Takeaways from Newton USD 373 School Board Meeting
Week of June 23, 2026
Newton USD 373 Board awards contract to Simpson Construction Services for bond project
Chartwells selected as new food service provider
Tentative contract agreement reached with teachers
Newton USD 373 braces for state CTE funding cuts
Newton USD 373 Board reviews stricter student cellphone policy
Drum and bugle corps opens summer practices to public
Officials encourage families to use Sunflower Summer app
Newton USD 373 Board awards contract to Simpson Construction Services for bond project
NEWTON, Kan. — The Newton USD 373 Board of Education voted 6-0 to award the construction manager at risk contract to Simpson Construction Services for the district's upcoming bond project. The decision followed a competitive selection process involving four companies, with Simpson earning the highest score from the selection committee. District officials noted the tight scoring and praised the quality of presentations from all participating firms, which also included Hutton, McCownGordon and a fourth contractor.
Chartwells selected as new food service provider
NEWTON, Kan. — Chartwells has been selected as Newton USD 373's food service management company for the 2026-2027 school year, pending final approval from the Kansas State Department of Education. The Newton USD 373 Board of Education approved the contract 6-0 after a committee evaluated multiple vendor proposals, with Chartwells emerging as the highest-scoring candidate. District administrators will now negotiate the final details of the contract.
Tentative contract agreement reached with teachers
NEWTON, Kan. — A tentative agreement has been reached between Newton USD 373 and its staff following a swift, 24-hour negotiation process. District administrators praised the interest-based bargaining approach used during the talks, highlighting the high level of trust and collaboration between the district and the Newton Teachers Association. Details of the agreement will be released to staff at a later date.
Newton USD 373 braces for state CTE funding cuts
NEWTON, Kan. — The Newton USD 373 Board of Education unanimously approved memorandums of understanding with Hutchinson Community College regarding career and technical education and merged students. District administrators noted recent state legislative changes, including the passage of House Bill 2485, will result in an 11 percent funding cut, leading to significant lost revenue for the district. School officials expressed frustration over the state-level cuts, emphasizing that Newton USD 373 will need to maintain a larger cash balance in its CTE fund to absorb the financial impact for the upcoming school year.
Newton USD 373 Board reviews stricter student cellphone policy
NEWTON, Kan. — The Newton USD 373 Board of Education approved a first reading of a revised student personal electronic communications devices policy to align with updated state guidelines banning the use of devices by most students during the school day. Concurrently, the board reviewed drafts of the Newton High School student handbooks, which currently stipulate that personal devices should not be brought to school and will be confiscated if seen. District leadership plans to hold further discussions to finalize the enforcement details and logistical application of the device policy.
Drum and bugle corps opens summer practices to public
NEWTON, Kan. — The Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps is holding its summer practices at Bethel College in North Newton through July 4. The group, consisting of musicians ages 15 to 25 from across the country, offers free public viewing of its practices daily, with evening stadium sessions running from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The corps will perform a full show on July 4 as a thank-you to the Newton community before beginning its national tour.
Officials encourage families to use Sunflower Summer app
NEWTON, Kan. — Newton USD 373 families are encouraged to take advantage of the state's Sunflower Summer program, which will run from July 9 to Aug. 2. The state-sponsored program offers Kansas families with school-aged children, from pre-K through 12th grade, free admission to various educational and recreational attractions across the state. District administrators highlighted the program as a highly valuable resource for keeping local children active and engaged during the summer break.
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