USD 308 Board of Education Approves Childcare Building Funding
HUTCHINSON, KS - The Board of Education of USD 308 will convened for a regular meeting on Monday, October 14, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. at the USD 308 Administration Center, located at 1520 N. Plum, Hutchinson.
The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance and a roll call to establish a quorum. Darcie Canfield-Riggs was absent. Key agenda items included IPS BOOST presentation, and the Daycare Expansion.
During Superintendent update, Dr. Johnson thanked the staff, students and community for their participation in the recent homecoming parade. She continued that USD 308 has been awarded a grant from the Kansas Leadership Center for the second consecutive year. During the first year staff and administrators attended in-person and virtual workshops to complete steps one and two of Your Leadership Edge. This year the District has extended the invitation to Board members as well. You can read more about the program on the KLC website.
The Board was informed of a handout provided at recent Parent-Teacher Conferences which defines chronic absenteeism. Reducing chronic absenteeism district wide by 3% is a strategic plan initiative under ‘Student Achievement Strategic Objectives & Organizational Goals’. The 2024-2028 Strategic Plan can be found here.
During the IPS BOOST Presentation, Deputy Superintendent Krystal Young introduced a team from HHS to provide the Board with feedback from a recent four-day event.. Shirley Yoder, CTE Curriculum & Pathways Specialist, presented, along with Lisa Yantes, Director of Secondary CIA; Keith Goetz, Career Development Facilitator; and Carolyn Morris, Lead Counselor. Yoder presented that HHS students recently held a four-day career and college focused BOOST event that provided students information about scholarships, FAFSA, admission requirements and dual credit opportunities. Each grade level held a one-day event tailored to their needs. Goetz affirmed that the counselors have been working on these goals with students individually for a long time but this event allowed them to broaden their reach and scope. At the end of each day students were required to write an email to a counselor that shared their career or college goals, lessons and feedback. The feedback received was positive.
Yoder thanked local businesses for their commitment to offering job shadowing and internships. She mentioned the efforts of the Career Quest program starting career exploration at the 6th grade level in partnership with the Hutchinson Chamber and many local business partners.
The Board unanimously approved a $1.6 million expenditure from Capital Outlay funds for the USD 308 Daycare Expansion. This allows the District to use $872,211 of grant funding from the State of Kansas and the Child Care Task Force, as approved and formalized at the September 23 Board Meeting. The Daycare Expansion project will build a one-story structure at the Northwest corner of the Morgan Elementary School lot, utilized under-used field space. This will increase the USD 308 childcare slots to 65. You can read more about the Daycare Expansion here.
The Superintendent’s Consent agenda contained four items: Accounts Payable – September 2024, McCandless RTU Replacement, Grand Requests, and Gifts to Schools. The consent agenda was approved unanimously.
The Board discussed personnel matters in an executive session, and approved the amended personnel report before adjourning.
The full agenda and board meeting times can be found at www.usd308.com/boe
**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
Press Contact:
Stacy Goss
Director of Communications
USD 308 Administration Center
Phone: 620-615-4048
Email: communications@usd308.com
www.usd308.com