By Josh Meyer
USD 350 Superintendent
Special to the Tribune
The spring semester has had a challenging start in the St. John-Hudson school district. We began with a few snow days, followed by persistent winter weather and a significant wave of illness. As February comes to a close, I am hopeful that the worst is behind us.
At this point, we have exhausted our allotted snow days. The state mandates a minimum number of instructional hours, which must be met. As a result, we will likely need to make up at least one day. The board of education will determine when this time will be made up, most likely at the end of the school year in May. Families will receive further information once the threat of winter weather has passed.
The Mid-Winter Classic basketball tournament holds a long-standing tradition in our school and community. For 52 years, the St. John Lion’s Club organized the boys’ tournament. In 2021, they passed the responsibility to the school district, and since then, we have hosted it as a combined boys’ and girls’ tournament. This year marked the 57th annual St. John Mid-Winter Classic.
A committee of staff and community members provides input and support for the tournament’s operations. Additionally, numerous volunteers contribute to ensuring a positive experience for teams, officials, and spectators. The IOOF Lodge members now manage the concession stand. While the tournament has evolved over the years, it remains a fantastic community event that brings families and fans together. I am proud to see our community unite for this tradition and hope it continues for many years to come.
We have been working on a long-term facility plan to ensure our school buildings remain suitable for future generations. A facility assessment committee, consisting of community members, parents, staff, and board of education members, has been evaluating our current facilities and prioritizing future needs. Progress has been slow, in part due to the Quivira water rights issue, but we are now ready to move forward.
The board of education has partnered with Landmark Architects to assist with the facility assessment. Currently, the board is in the process of hiring a construction manager to help finalize plans for a potential bond project. Over the next few months, the facility committee will work closely with the architect and construction manager to determine priorities. The board aims to hold a bond election in November. Many details remain to be worked out, and we will keep the public informed as the process unfolds.
In January, we celebrated School Board Appreciation Month. I want to extend my sincere gratitude to our board of education members for their dedication to our community and public schools. These individuals develop policies and make critical decisions that shape the future of education. They are entrusted with being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars while ensuring the success of every student.
Please join us in thanking our school board members for their time, commitment, and advocacy on behalf of our children. The St. John-Hudson school district board members are: Derek Foote (President), Carl Behr (Vice President), Trey Burgan, Vance Fisher, Katrina Hickel, Aaron Roach, and Shawn Ward.
As always, if you have any questions, concerns, or would like to discuss any of these topics, please feel free to reach out to me at 620-549-3564 or meyerj@usd350.com. I am proud to be a Tiger and to serve USD 350 with Purpose, Passion, and Pride.
