By Adam Stewart
Hutchinson Tribune Staff
HUTCHINSON—The Hutchinson USD 308 Board of Education scheduled three special meetings to interview candidates to become the district’s next superintendent of schools during its regular meeting on Monday, Nov. 9.
Superintendent Dawn Johnson announced in August that she will retire at the end of June 2027.
Interviews will be 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 16; Wednesday, Nov. 18; and Thursday, Nov. 19, all at the administration center, 1520 N. Plum St. More details will be announced as the interviews approach.
The board scheduled the interviews after meeting in closed executive session for 55 minutes: five minutes with Johnson and 50 minutes with ESSDACK Executive Director Shiloh Vincent, who is assisting with the superintendent search.
Bond discussion
The board discussed holding another bond election, following the Nov. 3 defeat of its 12-year, $36 million bond proposal by 130 votes.
Board President Lance Patterson read an email he sent to people who had been involved in the bond campaign, saying he was disappointed in the result, but it was close, and he was proud of the work the board did.
Other board members said they felt encouraged by how much the vote swung from the November 2025 bond, from a 74-26 rejection to 51-49.
“We owe it to the community to go for another one,” Board Member Laura Corey said.
Johnson presented precinct-level results prepared by Director of Marketing & Communications Stacy Goss. The 2025 vote was rejected in every precinct, but 14 precincts had approval rates above 50%, she said.
“Every precinct was a move in a positive direction,” Johnson said.
Board Member Lindsey Hatfield said the big difference told her the new middle school in the 2025 bond proposal, which was removed from the Nov. 3 proposal, was a major sticking point for a lot of voters. But she said she didn’t see voters’ feelings about the economy and taxes changing significantly between now and March—the next opportunity for a bond election.
Goss said she would request additional detail on voter turnout from the Reno County Election Office later this week.
Johnson said the board could put a bond question on a March 2027 special election, but it would need to approve a resolution to do so in December, most likely at its Dec. 14 regular meeting.
She said the district could look at trimming parts from the bond, such as omitting new classrooms that would have been added with gym additions at Allen STEM Magnet School and Graber and Wiley elementary schools, to lower the bond amount and either the mill levy required to repay it or the length of the bond.
Corey said the additional gyms were important to include to give teachers planning time—which is an issue frequently discussed in contract negotiations—and to have equity across elementary schools.
“Gyms are not just gyms,” she said.
Board Member Tad Dower said he spoke with a patron who compared the district to a homeowner—responsible homeowners maintain their homes as they go, but sometimes they still have to take out a second mortgage to reroof their home.
Hatfield said she didn’t think she was likely to vote to put another bond issue on a ballot soon, but one option is to split it into two questions: one for safety and security projects and one for roofs and HVAC updates.
Dower said he didn’t think the board should wait too long to hold another bond election.
“It’s top of mind for people,” he said.
Future budgets
Finance Director Abby Stockebrand presented about future enrollment projections and how enrollment changes would affect district budgets.
Based on current class sizes and Reno County birth numbers in recent years, she projected enrollment declining by more than 200 students between now and the 2029-30 school year. Under current the current state funding formula, that would result in nearly $3 million less in the general fund and local option budget.
“That could change if the formula changes,” Johnson said.
The current school funding formula is scheduled to expire July 1, 2027.
Johnson said the district couldn’t absorb that budget change just making small changes.
Corey said she appreciated the administration presenting the information early.
“It will continue to be important to talk about this over and over again,” Corey said.
Health insurance
The board approved increasing the district’s monthly contribution to classified and administrative employees’ health insurance from $615 to $700, effective Jan. 1, 2027.
Open enrollment for the district’s health insurance plan begins Tuesday, Nov. 10.
Certified staff remain under their continuing contract while negotiations on the next contract are ongoing. Later in the meeting, the board met in closed executive session for 55 minutes to discuss negotiations.
Consent agenda
As part of the consent agenda, the board approved the purchase of supplemental math instructional materials from McGraw Hill for $71,459. The materials will support small group interventions at the elementary school level and fit with the district’s larger “Number Worlds” math curriculum.
The board also approved a new facility use fee schedule, to take effect July 1, 2027. The fee schedule allows Kansas State High School Activities Association, parent-teacher association, parent-teacher organization and booster club activities to use facilities at no cost.
District employees and approved community benefit organizations will be able to use district facilities at discounted rates—generally 50%—relative to the general public. The fee schedule also allows cost-free use of facilities during a designated weekday practice window.
Fees for the general public range from $25 per hour for a classroom to $100 per hour for the Hutchinson High School Performing Arts Center, with lighting and sound.
Labor costs, generally $25 per hour, are in addition to facility use fees.
The next regular school board meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 23, at the administration center.