HUTCHINSON, Kan. – The USD 308 Board of Education held its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, January 26, 2026, addressing student advocacy, safety technology, and significant facility updates, including the nearing completion of the Lil’ Hawks Childcare Center.
Gabriel Marcum, the 2026 Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year and a Hutchinson High School sophomore, shared the positive influence the Club has had on his life. Marcum advocated for making naloxone—a medication that rapidly reverses opioid overdoses—available at all Club sites and in all school buildings.
Citing data on overdose deaths in Reno County, Marcum stressed the narrow window for intervention (about 20 minutes for adults and eight minutes for children). He voiced support for House Bill 2489, which would mandate school districts to stock naloxone, funded by the Kansas Fights Addiction Fund, and implement substance misuse education for high school students. Marcum will represent Hutchinson at the State Youth of the Year competition in Topeka on March 10.
Superintendent Dr. Johnson provided an update on several safety initiatives:
- Critical Response Group (CRG) Mapping: The district is continuing its collaboration with the City of Hutchinson on a grant-funded project to map local buildings, enhancing student and staff safety preparedness.
- ZeroEyes Software: The district is considering the ZeroEyes program, which utilizes the district’s existing live video feeds in all buildings to detect potential threats and provide real-time alerts to law enforcement. Funding for this software is expected to be provided by the State of Kansas.
Abby Stockebrand, Director of Finance, reported that construction on the Lil’ Hawks Childcare Center, located at the Morgan Elementary property, is nearing completion. She noted a significant portion of the funding came from an $872,211 grant from the Reno County Child Care Task Force.
The center, which broke ground in May 2025, is scheduled to open in late March. Lil’ Hawks is currently accepting applications for child care, preschool, and home-based services. Families can call 620-615-5784 or attend one of two application clinics:
- Monday, February 23, 3–7 p.m., Shirlie J. Hutcherson Center, 330 Charles St.
- Monday, March 20, 3–7 p.m., Lincoln Center, 315 E. Bigger
The Board approved a contract for the childcare center’s playground construction, which must be installed to meet KDHE licensing guidelines. The project includes three separate play areas with shade structures and artificial turf, funded by Head Start, Early Head Start, and Capital Outlay funds.
The Board approved several key contracts and measures:
- Skyward Migration: The district approved a contract to migrate from the Skyward SMS platform to the newer Qmlativ platform for student information and business operations, with the project expected to be completed in summer 2027.
- Robotic Mowers: A $30,225 purchase of three robotic mowers was approved, and the investment is projected to save the district $48,690 in mowing management contract costs in the first year.
- Facility Upgrades: Consent items included flooring replacement at Allen STEM Magnet School ($261,459), covering 80% of classrooms and hallways on the first and second floors.
Board members also discussed the potential of transitioning Hutchinson High School from a trimester to a semester schedule, a move being considered by Council Grove, which is the only other high school in Kansas currently utilizing the trimester schedule. No action was taken on the schedule change.
