HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The USD 308 School Board Monday agreed to proceed with the purchase agreement for the historic Town Club in downtown Hutchinson. The $200,000 purchase price will be paid from capital outlay funds, money that is set aside for capital improvements and repairs.

The initial plans for the facility are to use it as an alternate site for middle school students. The facility is adjacent to Hutchinson Middle School–7.

The location of Monday’s meeting allowed district and Faris staff to walk the board through the building. The facility needs additional space for classrooms and offices. Since 2015-16, the total number of students with individual education plans has jumped 35 percent to 99 in the 2017-18 school year. As a result, there are more special education teachers in the building and more students are needing assistance from social workers and counselors.

Proposed plans would add four classrooms to the northeast corner of the building, requiring the move of playground equipment currently there. It would also add office and counseling spaces within the building and expand the cafeteria/auditorium/gymnasium. The cafeteria was designed for a building with fewer students. When the building went from a 1.5 section-per-grade facility to a two-section facility with the 2006 bond issue, the cafeteria was not enlarged.