State action will determine depth of school budget cuts

Written by Don Ratzlaff Tuesday, 16 March 2010 18:25

Superintendent Steve Noble said he sees the educational value of athletic participation for a broad spectrum of students. “It’s probably our most effective at-risk program because we can tie so many policies that prevent at-risk type of behavior because (athletics) is not a property right of the student, it’s a privilege,” he said. Like most school districts across the state, Unified School District 410 is hoping for the best but preparing for the worst with the likelihood of another reduction in state aid for the 2010-11 school year.

At last Monday’s school board meeting, superintendent Steve Noble released a list of cuts that could be made if the district faces its worst-case scenario of a $475,000 reduction from the current year’s budget.

The list of cuts totaled $360,300, including the elimination of five high school sports programs—softball, baseball, golf, girls’ tennis and boys’ tennis—as well as middle school wrestling.

The strategy also includes transfering $175,000 from the district’s operating reserve, which is a one-month emergency...

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Five HHS athletic programs considered for elimination

Written by Don Ratzlaff Tuesday, 16 March 2010 18:23

Courtney Weber prepares to swing at a pitch during the softball team’s first trip to state last spring. Softball is one of five athletic programs that may be cut for the 2010-11 school year. Superintendent Steve Noble said he’s not personally in favor of eliminating athletic programs from the USD 410 program, but he defends the appropriateness of considering the move in challenging financial times.

“We said at the start that everything is on the table,” Noble said of the process undertaken to identify more than $360,000 in potential cuts. “The leadership team said it’s time we put sports on the table, and I applaud them for that.”

Five high school programs (and their cost) ended up on the consideration list of 36 potential cuts: softball ($9,300), baseball ($11,800), golf ($6,100) and girls’ tennis and boys’ tennis ($9,300 total).

Middle school wrestling ($3,000) also is on the list.

Noble said the board...

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Hillsboro and Marion girls claim sub-state championships and a trip to state

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 09 March 2010 19:34

Sub-state champs at Sterling

The Hillsboro Trojans huddle behind their championship plaque after defeating Remington, 35-21, in the title game Saturday. It will be the second straight state appearance at Hutchinson in three years under coach Nathan Hiebert, and the 14th trip for HHS since high school girls’ basketball was revitalized in Kansas in 1971-72. The Trojans (18-5) will play Garden Plain (18-5) at 8:15 p.m. Thursday. See Sports for tournament details.

 Sub-state champions at Eureka

Marion’s four senior leaders hold up their championship plaque following the Warriors’ 52-41 win over the home team from Eureka. Marion made it to the finals Friday by upsetting top-seeded Burlington, 54-52. Burlington came into the game with...

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Summit probes Hillsboro’s economic future

Written by Don Ratzlaff Tuesday, 09 March 2010 19:29

USD 410 Superintendent Steve Noble begins his presentation on youth attraction with a clip from the movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Nearly 40 community leaders in business, education and city government gathered Friday for a day-long conversation about the future and economic development of Hillsboro.

Billed as the Hillsboro Economic Development Strategy Summit, participants heard presentations on four topics—entrepreneurship, wealth retention, youth attraction and community leadership—then formed breakout groups on each of the topics.

The four groups returned for one last plenary session with ideas for implementation written on sheets of newsprint. Participants then afixed adhesive stars on each sheet to support the ideas they felt had the most merit or importance.

“We got some good feedback from the breakout sessions, and I believe we developed some...

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