08/24/2026
PRESS RELEASE
USD 374 Sublette FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
105 West Fern, PO Box 670
Sublette, KS 67877
785-671-4588
Rex Richardson, Superintendent
[email protected]
USD 374 Proposes Bond Election for Infrastructure Upgrades
SUBLETTE, KS – USD 374 Sublette will hold a bond election on November 3, 2026, seeking voter approval for $6 million in bond financing to address a short list of critical infrastructure upgrade needs. The proposal involves a targeted list of repairs and system replacements required to extend the life and function of the district's buildings and athletic track. The project scope of work is comprised of four items: roof replacement, HVAC upgrades, and window replacements, and track resurfacing.
The resolution contains the precise wording that will appear on the November ballot:
Shall Unified School District No. 374, Haskell County, Kansas (Sublette), issue general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $6,000,000, to pay the costs to construct, furnish and equip: (a) improvements and renovations to the District’s facilities, including HVAC, window, roof, and track resurface improvements; and (b) all necessary improvements related thereto; and pay costs of issuance and interest on the bonds during construction of the project; all pursuant to the provisions of K.S.A. 10 101 et seq., K.S.A. 25 2018(f), and K.S.A. 72 5457?
Superintendent Rex Richardson commented on the proposed scope of work: “We’ve limited the proposal to our most basic and pressing needs. Based on early conversations with community members, I think the need for track resurfacing will be the least understood. Our track represents an investment made years ago that would now be well over 1 million in today’s dollars were we to completely replace the track down to the dirt base. The bond addresses only the top layer, which needs to be replaced every 15 years or so to protect the base layers underneath. Unfortunately, the cost of that required maintenance exceeds what we can do with capital outlay. However, it needs to be done now before we put the more expensive track base at risk or allow the running surface to become unsafe for our athletes.”
This bond proposal is the culmination of a year-long process by the USD 374 administration and board of education. The district conducted a thorough assessment of its facilities in 2025, identifying building components that are at or approaching the need for repair or replacement. In April 2026, the district conducted a survey to gauge community members' understanding of and support for addressing these facility needs. Richardson noted, “The survey helped us understand that patrons want us to keep this as lean as possible. That’s why we’ve limited the projects to immediate needs that preserve the life of our assets, saving us money in the long run. HVAC is an immediate need that is most efficiently addressed by replacing all the aging systems at once. We’ve created a solid, long-term plan for how other needed repairs will be handled over time through capital outlay funds.”
USD 374 will begin its work to inform voters about the bond proposal once school starts in August. After Labor Day, patrons can expect to see news articles, social media, and other printed materials providing greater details about the proposed projects and impact to taxpayers. Community meetings will be scheduled, providing patrons an opportunity to learn about the projects and ask questions. The district encourages all community members to become informed about the proposal before the election on November 3, 2026.
