HUTCHINSON — Hutchinson USD 308 has its new Superintendent. During Monday’s School Board meeting the board approved on a 7-0 vote to hire Clay County School District Superintendent Mike Folks.  Folks is the district’s 33rd superintendent in its 147-year history. He will begin his new job on July 1 and replaces Gary Price, who has been superintendent for the past two years. Price is on his second tenure in the district and did not desire the position on a long-term basis.

Folks has been superintendent at Clay County Schools, in Clay Center, since July 1, 2005. Clay County Schools has high schools in Clay Center and Wakefield in north central Kansas. Prior to that, he was superintendent at Central Heights USD 288 in Richmond, Kan.

He received a master’s from Pittsburg State University in educational leadership and administration in 2000 and a master’s in higher education/high education administration from Fort Hays State University in 1997.

Board President Kail Denison was pleased to have Folks as the next superintendent.

“We had an excellent candidate pool,” Denison said. “After listening to what the community said they wanted in a superintendent, we feel that Mike is a great match with what the community has asked for.”

He received a masters from Pittsburg State University in educational leadership and administration in 2000 and a masters in higher education/higher education administration from Fort Hays State University in 1997.

“My wife and I are excited to be part of the USD 308 team,” Folks said Monday. “There clearly is a lot of passion in the district. The educational opportunities in Hutchinson are excellent, and we will work together to showcase those opportunities to the community.”

Folks won out over local Haven Superintendent Clark Wedel, Moundridge Superintendent George Leary and Cheney Superintendent David Grover.