Hesston USD 460

COMMUNITY UPDATE

July 20, 2026

Old Hesston Middle School Construction Project

It is a bittersweet time for many in our community as our school building at 100 N. Ridge Road enters its first stage of demolition. Beginning this week, the portions of the building surrounding the gymnasium will be removed to transform the remaining structure into a stand-alone community gymnasium through a partnership between Hesston Recreation and Community Education (HRCE) and USD 460.

This project represents the final phase of the bond initiative that provided a new home for our middle school students. The community gymnasium is expected to be ready for use in January 2027.

Once construction is complete, the facility will feature two new west-side vestibules that will serve as new external public entrances, while the existing south entrance will remain accessible, as well. The area where the former school building once stood will be graded and seeded to create an open green space. In addition, the large dirt pile along the west end of our campus on Ridge Road will be used during construction, allowing that area to be restored as part of the completed project.

Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) USD 460 Budget

Summer is an especially busy time of the year for our USD 460 Central Office team, and one of our primary responsibilities is preparing the district's budget for the upcoming school year.

Over the next several weeks, the Board of Education will review the proposed FY27 budget. Following the August 10 Board of Education meeting, the recommended budget will be published on the district website and in the Harvey County Now newspaper.

The district plans to hold both the Revenue Neutral Rate Hearing and the FY27 Budget Hearing beginning at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, August 31, at the USD 460 Central Office located at 150 N Ridge Rd, located on the south end of Hobbs Stadium.

District Priorities Document

For many years, USD 460 has used a format called the District Priorities Document to identify many of our major goals and priorities over a two-year period.

The current draft for 2026-27, along with previous District Priorities Documents, are available on our website. The Board of Education will review the 2026-27 draft after our staff has had an opportunity to provide feedback in early August.

If you have questions or suggestions regarding the district's priorities, please contact Superintendent Ben Proctor at ben.proctor@usd460.org or 620-327-4931.

New Legislation on Personal Electronic Devices and Communication Platforms

During the 2025-26 school year, Hesston schools implemented a personal electronic device policy that prohibited student cell phone use during the school day. The policy was successfully implemented across all grade levels and will continue during the 2026-27 school year in accordance with new Kansas legislation that became effective July 1, 2026.

Students will continue using the district-issued storage pouches for grades 5-12 that prevent access to cell phones and other personal electronic devices during the school day. A link to the district's Personal Electronic Device Policy, including expectations and consequences for policy violations, is available on our website.

In addition, the Kansas Legislature enacted new requirements restricting school employees from communicating with students through social media platforms. To ensure communication remains secure, consistent, and compliant with state law, USD 460 is updating its policies and procedures to designate a limited number of approved educational communication platforms for teachers, coaches, sponsors, students, and families.

The Board of Education will review these recommendations in August, and additional information will be shared with staff, students, and families before the start of the school year so that expectations are clear for everyone.

2026-27 District Calendar

The 2026-27 District Calendar at a Glance is available on our website and includes all student attendance days, holidays, and other important district dates for the upcoming school year.

We are also excited to introduce Bound as our new district activities platform. By selecting Activities within the Bound system, families can view schedules for athletics and extracurricular activities in one convenient location. Over the coming weeks, all Back-to-School events will be added to the calendar.

As a reminder, District Enrollment Day will be held on Tuesday, August 4, from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the Secondary School Commons, 200 N. Ridge Road. We look forward to welcoming our students and families as we prepare for another outstanding school year.

USD 460 Hesston Schools seeks a dynamic leader to fill the role of Activities Director beginning in the 2026-27 school year. You will find details including the job description and application process linked below.

https://hesston.schoolspring.com?jobid=5646605