Hanston, Pawnee Heights merge into same elementary school

? The Hanston and Pawnee Heights school districts moved a step closer to merging when grade-schoolers from both districts began attending classes at the same elementary school this fall.

Faced with declining enrollments, the western Kansas districts have decided the only way to remain afloat is to share – everything from administrators to students.

The process started last year when the districts joined their junior high football programs. This year, grade-school operations were consolidated at the Pawnee Heights’ elementary school at Burdett, in Pawnee County. Next year, junior high students will begin attending classes at Hanston, in neighboring Hodgeman County, while high school students head to Pawnee Heights High School at Rozel, in Pawnee County.

Though the districts share the same superintendent, the merger is short of consolidation because they retain their own boards of education and separate finances. Students from the neighboring district are considered transfers, and the districts exchange education funding based on a contractual agreement.

“We’re just running out of kids,” said Mindy Salmans, the Hanston High School principal.

Supt. Ray Patterson said Hanston has 78 students, down from 91 last year, while enrollment at Pawnee Heights is 186.

“Those numbers just aren’t big enough to carry on a full K though 12 program,” said Patterson, in reference to Hanston’s student count. “Pawnee Heights was in need of numbers.”

Patterson said merging creates more populated elementary school classrooms and broader course offerings for older students.

“Obviously it had to happen,” said Gilbert Thayer, who, as a senior, will be a member of the final Hanston High School graduating class. “We had to consolidate with somebody.”

Patterson didn’t rule out the possibility of consolidation in the future. Nor did Salmans.

“Right now we’re just kind of easing into it,” Salmans said. “This is a better transition for all of us.”