HUTCHINSON, Kan. — When business and industry leaders meet with educators, talk of academic test scores may come up. Inevitably, the conversation turns to such topics as “will graduates show up to work on time,” “will they show up dressed for work and ready to start each day” and “are they able to learn the way we do things?”

Monday, the Hutchinson School Board took a look at district students’ “soft skills,” known as “employability skills.” The board reviewed graduation rates for Hutchinson High School, attendance rates and college and career ready schools and recognition.

Hutch High’s four-year graduation rate for the class of 2017 was 85.38 percent, up from 81.5 percent for the class of 2016. The attendance rate for all district students slipped to 93.96 percent from 94.83 percent. Attendance rates were close to the state average.

Also during Monday’s meeting, the board recognized long-time board member Jeff Nichols for his 16½ years of service on the board. Nichols did not run for re-election this year, and Monday’s meeting was his last regular board meeting.

The board also reviewed Governance Culture in the areas of officers’ roles, board committees, annual work plan, board members’ code of conduct, board members’ conflicts of interest and the process for addressing board member violations.