6 takeaways from Hutchinson USD 308 school board meeting
November 10 2025
School board weighs options after bond failure, warns of potential levy increase
District nears end of math curriculum pilot program
District leaders conduct “learning walks” to hear student voices
Teacher development program receives high marks from staff
Parent-teacher conference attendance varies widely by school level
Enrollment figures more stable than initially reported
School board weighs options after bond failure, warns of potential levy increase
HUTCHINSON, Kan. - Following the recent failure of the school bond proposal, the Hutchinson USD 308 Board of Education on Monday discussed the path forward, with Superintendent Dawn Johnson noting a capital outlay levy increase may be necessary. Johnson explained that to fund critical maintenance projects like HVAC and flooring, which the bond would have covered, the district will likely need to raise the capital outlay mill levy. She also presented options for a future $86 million bond, down from the proposed $109.5 million. Board members expressed a need to pause and gather more community feedback to understand why the measure failed before considering another election.
Rica Simpson
District nears end of math curriculum pilot program
HUTCHINSON, Kan. - Hutchinson Public Schools is in the final stages of a comprehensive K-12 math curriculum adoption process, Director of Secondary Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Lisa Yantes told the board. Teachers and students are currently piloting the third and final proposed resource. In an approach Superintendent Dawn Johnson called “innovative,” the district has surveyed students in grades 7-12 for direct feedback on the usability and effectiveness of each program. A task force will review all data in December, with a final recommendation expected to be presented to the board for approval in February. The previous math curriculum is nearly a decade old.
District leaders conduct “learning walks” to hear student voices
HUTCHINSON, Kan. - As part of the district’s “Visible Learning” initiative, administrators recently conducted district-wide learning walks, visiting 79 classrooms and speaking directly with 552 students. Board members heard that the goal was to ask students what they were learning, why it was important and how they knew they were successful. The report highlighted that students, particularly those in career and technical education courses, were excited to share their knowledge and demonstrated critical thinking. The walks are part of a larger effort to ensure instruction is effective and engaging from the students’ perspective.
Teacher development program receives high marks from staff
HUTCHINSON, Kan. - The district’s investment in professional development through its Visible Learning program is receiving overwhelmingly positive feedback from educators. A report to the board revealed that 97 percent of participating teachers felt the content was relevant to their role, and 98 percent believed the presenter was knowledgeable. The program focuses on instructional strategies, classroom management and teacher support. Board members praised the data as evidence that the district’s resources are making a tangible impact on teaching quality and staff morale.
Parent-teacher conference attendance varies widely by school level
HUTCHINSON, Kan. - The district reported strong parent engagement at the elementary level but significantly lower turnout for middle and high school conferences this fall. According to data shared with the board, 94 percent of elementary school families participated in conferences. That number dropped to between 60-61 percent for middle school parents and 32 percent for high school parents. However, officials noted that high school parents also connected with teachers through 68 phone calls and 415 emails, demonstrating that engagement takes different forms for older students.
Enrollment figures more stable than initially reported
HUTCHINSON, Kan. - Superintendent Dawn Johnson issued a correction to previously reported enrollment numbers, stating that the district is down only eight students from last year, not 53 as originally thought. The discrepancy was due to a tracking error where pre-K students moved to a new building and were not initially included in the count. After correcting the data, Johnson confirmed that district enrollment has remained largely flat, a sign of stability.
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