How is Dr. David Flowers doing and Who is the Red Ribbon Committee?

I hope I can give a deserving update on the USD 308 bond situation in a different light than what you have been able to hear and read about elsewhere.  First of all, can you believe that it has been over FIVE years ago that Dr. Winn, the Board of Education, and staff of 308 decided that a Master Plan should be put together to have in place for the next 50 years for the Hutchinson public schools?  That is amazing to me. My how time flies!  

Well, let’s fast forward from the school year 2002-03… the Master Plan was put together, there were a group of volunteers from the community and district that came together and did a great job at learning this plan and then presenting it to the community and then the bond was voted on!  (Drum roll……..!!!)  This great community came forward and said it would pay for a $78 million dollar bond to provide for a great improvement to the education process and building of USD 308 under the leadership of Dr. Winn.  I’ll never forget how proud I was to be a part of that process and to be a member of this community.  Whoops…Dr. Winn announces for personal reasons she must retire a little over a year ago.  How can this happen?  How do we go forward?  Can we find a leader to take us through this the way we want and deserve it to happen? 

First, Dr. Winn puts together a team that she feels can continue to lead through the construction process of the bond – community and business people that had been a part of the process or those that she knew would commit to the task.  That was the “Red Ribbon Committee” that you’ve all heard about.  I was asked to be on that committee and I must admit when she asked me I was confused as I felt a construction background could be crucial but she kept encouraging and I stayed on.  Also on that committee is Mert Sellers, a great business owner and his construction knowledge is amazing.  He also is very familiar with city codes and requirements.  We were fortunate to have Sue Wagerle come on as a business owner and an appraiser – also very knowledgeable in construction and building requirements.  Lynn Lackey joined us and can talk to the architects better than anyone in the room and is greatly appreciated as is his professional background in construction.  Russ Reinert was a volunteer early in the game in getting the bond passed and is now back on the Red Ribbon Committee, and his dedication and commitment and his knowledge of what the staff and community wanted originally from this bond and plan is so valuable.  (So why am I there? Maybe to write this article? Smile, encourage? Hmmmm)  We will be there to the end, through the extra meetings that are now required due to the bids coming in higher and the change in the economy. We are committed, and I am amazed at the intelligence, professionalism and knowledge working around me at the table – trust me – Hutchinson is very fortunate to have the Red Ribbon Committee (at least all those that I just described - ha) and I feel so fortunate to be there with them.

Now to Dr. Flowers.  I had decided I wasn’t going to like anyone replacing Dr. Winn.  Now I’ve said it.  Look what she did for our school district in getting that Master Plan put together and helping us get the bond passed – and believe me, she worked many hours helping us to understand the process and how best to accomplish the task.  Well, Dr. Flowers came in highly recommended and since that time, I’ve spent a great deal of time with him.  I was impressed with him from the start.  At the very first meeting, he seemed up to speed – he was very knowledgeable about the bond and the different schools and what was being done at each school.  He has been excellent at keeping us updated and asking us for input.  He works very closely with the architects, and Dr. Flowers is in charge when we are in our meetings – nothing goes by him.  He is proactive and prepared and when we found we were going to have to do some changes with the construction management program, Dr. Flowers had already talked to several districts that were working with that program or looking at that program and how it had affected them.  Prior to a building process taking place, he discussed some changes that definitely made the process better for NOW as things have changed in the last five years and also set us up to be flexible for future ideas and needs.

Again, I want Hutchinson to be assured that I feel very comfortable and secure with Dr. Flowers in his position, and he’s working very hard to follow the Master Plan that the Hutchinson voters and the staff of USD 308 wanted and voted on and to stay within the budget that was established!   As everyone knows, this is not going to be an easy task, but the Red Ribbon Committee and Dr. Flowers still commit to doing the very best job possible at accomplishing the task that was put before us!  Don’t hesitate to contact any of us if you have questions concerning the bond issue.

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