From left: Board Members Gleysha Mendez-Rosario, Tad Dower, Cheryl Thompson, Darcie Canfield-Riggs, Valarie Gibson-Smith, Lance Patterson and President Laura Corey. CREDIT USD 308
By Richard Shank
In a 7-0 vote, the USD 308 Board of Education unanimously approved moving forward with a proposed $109 million bond election to fund upgrades to district buildings and facilities.
The vote initiates a 14-step process that will culminate in an April 25 vote by USD 308 patrons if all goes as planned.
Hutchinson businessman Jordan Fee, along with a group of community leaders, served on a Facility Master Plan Committee and spoke in advance of the vote about the 20-month study just completed.
Fee said the committee was made up of parents, teachers, administrators, and other community members. “We approached the assignment to find what is best for the kids in our community,” Fee said. “This is a community-wide initiative. To move our community forward, we must have good schools in this district.”
“We dreamed big and talked about what we want our schools to be like in 25-50 years,” Fee continued.
The committee’s mission was: “Educating and Empowering Salt Hawks for life.”
Twenty-three meetings were held, attracting more than 600 participants.
Board member Tad Dower complimented the committee’s untiring efforts to draw up a plan for voters to consider. “Serving on this committee required a lot of time spent away from family,” Dower said.
Discussion on the bond election will continue at the November 25 meeting when the Board of Education authorizes the filing of the application with the State Board of Education. Also, a final decision will be made regarding the language to be used on the ballot.
