HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Jeff Nichols was elected president of the USD 308 Board of Education for the 2014-15 school term during the annual organizational meeting of the body Monday evening. Mike Mendoza was elected vice president.
During Monday’s meeting, the board also discussed a minor change in the boundaries for Lincoln and Faris elementary schools. A public input meeting was held immediately before the Board meeting.
The board will formally consider moving Lincoln’s boundary north between Poplar and Main from its current boundary on Sherman north to the Burlington Northern/Santa Fe Railroad tracks at its July 28 meeting. The addition would be about six city blocks.
Fewer than 10 students in permanent housing live in the area and would be given the option to stay in their current schools.
As we have been telling you, the change was prompted by renovation of the Wiley Apartment Building, which is expected to open next winter. The apartments will have the potential for up to 68 “second or third bedrooms” that would allow families to live in the Wiley Apartments with children.
Currently, the Wiley Apartment Building and the nearby area east of Main Street is in the Faris Elementary School attendance area. Faris is nearing its capacity. Adjacent to the area to the south is the Lincoln Elementary School attendance area. Lincoln has room for additional students.
Monday’s meeting also took care of legal business, but largely routine business to start the school term.