HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The School Board for USD 308, the Hutchinson District didn’t consider closing any elementary schools at this point, but at Monday nights meeting, they did hear a report from Superintendent, Dr. Shelly Kiblinger on eliminating some classes and teachers as result of the continuing budget concerns. She called it removing one track. That would consist of dropping one class and teacher in each grade level from a larger kindergarten through sixth grade. And that would come from one of the larger elementary buildings such as McCandles, Morgan or Wiley. She says that seems to be the most popular idea from those who have been studying this issue.
That would include redrawing district boundaries in order to move kids. It’s expected that there would be one child added to all the other classes.
Board President Jeff Nichols talked about the budget problems the district is facing in light of the plans of the governor and even potential legislation being considered for the school funding formula. That could mean losses of over a half million dollars this year. He says its tough to make these decision, saying they were going through the same thing when he took a position on the board 11 years ago. Based on what could happen in Topeka, the loss of state aid would bring the level back to where it was in 2001.
Any decision by the board would make concerning changes to one of the elementary schools would mean those changes taking effect in the 2016-2017 school year.