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CAPTION: 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 Kate Irelan

Superintendent of Hutchinson USD 308 Dr. Dawn Johnson at the Hutchinson USD 308 Board of Education meeting reported that the Kansas State Department of Education suspended their application for $109 million in state bonds because the bond cap was exceeded, and the district will not be able to hold a vote on April 1.

“I had talked in the past about possibly exceeding the bond cap, and I was given every indication that the bond cap has not been exceeded before and that we’d be fine,” Johnson said. Unfortunately, that is not the case. So the bottom line is that we cannot vote on April 1.”

The district will have to pick another date. Johnson highlighted conclusions from the KSDE Deputy Commissioner as to why the bond cap was exceeded. The state board had received applications prior to USD 308’s application in December, leaving a remaining balance of $263 million in the bond pool. The state board reviews applications monthly, and four schools applied in December, including Hutchinson, which exceeded the cap.

“There’s just a lot of schools putting in for new construction,” said Johnson. She explained that the state board then prioritizes the applications according to the state statute using criteria including building safety and disability access, enrollment growth and imminent overcrowding, delivery of educational services, and energy use and efficiency. Then applications are considered in the order they are received.

Johnson said that the state board bond hearings were held on Dec. 20 and after approving applications from two other schools ranking higher in the needs assessments, the remaining balance in the bond cap was $89 million. Hutchinson’s application was for $109 million. 

The schools that received state approval will have their local elections, and if one of their bonds fails, that amount will go back into the state bond pool, and Hutchinson might have another opportunity for their application to be approved.

“We don’t have to go through another hearing or application process again, but do have to set a new date to vote for a resolution,” Johnson said. “We could pick a date before this school year is over, but the challenge is that if we pick a date hoping, then we’d have to cancel it if the money isn’t available.” 

Johnson said that summer is not as good a time to engage families for a vote, and there are no primary elections they could piggyback off of the costs until November. Not having a primary vote means the school district will have to pay for a special election. 

“A special election costs $19,400, which we were already going to do in April,” Johnson said. “To have a mail-in election, it would cost $40,000 for postage. September is not a good time because the polling location is at the Fairgrounds and you know what happens at the fairgrounds in September, the Kansas State Fair.”

She said that the cost to move a polling location would cost an additional $12,000 to notify the community of the new location by mail and the voter turnout will likely be poor because of confusion. The only option that will cost nothing will be to hold a vote in November. 

If the district has to wait until next year, they will be first in line for the state board to reconsider their application. No action was requested of the school board.

The USD 308 board meets every second and fourth Monday of the month at 6:00 p.m. in the Administration Center, 1520 N. Plum. For more information and to view the agenda or minutes of the meetings, visit their website, https://www.usd308.com/page/boe

CAPTION: 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 Kate Irelan Superintendent of Hutchinson USD 308 Dr. Dawn Johnson at the Hutchinson USD 308 Board of Education meeting reported that the

Thursday Jan 16

  • Coffee at The Cosmosphere, 9 – 10 a.m. at the Cosmosphere. Presenting “CosmoShox: Wichita Sate’s 2025 NASA SUITS Team”
  • Third Thursday Downtown, 6 – 8 p.m. in Memorial Hall, 101 S Walnut St.

Friday Jan 17

  • Kansas Mission of Mercy, beginning at 5:30 a.m. in the Meadowlark Building on the Kansas State Fairgrounds, 2000 N Poplar St. Visit Kansas Dental Charitable Foundation for more information
  • Money Mastery 101, 6 p.m. at Stringer Fine Arts Center, 600 E 11th Ave, part of the Martin Luther King Jr Celebration ’25. Q&A sessions, consultations with industry experts, budging and credit, investments, life insurance, trusts and estates, family planning, Home Buying 101, Entrepreneurship 101
  • “Sonic The Hedgehog 3,” 7 p.m. at the Cosmosphere. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8.50 for children and $9 for seniors. Ask at the box office for the Movie Night Combo for adults

Saturday Jan 18

  • Kansas Mission of Mercy, beginning at 5:30 a.m. in the Meadowlark Building on the Kansas State Fairgrounds, 2000 N Poplar St. Visit Kansas Dental Charitable Foundation for more information
  • #Lead The Change Summit, 11 a.m. at Stringer Fine Arts Center, 600 E 11th Ave, at Stringer Fine Arts Center, 600 E 11th Ave, part of the Martin Luther King Jr Celebration ’25
  • “Sonic The Hedgehog 3,” 7 p.m. at the Cosmosphere. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8.50 for children and $9 for seniors. Ask at the box office for the Movie Night Combo for adults
  • Nicolle Galyon & Friends Live at Hutchinson’s Historic Fox Theatre, 7:30 p.m. A fundraiser benefitting the firstborn fund, For more information and to purchase tickets online, visit the event page

Sunday Jan 19

  • The Community Celebration, 2 p.m. at Stringer Fine Arts Center, 600 E 11th Ave, part of the Martin Luther King Jr Celebration ’25.
  • The Concert: Songs of Faith, 3:30 p.m. at Stringer Fine Arts Center, 600 E 11th Ave, part of the Martin Luther King Jr Celebration ’25.
  • “Sonic The Hedgehog 3,” 5 p.m. at the Cosmosphere. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8.50 for children and $9 for seniors. Ask at the box office for the Movie Night Combo for adults

Thursday Jan 16 Coffee at The Cosmosphere, 9 - 10 a.m. at the Cosmosphere. Presenting “CosmoShox: Wichita Sate’s 2025 NASA SUITS Team” Third Thursday Downtown, 6 - 8 p.m. in Memorial Hall, 101 S Walnut St. Friday Jan 17 Kansas Mission of Mercy, beginning at 5:30 a.m. in the

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By John Mesh The winning streak is now five in a row for the Hutchinson Community College men’s basketball team. The Blue Dragons came from behind in the second half to defeat Pratt Community College 87-77 Saturday at the Dennis Lesh Sports Arena in Pratt. The Blue Dragons improved to

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CAPTION: U.S. Senator Roger Marshall speaks to reporters in a Zoom press conference held Friday, Jan. 10. CREDIT SCREEN CAPTURE FROM ZOOM By Michael Glenn U.S. Senator Roger Marshall discussed the beginning of the 119th Congress in a press conference Friday afternoon.  Marshall said he and Republican Senators

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Graphic courtesy of Blue Dragon Sports Information By John Mesh The No. 1 Hutchinson Community College women’s basketball team posted its 89th victory in 100 meetings with a 92-47 victory over Pratt Community College Saturday afternoon at Dennis Lesh Sports Arena in Pratt. The Hutchinson women now are

By Michael Glenn

When I heard on the TV stations that Hutchinson was going to get a decent amount of snow right before Trinity began its second semester, I didn’t think too much about it. 

Especially when it comes to winter weather, I always think Hutch will get the short end of the stick. Either the storm goes around us or we don’t get anything at all. 

I am now glad to say that I was wrong about that. 

With the ice and snow we received this past weekend and the additional snow we received Thursday and Friday, it’s safe to say that we did not miss out on a winter wonderland this year. 

I’ve always enjoyed snow. When I was growing up, it was more common for schools to cancel the morning of the school day rather than the evening before. As so, I spent many winter days with my parents watching the little rotating hot bar on the news to see if we had canceled school.

As a student, snow is amazing. However, as a driver and reporter, snow can be a pain. While schools and other businesses may have the option to call of operations that day, some industries can’t. 

We should be thankful for the first responders and city workers who worked tirelessly to ensure that Hutchinson didn’t come to a halt for winter weather. Especially with the hard ice we received over the weekend, it isn’t easy to get that off the ground in a timely manner. 

While there are still some slick spots and not fun places to drive in Hutchinson, the City did a fine job salting and plowing the roads to cause the least amount of inconvenience possible. 

I’d also like to discuss a shape-up in the Hutchinson City Council. The council elected Stacy Goss to serve as mayor at their last meeting, and I believe it’s a great thing for Hutchinson. 

As we try to grow and incentivize new people to live here, we have to have public officials who are embedded in the community. Three out of the five council members own businesses that contribute to the business community in Hutchinson, and Goss works for Hutchinson Public Schools. I’m sure she has great goals in mind for our city to reach.

We need a young, diverse city council that can culminate ideas to attract young people and families who will establish roots and stay in Hutchinson, and we have the proper council to do that.

By Michael Glenn When I heard on the TV stations that Hutchinson was going to get a decent amount of snow right before Trinity began its second semester, I didn’t think too much about it.  Especially when it comes to winter weather, I always think Hutch will

CREDIT Visit Topeka

By Gina Long

The 2025 Kansas legislative session gavels in on Monday, January 13, and I have a few suggestions for Reno County’s new and incumbent representatives.

  • Property tax relief for working families and elderly homeowners is the top priority cited by voters. Reno County’s property valuations are skyrocketing, and even with a hefty increase in the tax-exempt base amount, increases are reaching a critical tipping point. The cost pass-through raises rent amounts, harming low-income workers, retirees and small businesses. The legislature can help by broadening the tax base, beginning with holding corporations who beg for tax breaks with hat in hand, who then send profits out of state instead of investing in the Kansas workforce, then passing the shifts through as state-level property tax cuts.
    • Why was a bill to change Daylight Saving Time the first filed? See the first point.
    • Invest in updating computer systems. Aging infrastructure and applications based on computer code created in the late 1960s are not sustainable in the 21st century. As critical state services and functions move online, citizens should expect their data to be protected and networks to defend against fraud. Systems investments include people, and Kansas universities train thousands of IT graduates yearly. What can our legislators do to encourage those high-skilled workers to stay here?
    • Give the Kansas Corporation Commission the power to stand up to utility companies. Utility rates higher than those in surrounding states cost working families, the elderly, and small businesses the most and discourage investment and entrepreneurship. They make Kansas less competitive than surrounding states. Every dollar sent out of state to multibillion-dollar hedge funds impoverishes the Main Street economy. Encourage energy production from multiple sources — Kansas has the land and the know-how to be an energy producer.
    • Rural depopulation is an existential danger. Well-paying jobs with benefits, strong schools, quality affordable housing, and child care are investments in the rural future. It is possible to support rural and urban areas without pitting them against each other. However, Kansas will not survive without a comprehensive water management plan based on cooperation instead of burdensome mandates.
    • Finally, I expect our elected officials to represent us. Not Wichita, Topeka, Johnson County, Texas, Missouri, or Washington, D.C. All power is inherent in the people, and a rising tide lifts all boats. This includes the big boats, the loud boats, and the boats with the biggest wallets.

    Best of luck during this year’s session. Make us proud and try to stay out of the bad headlines. Be worthy of the hallowed walls through which you walk. We will be watching.

    CREDIT Visit Topeka By Gina Long The 2025 Kansas legislative session gavels in on Monday, January 13, and I have a few suggestions for Reno County's new and incumbent representatives. Property tax relief for working families and elderly homeowners is the top priority cited by voters. Reno County's

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    CAPTION: Hutchinson Trinity High School alumnus Kaleb Hammeke is now the all-time leading men’s scorer in Fort Hays State University history. CREDIT FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION By John Mesh The Fort Hays State University men’s basketball team improved to 10-4 overall and 3-2 in the MIAA with a