By Lucky Kidd
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Valarie Gibson-Smith is back on the Hutchinson USD 308 Board of Education. Gibson-Smith, who finished 7th in a 11-candidate rate for four board positions last November and was at the time board president, was selected on a 5-0 vote Monday night to fill the remainder of the term of Kail Denison in January. Board member Lance Patterson recused himself from the vote. She was nominated and selected after a motion to appoint Gregory Johnson failed to get a second.
The Board approved early graduation of juniors in the Hutchinson Virtual School who have completed all district and state graduation requirements earlier than their cohort year.
The board also approved the creation of a Chess Club at Hutchinson High School, a memorandum of understanding with Hutch Rec related to the Stay for Play summer camp program and use of Graber Elementary School for it, and program assurances for the Parents as Teachers program.
A pair of software agreements were approved. One of them is for mobile device management and client software configuration and management for Apple computers and tablet devices, and the other software program the district utilizes for a variety of personnel and other human resources matters.
The board also accepted a bid from Allen Samuels for purchase of a new Head Start Van, as the lowest of two bids submitted, and authorized grant submissions on behalf of the Educational Support Center and Child Care Center.
