HUTCHINSON, Kan. – Long-time Kansas State Board of Education Member Ken Willard honored three USD 308 schools Monday for their excellence during the USD 308 Board of Education meeting.
Willard recognized Graber Elementary School, Hutchinson Middle School and Hutchinson Magnet School at Allen as among the 99 schools in 34 school districts as recipients of the 2015 Challenge Awards.
The awards recognize Kansas schools that are making a notable difference in student achievement despite facing significant challenges in their school population. Since its inception in 2002, nearly 1,400 awards have been presented to schools across the state.
In math, the fifth and sixth grades at Graber and the seventh grade at Hutchinson Middle School were recognized. In reading, the third grade at Hutchinson Magnet School at Allen, fifth and sixth grades at Graber and seventh grade at Hutchinson Middle School were recognized.
During her Superintendent’s Report, Dr. Shelly Kiblinger told the Board staff soon would be sitting down with Hutchinson Police Department officials to formally debrief on last week’s incident at Hutchinson High School. Last week, police acted on threats against the school. Those threats were thwarted because an individual came forward.
Dr. Kiblinger expressed her thanks to Hutchinson Police for their rapid response to the case. She also encouraged parents to be aware of their students’ activities online and off-line.
Board members also took time to provide Dr. Kiblinger with concerns and comments they had heard from patrons, students and parents during the past week over things happening in the schools.