum, Hutchinson.
About USD 308
Hutchinson Public Schools serves nearly 4,000 students of all ages and abilities, in person and online, across a 14-square-mile district in Reno County. With more than 950 employees, the district offers programs including the Hutchinson Career & Technical Education Academy, STEM and Arts, and the International Baccalaureate Programme, supported by state-of-the-art facilities
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 29, 2026
Contact: Stacy Goss, Director of Communications
USD 308 Hutchinson Public Schools
620-615-4048 | info@usd308.com