HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Kansas State Fair officials are still looking for a new general manager. Interim GM Bob Moeder says they may have a person for the job, but emphasized it isn’t him:
Moeder has been the Interim GM since Sue Sankey left late last year. Moeder says he hopes to have that person in place by the time the fair begins.
BUHLER, Kan. — The National Science Foundation has presented an award to a teacher in the Buhler
USD 313 School District. Heidi Harris has been selected to receive a Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Harris currently teaches at Union Valley Elementary School.
The PAEMST program, administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF) on behalf of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, recognizes outstanding teachers for their contributions to the teaching and learning of mathematics and science.
Harris will receive a citation signed by President Trump and a $10,000 award from NSF. Awardees will also travel to Washington, D.C., for an awards ceremony.
Information about this year’s Presidential awardees can be found at www.paemst.org.
SOUTH HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Reno County Public Works says no decision has been made as to whether
a bridge that collapsed northeast of Buhler will be replaced.
The 90-foot span over North Blaze Fork Creek gave way after a local farmer tried to pull a loaded grain cart across it.
Public Works Director Dave McComb says the bridge is co-owned with McPherson County. Officials there will have a say in whether the span is replaced.
Several county bridges have met the same fate as farmers and heavy equipment — brought on by the oil boom years ago — caused damage to small structures. Those bridges were not replaced.
The cost to replace the bridge could be in excess of $500,000.
BUHLER, Kan. — The Buhler USD 313 School Board got a chance to look over and discuss a proposed
policy for drug testing of students starting next year. No action was taken, but approval of the policy could come as early as the July board meeting.
The policy would cover all students participating in any extra curricular activity, including band, F.F.A. and all sports governed by the KSHSAA. The testing would cover students in 7th to 12th grade. It would include random drug testing, as well as random breathalyzer tests for alcohol.
The plan is to test about 10 percent of the high school students and five percent of students at Prairie Hills. The students and their parents or guardians would sign a waiver of consent for the testing.
A first offense would result in the loss of 10 percent of the scheduled activities or performances, or the remainder of the season, whichever comes first. A second offense would result in dismissal from that activity or sport for 90 school days. A third offense would cause dismissal from the sport or activity for a full calendar year, at which time the student must participate in a chemical assessment program and successfully complete a substance abuse program.
Buhler would join Nickerson USD 309 as an area school district with a drug testing policy if approved.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — After asking for major cuts to the budget, the Hutchinson City Council has asked
department heads to find another $1 million in cuts, which could amount to about three percent.
The request came during the latest budget meeting held Tuesday. The city recently asked the departments to cut five percent from the budget requests after numbers showed the city with an ending balance of less than $900,000. The cuts further pushed that number to around $3.2 million.
But the city wants an ending fund balance of at least $4.1 million. The number is important because it gives the city wiggle room in case of natural disaster or a major disruption in services. It also keeps the city’s financial health in order as low cash reserves can create higher interest rates on bonded projects.
Some of the cuts proposed Tuesday included the elimination of seven positions. The cuts would include the Assistant City Manager job, currently held by Meyrl Dye, and the Downtown Development Director position held by Jim Seitnater. Seitnater will move into a position with the Planning Department while Dye’s spot will become an administrative job.
During the meeting, councilman John Daveline asked that 10 percent cuts be made to the golf course, the airport, the special street fund and the animal shelter, along with the elimination or reduction of support for outside agencies — including the United Way, the cultural fund, and the arts and humanities fund. The cuts represented about half of the money needed to close the gap. There was also talk of eliminating the recently revived Community Police Program. Troy Hoover said he could come up with cuts elsewhere to keep what he says is a vital part of the department.
In the end, the council left it up to department heads to try and find the other three percent. “If they don’t identify it, we’re going to,” Councilman Dave Inskeep said.
Most department heads countered by saying that this really comes down to what services the community wants and the number and types of amenities the city can afford as to where cuts are made.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The USD 308 School Board voted to make more than $1.2 million worth of improvements to
Don Michael Field during Monday’s meeting. The vote was 6-1 in favor of installing artificial turf with new technology to keep the field cooler and drain better. The new technology is also safer in regard to impact protection with the playing surface. It also includes replacing the eight-lane track, which was last done in 2009.
The proposals come two weeks after the board approved new natural turf for the soccer field and one baseball practice field at the 308 sports complex on a split 4-3 vote. The cost of that project will be more than $350,000.
It’s also on the heels of the district spending $501,000 to light the soccer field and Don Michael Field. If approved, the district will have spent more than $1.8 million on athletic facilities since the start of the calendar year.
Board member Greg Meredith told the board he was against spending this kind of money. “I’d like to spend my money in the classroom,” Meredith said. He cast the single no vote.
If all goes well, the project would begin in November and be completed by the end of February.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Kansas Supreme Court Monday ruled for the third time in two years that
the state’s spending on public schools is inadequate despite an increase approved earlier this year, but gave the state another year to come up with more money. USD 308 Superintendent Gary Price commented on the court’s decision:
Price says one of the other major hurdles with the ruling is that this will hopefully end a long period of litigation that was also hampered by several economic factors:
Price also took time to comment on gubernatorial candidate Kris Kobach’s comments that the courts should stay out of school funding:
The high court rejected arguments from the state that a new law phasing in a $548 million increase in funding over five years is enough to provide a “suitable” education for every child as specified in the state constitution. But in a nod to the Legislature’s efforts, the court delayed its mandate until June 30, 2019, or until further order of the court.
Its decision allows Kansas schools to remain open for the upcoming school year.
BUHLER, Kan. — The Buhler USD 313 School Board will seek approval for a new collective bargaining
agreement with the KNEA representing teachers in the district during tonight’s agenda session. The new contract was approved by Buhler teachers over a four-day voting period.
Under the new contract, base pay for teachers will go up $1,000 to $35,269. Supplemental pay will also increase $1,000 to $26,000.
Teachers will also see the calendar decrease by one day.
Also tonight, the board will get a chance to look over and discuss a proposed policy for drug testing of students starting next year. No action will be taken, but approval of the policy could come as early as the July board meeting.
Buhler would join Nickerson USD 309 as an area school district with a drug testing policy if approved.
Monday’s meeting of the Buhler USD 313 School Board begins at 6 p.m. in the Burkholder Administrative Center in Buhler.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson City Council will take a hard look at the budget during a
study session scheduled for Tuesday.
The city is looking to cut another 5 percent from the 2019 numbers with some of that coming from personnel cuts. Personnel costs make up 68 percent of the general fund, which includes wages and benefits. Insurance and KPERS costs are also increasing again this year. With all that is currently on the budget, the city would need reserves of less than $900,000. The city should have about two-months worth of reserves in case of an emergency, such as a natural disaster. That two months is about $4.2 million.
Some major cuts are in the works, including the elimination of seven positions, involving six employees. The two major positions eliminated are the Assistant City Manager Position, currently held by Myrl Dye, and the Downtown development position, currently held by Jim Seitnater. It also includes two positions in Public Works, one from the Parks Department, and one each from the Street and Planning departments. Under the proposal, the Assistant City Manager job would be eliminated and replaced with a new lower-level administrative position.
The council will also look at other funding such as the United Way, the Cultural Activities Fund, the Arts Design Council for the city’s Sculpture Walk program and the Arts and Humanities Council. The four agencies alone account for more than $111,000 in funds.
Other cuts will have to come from deferred maintenance and equipment purchases.
The budget meeting of the Hutchinson City Council begins at 8 a.m. in the city offices.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Cosmosphere passerbys have probably noticed a small structure 
across the street to the south of the museum. The small structure will be the next step in science and study for the Cosmosphere.
The Cosmosphere is teaming up with the University of Kansas School of Engineering to study the use of drones.
Tracy Tomme, Executive Vice President and C.O.O. of the Cosmosphere, talked about the entry into drone technology:
Tomme says the “Drone Drome” was necessary so drones could be flown in a safe environment:
Tomme says KU is funding the program and is lending a hand in developing uses for the small drome:
While the structure is currently called the Drone Drome, the Cosmosphere is holding a friendly contest to see who can come up with a catchy name for the small, portable building. When the contest starts, residents can submit names on the Cosmosphere Facebook page or at cosmo.org. The winning name will be announced during the drome’s kickoff event in August.
