By Lucky Kidd
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — As of Monday, Hutchinson USD 308’s enrollment is up a net 35 students from where the 2022-23 school year ended. Two significant factors from a report Superintendent Dawn Johnson presented to the USD 308 Board of Education Monday involve the combined Lincoln and McCandless elementary schools, which are now all at McCandless and saw a combined enrollment drop of 88 students, and Hutchinson High School which saw an increase of 80 students from where it ended the 2022-23 school year.
Johnson said Faris Elementary School saw an increase of 43 students, some from Lincoln and some from Pre-K students now at that building. Wiley Elementary School saw an increase of 33 students while Graber, Hutchinson STEM Magnet and Morgan had a combined increase of 13. Dr. Johnson also noted South Hutchinson Elementary School in USD 309 saw an increase of 30 students, some of whom came from Lincoln.
A drop of 27 students was noted at Hutchinson Middle School-7 which was attributed to a small incoming 6th grade class. Hutchinson Middle School-8 saw an increase of 20 students, while USD 308’s virtual program enrollment is down 29.
The Board approved a 2023-24 budget that slightly decreases the district’s mill levy but is still above the revenue neutral rate that would raise the same funds from property taxes as for the prior school year.
In addition to approving the budget and a resolution to exceed the revenue neutral rate the board also adopted the resolution setting the supplemental general fund, or local option budget, at 31.6 percent of the general fund. The local option levy for USD 308 had been 31 mills, and the district could have gone as high as 33 percent on it.
While Elementary students in Hutchinson USD 308 will have Friday off to attend the Kansas State Fair, middle and high school students do not. That situation was brought up by Board vice president Laura Corey and it was also raised at a Kansas State Fair Board meeting Tuesday.
Deputy Superintendent Krystal Young said when the 2023-24 school calendar was drafted there was very little wiggle room due to professional development days built-in and to keep the last day of school where it was in order to have an early start for summer. This issue is expected to be brought up again at a future meeting.
The Board approved submission of two grant applications. One application is from Wiley Elementary School through Credit Union of America seeking $755.90 for a white board with music staff for use in music classes, and the other is a $250r grant for Hutchinson Middle School-8 to the Kansas Beef Council for various types and cuts of beef for use in family and consumer science classes.
The board also accepted a number of gifts and grants, including a $1,000 grant from Central Prairie Coop for the FFA chapter at Hutchinson Career and Technical Education Academy. Also accepted was an anonymous donation of $300 for student meals at HMS-8, $200 in discount cards for Hutchinson STEM Magnet School through the Boy Scouts for winners’ choice prizes for STEM Star students and a donation of assorted supplies, snacks and essentials from Reno County Fire Departments.
