While it won’t look anything like Rosie from the Jetsons, Hutchinson High School staff and students soon may see a robot in the halls on a regular basis.
The USD 308 Board of Education on Monday tabled approval of the purchase of a robotic auto scrubber during a regular study session meeting. The board directed staff to get additional bids on an autonomous floor cleaner for a final decision.
Custodial staff at Hutch High have put the autonomous floor cleaner through a pilot study. Made by Advanced Nilfisk, the scrubber would be used in large areas at Hutch High.
During a pilot study, staff found the scrubber could clean the large open areas, giving them more time in the more confined classroom areas. It also is expected to give Hutch High the equivalent of one more custodian. Custodian jobs – particularly night custodian jobs – have been difficult to fill.
If ultimately approved, the automated scrubber would be expected to pay for itself in less than three years while the scrubber has a three-year warranty. Life expectancy on the scrubber is 10 years. Over that time, the device is expected to save the district $200,000 in wages.
The board approved the following gifts to schools and thanked donors:
$50 from the American Legion Lysle Rishel Post No. 68 to Hutchinson Middle School – 8 for the honor choir travel fund.
$300 from Grace Episcopal Church to HMS-8 for the JAG Program.
$800 from the John R. and Bethene S. Summer Fund to Morgan Elementary School for kindergarten through second-grade student needs.
$13.80 from Dillons to Morgan for cookie-cutter containers.
The next regular meeting of the board will be Feb. 10.