CAPTION: Hutchinson USD 308 Board Member Lance Patterson was unable to attend the board’s Monday evening meeting and Hatcher, a lil’ hawk associated with the Early Education Center, took his seat. CREDIT RICHARD SHANK
By Richard Shank
Dr. Dawn Johnson, USD 308 Superintendent of Schools, in remarks to the Hutchinson USD 308 Board of Education Monday evening, said nearly 50% of respondents to a recent survey oppose a two-hour delay to start school during times of inclement weather.
“46% of those (parents) responding to the survey did not favor a late start while 39% were interested,” Johnson said.
The Board of Education briefly discussed the issue immediately following Dr. Johnson’s remarks and later in the meeting but took no action.
Krystal Young, Deputy Superintendent for USD 308, is currently crisscrossing Kansas from Hays to Manhattan to interview applicants for vacancies in the 2025-2026 school year.
“We are attending multiple collegiate career fairs and conducting interview days in the coming months, as well as hosting in-person interview days within the district,” Young said. “One common thread we hear in the interview and hiring efforts are that people are hearing great things about Hutchinson from our current employees.”
Also, Young reported on the Parent Teacher Conferences, which were conducted Oct. 10, 2024, and Jan. 30, 2025. New this year, Hutchinson Middle School offered virtual conferences in the morning and in-person meetings in the afternoons and evenings, which matches the practices of Hutchinson High School.
Board of Education Vice President Darcie Canfield-Riggs spoke of a newly revised accreditation system completed for Kansas. The board will hear a formal presentation from the Curriculum Instruction and Assessment Team soon.
Johnson talked about a recent piece of mail that was received in the Superintendent’s office from a 96-year-old man in California who recently purchased a postcard at a second-hand store in the Golden State. The picture on the front of the postcard was of Hutchinson High School in 1915. Johnson said the postcard includes elaborate cursive handwriting on the back side of the card and was originally mailed with a one-cent stamp or about 75 times less than today’s postal rates. Dr. Johnson said she plans to correspond with the person to offer the school district’s thanks.
The next scheduled meeting of the USD 308 School Board is scheduled for 6 p.m., Feb. 24 in the USD Administration Center at 1520 North Plum Street.
