By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

Mental health officials discussed the restructuring of mental health services in the state, as well as the challenges of funding and workforce, during a High Plains Mental Health Center-sponsored town hall meeting in Hays on Tuesday night.

"To realize the importance of a network that is so tightly bound by the values involving timely access to high-quality mental health care, I think, is one of the cornerstones of our statewide system,"  said Kyle Kessler, executive director of the Kansas Association of Mental Health Centers.

Kansas has moved away from a community mental health center model to&nbsp; Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics.

Under the community mental health center model, all of the centers functioned differently and independently of each other.

The Behavioral Health Clinic has set standards for the clinics and changed the way those clinics are funded.

In the 1990s, Kansas set about to move people who needed treatment for mental illness from inpatient hospitals to community outpatient treatment.

Kansas had more than 3,000 psychiatric inpatient beds, and many community and private hospitals also had psychiatric wings.

"It kept people from being in psychiatric hospitals for months and sometimes years at a time," Kessler said, "but in that process, Kansas overcorrected."

As inpatient beds were decreased and hospitals closed, funding was supposed to follow those in need of care to community services.

Over time, policy priorities changed, Kessler said.

Funding for mental health treatment was cut repeatedly by the state. In 2015 and 2016, $30 million, equal to 10% of state mental health funding, was cut.

"We saw substantial eroding of funding that was supposed to follow people back to the communities," Kessler said.

And then even more hospital beds were cut.&nbsp;

Additional beds were cut at Ossawatomie State Hospital, and Topeka State Hospital, which had about 1,000 beds, was closed. The Rainbow mental health facility in Kansas City, which had 80 to 100 beds, closed.

"As recently as a month and a half ago, we had a waiting list of 30, and those were people who were deemed to be a danger to themselves or others by the courts and local authorities," Kessler said.

The state established a Crisis Intervention Center model, which allowed people to be treated locally for short-term acute stays.

The goal was to help people without them having to go to state hospitals or engage with law enforcement or courts or end up incarcerated, Kessler said.

A new state hospital is set to open in Wichita in 2027, which should take some pressure off Larned and Osawatomie, he said.

"I think we are going to a good place as it relates to capacity," Kessler said.

He said mental health advocates decided that if the system was going to receive renewed funding and grow, it should be rebuilt in a way that made the most sense to Kansas and was designed by Kansans.

Michelle Ponce, associate director of the Kansas Association of Mental Health Centers, further explained the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, stating they expand the services provided to their communities and alter the way the clinics are funded.

Mental health clinics have historically operated under a fee-for-service basis. Those fees for services have remained static since 2008, Ponce said. However, the costs of providing those services did not.

The new model is meant to reimburse clinics at the true cost of providing services.

"Through the process, they are getting paid a lot more for individuals who have Medicaid," Ponce said.

All community health centers and all Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics are required to serve anyone who walks through their doors who needs their services, regardless of their ability to pay.

The Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services, in its research, found that a 40% investment in the mental health system saw a 75% increase in access.

Ponce said the system is meant to be a whole, integrated health model.

"It could be an individual who is being seen for a mental illness, but they're also really struggling because maybe they have diabetes," Ponce said, "and they are having a hard time managing the symptoms of their diabetes.

"That is not something historically mental health centers would be in the business of treating. Now they are responsible for helping that individual meet those needs."

That could be through their own staff or reaching out to the local health department. It is care coordination, which is more than a referral, Ponce said.

The care coordination also involves ensuring individuals have housing, employment and food.

"It's about ensuring all of those needs are met, not simply looking through the lens of meeting their mental health needs, but really their whole-person needs," Ponce said.

The&nbsp;Behavioral Health Clinics have nine criteria they must meet. Ponce highlighted crisis services and outreach to veterans, which she said has been a population that has been difficult to reach.

High Plains Mental Health Center has a mobile crisis team. They are required to contact someone in crisis within two hours. Because of the geographic challenges in rural Kansas, case managers may take an iPad to a person or the emergency room to connect a person with a therapist remotely.

The other component of crisis response is crisis stabilization units or crisis intervention centers. The difference is that crisis intervention centers can admit involuntary patients.

High Plains Mental Health Center is remodeling the third floor of the Hadley Center as a crisis intervention center. The facility is set to open in March.

Kessler spoke about the high cost of the mental health workforce shortage in Kansas. State hospitals, especially Larned State Hospital, are using a high percentage of contract nurses.

Five years ago, the cost of contract nurses was $5 million. Now it is more than $45 million.

The Kansas Behavioral Health Center of Excellence was created to increase recruitment and retention of nursing faculty and students.&nbsp;

Before 2021, Kansas was bordered on all four sides by states that had implemented the Behavioral Health Clinics model or expanded Medicaid, allowing them to pay staff more.

In 2021, the Kansas mental health system had a 25% employee vacancy rate across the system.

"It is really hard to meet the needs of your community with a 25% staffing vacancy rate," Ponce said.

She said the&nbsp;Behavioral Health Clinic model has been a game-changer for the workforce.

The state has seen the following increases since 2021:

• 60% more child case managers • 43% more adult case managers • 75% more licensed professional counselors&nbsp; • 40% more licensed clinical social workers • 80% more licensed practical nurses • 50% more advanced practice registered nurses

However, Ponce said the system still needs to recruit more people to work in the system.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760640667964.png" alt="Kyle Kessler, executive director of the Kansas Association of Mental Health Centers, discusses the new state mental health model at a meeting on Tuesday in Hays. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Kyle Kessler, executive director of the Kansas Association of Mental Health Centers, discusses the new state mental health model at a meeting on Tuesday in Hays. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostMental health officials discussed the restructuring of mental health services in the state, as well as the challenges of funding and workforce, during a High Plains Mental Health Center-sponsored town hall meeting in Hays on Tuesday night."To realize the importance of a network that is so tightly bound by the values involving timely access to high-quality mental health care, I think, is one of the cornerstones of our statewide system," said Kyle Kessler, executive director of the Kansas Association of Mental Health Centers.Kansas has moved away from a community mental health center model to&nbsp; Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics.Under the community mental health center model, all of the centers functioned differently and independently of each other.The Behavioral Health Clinic has set standards for the clinics and changed the way those clinics are funded.In the 1990s, Kansas set about to move people who needed treatment for mental illness from inpatient hospitals to community outpatient treatment.Kansas had more than 3,000 psychiatric inpatient beds, and many community and private hospitals also had psychiatric wings."It kept people from being in psychiatric hospitals for months and sometimes years at a time," Kessler said, "but in that process, Kansas overcorrected."As inpatient beds were decreased and hospitals closed, funding was supposed to follow those in need of care to community services.Over time, policy priorities changed, Kessler said.Funding for mental health treatment was cut repeatedly by the state. In 2015 and 2016, $30 million, equal to 10% of state mental health funding, was cut."We saw substantial eroding of funding that was supposed to follow people back to the communities," Kessler said.And then even more hospital beds were cut.&nbsp;Additional beds were cut at Ossawatomie State Hospital, and Topeka State Hospital, which had about 1,000 beds, was closed. The Rainbow mental health facility in Kansas City, which had 80 to 100 beds, closed."As recently as a month and a half ago, we had a waiting list of 30, and those were people who were deemed to be a danger to themselves or others by the courts and local authorities," Kessler said.The state established a Crisis Intervention Center model, which allowed people to be treated locally for short-term acute stays.The goal was to help people without them having to go to state hospitals or engage with law enforcement or courts or end up incarcerated, Kessler said.A new state hospital is set to open in Wichita in 2027, which should take some pressure off Larned and Osawatomie, he said."I think we are going to a good place as it relates to capacity," Kessler said.He said mental health advocates decided that if the system was going to receive renewed funding and grow, it should be rebuilt in a way that made the most sense to Kansas and was designed by Kansans.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760641973896.png" alt="Michelle Ponce,&nbsp;associate director of the Kansas Association of Mental Health Centers, said the new mental health system&nbsp;expands services and alters the way the clinics are funded. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Michelle Ponce,&nbsp;associate director of the Kansas Association of Mental Health Centers, said the new mental health system&nbsp;expands services and alters the way the clinics are funded. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Michelle Ponce, associate director of the Kansas Association of Mental Health Centers, further explained the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, stating they expand the services provided to their communities and alter the way the clinics are funded.Mental health clinics have historically operated under a fee-for-service basis. Those fees for services have remained static since 2008, Ponce said. However, the costs of providing those services did not.The new model is meant to reimburse clinics at the true cost of providing services."Through the process, they are getting paid a lot more for individuals who have Medicaid," Ponce said.All community health centers and all Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics are required to serve anyone who walks through their doors who needs their services, regardless of their ability to pay.The Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services, in its research, found that a 40% investment in the mental health system saw a 75% increase in access.Ponce said the system is meant to be a whole, integrated health model."It could be an individual who is being seen for a mental illness, but they're also really struggling because maybe they have diabetes," Ponce said, "and they are having a hard time managing the symptoms of their diabetes."That is not something historically mental health centers would be in the business of treating. Now they are responsible for helping that individual meet those needs."That could be through their own staff or reaching out to the local health department. It is care coordination, which is more than a referral, Ponce said.The care coordination also involves ensuring individuals have housing, employment and food."It's about ensuring all of those needs are met, not simply looking through the lens of meeting their mental health needs, but really their whole-person needs," Ponce said.The&nbsp;Behavioral Health Clinics have nine criteria they must meet. Ponce highlighted crisis services and outreach to veterans, which she said has been a population that has been difficult to reach.High Plains Mental Health Center has a mobile crisis team. They are required to contact someone in crisis within two hours. Because of the geographic challenges in rural Kansas, case managers may take an iPad to a person or the emergency room to connect a person with a therapist remotely.The other component of crisis response is crisis stabilization units or crisis intervention centers. The difference is that crisis intervention centers can admit involuntary patients.High Plains Mental Health Center is remodeling the third floor of the Hadley Center as a crisis intervention center. The facility is set to open in March.Kessler spoke about the high cost of the mental health workforce shortage in Kansas. State hospitals, especially Larned State Hospital, are using a high percentage of contract nurses.Five years ago, the cost of contract nurses was $5 million. Now it is more than $45 million."That's not sustainable," he said.The Kansas Behavioral Health Center of Excellence was created to increase recruitment and retention of nursing faculty and students.&nbsp;Before 2021, Kansas was bordered on all four sides by states that had implemented the Behavioral Health Clinics model or expanded Medicaid, allowing them to pay staff more.In 2021, the Kansas mental health system had a 25% employee vacancy rate across the system."It is really hard to meet the needs of your community with a 25% staffing vacancy rate," Ponce said.She said the&nbsp;Behavioral Health Clinic model has been a game-changer for the workforce.The state has seen the following increases since 2021:• 60% more child case managers • 43% more adult case managers • 75% more licensed professional counselors&nbsp; • 40% more licensed clinical social workers • 80% more licensed practical nurses • 50% more advanced practice registered nursesHowever, Ponce said the system still needs to recruit more people to work in the system.

Mental health leaders address changes in mental health system during meeting in Hays

The five candidates for Hays USD 489 were interviewed by the Hays Post. Their responses are being presented in a question-and-answer format. The other candidates running include: Ken Brooks, Craig Pallister, Curt Vajanr and Meagan Zampieri-Lillpopp.

Three seats are available on the board. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 4.

Age:&nbsp;61 Occupation: Small business owner. I own Amazing Grace Home Care, and also the Horseshoe Bar and Grill. I'm a registered nurse.

What do you think qualifies you to run for the school board?

I feel like in my past, not only as a parent and a grandparent of kids in the school district, I have 11 grandchildren and most of them have been in public school systems here, but also as a small business owner, I understand policies and understand the economics of running a business, and the school board can be looked at that way.

There's expectations on the part of the school board to be able to manage the resources in a wise manner. I think that's one of the things that qualifies me. Over the past several decades that I've been a small business owner, we have learned to manage our resources wisely. I think that could be lended to functioning as a school board member.

Do you have a child or grandchild currently attending Hays USD 489 schools or did any of your children attend in the past?

All of my children attended Hays High and were in the public school system here, from Lincoln during grade school, all the way through. Then I have grandchildren in the public school system. Now, they're at O'Loughlin.

I want to be able to help the school board be more in tune with the expectations of the voters. I feel like in the past few years, there's been maybe a disconnect between some of our leadership and what the citizens of Hays and the voters are expecting.

I want to be able to run for the school board and be on the school board to help citizens know that they will be listened to, that they will have input, that there will be more transparency and more accountability.

It'll be where the school board actually has a better working relationship with the voters, as opposed to having leadership that maybe has that disconnect. I want to be able to bring that to the school board and allow for a better connection between our leadership and the voters.

Follow-up question: What do you think are the expectations of the voters?

I think that voters expect the school board to manage our resources wisely. But also, of course, the school board [also has] obligations not only to maintain the buildings, you know, and maintain our infrastructure and that sort of thing, but also watch over the outcomes.

So that way, our students are competitive, our students are having scores that are commiserate with what we would expect, compared to other schools in the in the state and in the country too, but specifically in Kansas.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/f2138940-793a-4268-b8ea-10de031c1f84">SEE RELATED STORY: Hays USD 489 recognized as high performing district in the state</a>

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/266f4fda-58af-4735-b1d9-29a3d1bfb60c">SEE RELATED STORY: Hays USD 489 to focus on math under new state accreditation system</a>

 I would want to be able to show that USD 489 can continue to be a really strong district when it comes to making sure that our students graduate competitively.

But what I really think the voters expect is that the school board manages and navigates those resources so kids who graduate from our school systems here can afford to stay here and live here.

We want them to be able to stay, and we want them to be able to use the skills that they learned from our public school system, and maybe even, you know, go to Fort Hays and continue on as citizens of this community.

I want that to be an all-inclusive package, where we can promote future growth of Hays by making sure that we have good growth promoted by our school board.

Follow up questions: Do you think the academic standards for the local school district do not equal the state and other districts?

I think, in comparison, just from the things that I've read, it's specifically math that is the one that you know runs about 30% are not at grade level. <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/f2138940-793a-4268-b8ea-10de031c1f84">See a report on math scores from 2024.</a>&nbsp;

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/be1ecb7f-dc52-4c44-aff4-c1ad39716611">SEE RELATED STORY: Kansas state education board expands scoring range for student assessments</a>

The graduation rate is good, but I think we can do better as far as the math proficiency scores and get to a higher amount.

The one thing I hope I can also bring to the table is that spending more money on something doesn't necessarily translate into improved outcomes and improved scores.

There are other factors that are involved in there, supporting the teachers and supporting the school functions as a general rule. I don't think it necessarily means we have to spend more money on it. That's one way we can also answer to the taxpayers, because we can make sure that we're not trying to solve problems just by spending more money.&nbsp;

Do you support the district's five-year capital improvement plan? If not, is there anything that you would change about it?

I do support the plan overall, but I do also request there be more transparency in that plan. Because as a community member attending school board meetings, it's very difficult to hear that some of the school board had not actually seen some of the [floor] plans, and some readable plans.

For the project for the new high school, when the building was ready to be started, they had not actually seen the plans yet. So that's frustrating as a community member to not have that kind of transparency, where we can expect, at least our school board has seen the plans going into the future projects. 

So some of the school board members had said in their meetings that I've attended they hope they can get better. That's also something that I hope. There needs&nbsp;to be improvement there where school board members can ask for readable plans and get them in a timely fashion.

That way, they have an opportunity to make suggestions, maybe some cost-cutting measures that could be brought to them by the community or brought to the builders by the school board. That way, we can all work together to maybe save a little bit, but still come out with a great project.

Do you support the plans for the remaining bond projects? If not, is there anything that you would change about those projects?

Specifically with regard to the old Hays High, which will become the middle school, I think some of the building projects I would change.

I would change the plan [to eliminate] things that don't need to be redone. For instance, the most recent discussion was about the floors. And as the superintendent said, the floors are actually really in great shape there. There's nothing wrong with them. They're perfectly fine.

What I would like to do is focus on the things that are OK and renovate only the areas that need improvement. I think we could save a considerable amount of money rather than demolishing something that is actually OK and usable.

That's something that community members would do in their own personal lives, in their own homes and their own small businesses. Nobody would demolish a perfectly good floor just because we have money to spend on it.

I think I support the plan, but I&nbsp;think there are ways that we can navigate through that plan and make some changes that would actually result in a lower amount of money spent at the end of the day.

How would you view your role as a school board member, oversight with administrators and teachers handling day-to-day operations, or the board manages all aspects of operations?

I think oversight because the teachers and administrators should be in charge of daily operations. The teachers should be in charge of their classrooms.

I think the school board should be able to provide oversight to all of those functions and intervene from a policy standpoint if they see a problem. Collectively, if the school board votes to re-examine some of those policies, that's where I think their obligation would lie.

Do you think the district is adequately managing its budget? If not, what would you change or cut?

I think the answer to that question lies in an audit from top to bottom of all expenses, because any functioning business, which you know, the school district is a functioning business, has an opportunity to find and root out any waste.

Something, maybe funds would be better used over here. I would answer that question by starting with an audit and look at everything from top to bottom.

Because without looking at that and seeing where each itemized transaction, where all that money is going, I can't really say what I would cut, because that's not fair.

That's not fair to the school board or to the budget in general, without an answer to that question, without being able to audit it and see where the money has gone.

Follow up, do you have any idea how costly that might be to do an audit? The district already has to undergo an audit every year of its accounting practices.

But this would be a different layer. This would be a&nbsp;different layer, and yes, there's an expense involved in auditing. However, usually the outcomes of those audits offset the expense of the audit in general. That's what I mean. 

Most businesses find that to be true, because the reason for doing an audit in the first place is there's questions that haven't been answered.

If there's any hope of adjusting the budget to be more efficient, it has to start with an audit. It's not a negative thing. Actually, to do an audit is a positive thing because it's a search for more efficiency. It's a search for more savings. It's a search for moving money around. So maybe this project over here can get off the ground. It's not a negative thing to audit yourself.

Are there any policies that you think should be changed? How would you change those policies if you had the ability?

I think one thing I would change is the statement made at the start of the school board meetings that the community is told not to bring up something that's already been brought up. There may be a better way to word that. 

I understand that the intention behind it was not to have community members all coming up and saying the same thing. But when that is said to the community, it makes them feel like they're supposed to be able to keep track of what everybody else brought up, which is impossible. 

Also, it makes them feel like, if more than one community member is saying the same thing, that the perception is that no one's listening if they have to keep saying the same thing over and over again. So I would change that because I think it would go a long way in changing the community's perception of the school board.

 It would make the community feel like the school board is there to listen, and I want people to feel&nbsp;that way. I want people to feel like they're going to be heard and they're going to be listened to.

Not told that way, you can't say this, or you can't say that, because somebody else already did. 

I would also change a policy where people could tune into the school board meetings via Zoom in real time, so that way, if they had a question or part of the community participation could be questions put into the Zoom chat.

Even if those questions couldn't be answered during that school board meeting, they easily could be answered later in a different format that would allow for greater community participation. I think people would feel more heard if they could ask a question and not necessarily have to stand up in front of everybody.

 I don't think community members should be required to give their address, as it becomes public information when recorded on video and shared on YouTube and other platforms. 

So I don't think community members should have to give their address, because I do know from some people in the community that's one of the reasons that they won't speak at the school board meeting.

For whatever reason, they're required to give their address, and they don't want to do that. I realize that protects us from having people from outside of Hays come talk at school board meetings as part of the community.

They could just say, 'I'm from here in Hays.' I don't think they should have to give their address, and I would like to see that policy change.&nbsp;

Is there anything else that you would like to add?

This is something that I have said to people, not only just over campaigning, but also just in general, is that we have leadership that is perceived to be a little out of touch with the voters and with the community, and this is true of school board, city commission, state and federal government.

It doesn't matter what level it is, any level of leadership we have to make sure that our public, the voters, know that we're not out of touch, that we do listen to what they have to say, and that we care about our the impact of our decisions.

When you have leadership that's out of touch with the voters and with their constituents, it's really easy to raise taxes. It's really easy to make decisions without feeling the pain that the people are going to feel in an average household. 

It may seem like only a few dollars over here, but when you add all those things together, some people&nbsp;are really suffering. It hurts me that we have so many people talking about moving out of Hays because of whatever the issue is, whether it be property taxes or bond paybacks.

I mean, whatever the issue is, I'd like to see us take an opportunity to turn that around to where we don't have people talking about moving out of Hays. We have people talking about moving into Hays. I want to fill that high school with as many students as it can handle, and I think there are some things that we can do to make that happen.

As told to Cristina Janney/Hays Post

The five candidates for Hays USD 489 were interviewed by the Hays Post. Their responses are being presented in a question-and-answer format. The other candidates running include: Ken Brooks, Craig Pallister, Curt Vajanr and Meagan Zampieri-Lillpopp.Three seats are available on the board. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 4.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759954634573.jpeg" alt="Kelly Ancar" />
 <figcaption>Kelly Ancar</figcaption>
 </figure>Age:&nbsp;61 Occupation: Small business owner. I own Amazing Grace Home Care, and also the Horseshoe Bar and Grill. I'm a registered nurse.What do you think qualifies you to run for the school board?I feel like in my past, not only as a parent and a grandparent of kids in the school district, I have 11 grandchildren and most of them have been in public school systems here, but also as a small business owner, I understand policies and understand the economics of running a business, and the school board can be looked at that way.There's expectations on the part of the school board to be able to manage the resources in a wise manner. I think that's one of the things that qualifies me. Over the past several decades that I've been a small business owner, we have learned to manage our resources wisely. I think that could be lended to functioning as a school board member.Do you have a child or grandchild currently attending Hays USD 489 schools or did any of your children attend in the past?All of my children attended Hays High and were in the public school system here, from Lincoln during grade school, all the way through. Then I have grandchildren in the public school system. Now, they're at O'Loughlin.Why are you running for election?I want to be able to help the school board be more in tune with the expectations of the voters. I feel like in the past few years, there's been maybe a disconnect between some of our leadership and what the citizens of Hays and the voters are expecting.I want to be able to run for the school board and be on the school board to help citizens know that they will be listened to, that they will have input, that there will be more transparency and more accountability.It'll be where the school board actually has a better working relationship with the voters, as opposed to having leadership that maybe has that disconnect. I want to be able to bring that to the school board and allow for a better connection between our leadership and the voters.Follow-up question: What do you think are the expectations of the voters?I think that voters expect the school board to manage our resources wisely. But also, of course, the school board [also has] obligations not only to maintain the buildings, you know, and maintain our infrastructure and that sort of thing, but also watch over the outcomes.So that way, our students are competitive, our students are having scores that are commiserate with what we would expect, compared to other schools in the in the state and in the country too, but specifically in Kansas.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/f2138940-793a-4268-b8ea-10de031c1f84">SEE RELATED STORY: Hays USD 489 recognized as high performing district in the state</a><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/266f4fda-58af-4735-b1d9-29a3d1bfb60c">SEE RELATED STORY: Hays USD 489 to focus on math under new state accreditation system</a> I would want to be able to show that USD 489 can continue to be a really strong district when it comes to making sure that our students graduate competitively.But what I really think the voters expect is that the school board manages and navigates those resources so kids who graduate from our school systems here can afford to stay here and live here.We want them to be able to stay, and we want them to be able to use the skills that they learned from our public school system, and maybe even, you know, go to Fort Hays and continue on as citizens of this community.I want that to be an all-inclusive package, where we can promote future growth of Hays by making sure that we have good growth promoted by our school board.Follow up questions: Do you think the academic standards for the local school district do not equal the state and other districts?I think, in comparison, just from the things that I've read, it's specifically math that is the one that you know runs about 30% are not at grade level. <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/f2138940-793a-4268-b8ea-10de031c1f84">See a report on math scores from 2024.</a>&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759956920369.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759957137849.png" alt="Hays USD 489 math scores for 2023-24 school year, all grade levels. Courtesy of the Kansas Department of Education." />
 <figcaption>Hays USD 489 math scores for 2023-24 school year, all grade levels. Courtesy of the Kansas Department of Education.</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/be1ecb7f-dc52-4c44-aff4-c1ad39716611">SEE RELATED STORY: Kansas state education board expands scoring range for student assessments</a>The graduation rate is good, but I think we can do better as far as the math proficiency scores and get to a higher amount. The one thing I hope I can also bring to the table is that spending more money on something doesn't necessarily translate into improved outcomes and improved scores.There are other factors that are involved in there, supporting the teachers and supporting the school functions as a general rule. I don't think it necessarily means we have to spend more money on it. That's one way we can also answer to the taxpayers, because we can make sure that we're not trying to solve problems just by spending more money.&nbsp;Do you support the district's five-year capital improvement plan? If not, is there anything that you would change about it?I do support the plan overall, but I do also request there be more transparency in that plan. Because as a community member attending school board meetings, it's very difficult to hear that some of the school board had not actually seen some of the [floor] plans, and some readable plans.For the project for the new high school, when the building was ready to be started, they had not actually seen the plans yet. So that's frustrating as a community member to not have that kind of transparency, where we can expect, at least our school board has seen the plans going into the future projects. So some of the school board members had said in their meetings that I've attended they hope they can get better. That's also something that I hope. There needs&nbsp;to be improvement there where school board members can ask for readable plans and get them in a timely fashion.That way, they have an opportunity to make suggestions, maybe some cost-cutting measures that could be brought to them by the community or brought to the builders by the school board. That way, we can all work together to maybe save a little bit, but still come out with a great project.Do you support the plans for the remaining bond projects? If not, is there anything that you would change about those projects?Specifically with regard to the old Hays High, which will become the middle school, I think some of the building projects I would change.I would change the plan [to eliminate] things that don't need to be redone. For instance, the most recent discussion was about the floors. And as the superintendent said, the floors are actually really in great shape there. There's nothing wrong with them. They're perfectly fine.What I would like to do is focus on the things that are OK and renovate only the areas that need improvement. I think we could save a considerable amount of money rather than demolishing something that is actually OK and usable.That's something that community members would do in their own personal lives, in their own homes and their own small businesses. Nobody would demolish a perfectly good floor just because we have money to spend on it.I think I support the plan, but I&nbsp;think there are ways that we can navigate through that plan and make some changes that would actually result in a lower amount of money spent at the end of the day.How would you view your role as a school board member, oversight with administrators and teachers handling day-to-day operations, or the board manages all aspects of operations?I think oversight because the teachers and administrators should be in charge of daily operations. The teachers should be in charge of their classrooms.I think the school board should be able to provide oversight to all of those functions and intervene from a policy standpoint if they see a problem. Collectively, if the school board votes to re-examine some of those policies, that's where I think their obligation would lie.Do you think the district is adequately managing its budget? If not, what would you change or cut?I think the answer to that question lies in an audit from top to bottom of all expenses, because any functioning business, which you know, the school district is a functioning business, has an opportunity to find and root out any waste.Something, maybe funds would be better used over here. I would answer that question by starting with an audit and look at everything from top to bottom.Because without looking at that and seeing where each itemized transaction, where all that money is going, I can't really say what I would cut, because that's not fair.That's not fair to the school board or to the budget in general, without an answer to that question, without being able to audit it and see where the money has gone.Follow up, do you have any idea how costly that might be to do an audit? The district already has to undergo an audit every year of its accounting practices.But this would be a different layer. This would be a&nbsp;different layer, and yes, there's an expense involved in auditing. However, usually the outcomes of those audits offset the expense of the audit in general. That's what I mean. Most businesses find that to be true, because the reason for doing an audit in the first place is there's questions that haven't been answered.If there's any hope of adjusting the budget to be more efficient, it has to start with an audit. It's not a negative thing. Actually, to do an audit is a positive thing because it's a search for more efficiency. It's a search for more savings. It's a search for moving money around. So maybe this project over here can get off the ground. It's not a negative thing to audit yourself.Are there any policies that you think should be changed? How would you change those policies if you had the ability?I think one thing I would change is the statement made at the start of the school board meetings that the community is told not to bring up something that's already been brought up. There may be a better way to word that. I understand that the intention behind it was not to have community members all coming up and saying the same thing. But when that is said to the community, it makes them feel like they're supposed to be able to keep track of what everybody else brought up, which is impossible. Also, it makes them feel like, if more than one community member is saying the same thing, that the perception is that no one's listening if they have to keep saying the same thing over and over again. So I would change that because I think it would go a long way in changing the community's perception of the school board. It would make the community feel like the school board is there to listen, and I want people to feel&nbsp;that way. I want people to feel like they're going to be heard and they're going to be listened to.Not told that way, you can't say this, or you can't say that, because somebody else already did. I would also change a policy where people could tune into the school board meetings via Zoom in real time, so that way, if they had a question or part of the community participation could be questions put into the Zoom chat.Even if those questions couldn't be answered during that school board meeting, they easily could be answered later in a different format that would allow for greater community participation. I think people would feel more heard if they could ask a question and not necessarily have to stand up in front of everybody. I don't think community members should be required to give their address, as it becomes public information when recorded on video and shared on YouTube and other platforms. So I don't think community members should have to give their address, because I do know from some people in the community that's one of the reasons that they won't speak at the school board meeting.For whatever reason, they're required to give their address, and they don't want to do that. I realize that protects us from having people from outside of Hays come talk at school board meetings as part of the community.They could just say, 'I'm from here in Hays.' I don't think they should have to give their address, and I would like to see that policy change.&nbsp;Is there anything else that you would like to add?This is something that I have said to people, not only just over campaigning, but also just in general, is that we have leadership that is perceived to be a little out of touch with the voters and with the community, and this is true of school board, city commission, state and federal government.It doesn't matter what level it is, any level of leadership we have to make sure that our public, the voters, know that we're not out of touch, that we do listen to what they have to say, and that we care about our the impact of our decisions.When you have leadership that's out of touch with the voters and with their constituents, it's really easy to raise taxes. It's really easy to make decisions without feeling the pain that the people are going to feel in an average household. It may seem like only a few dollars over here, but when you add all those things together, some people&nbsp;are really suffering. It hurts me that we have so many people talking about moving out of Hays because of whatever the issue is, whether it be property taxes or bond paybacks.I mean, whatever the issue is, I'd like to see us take an opportunity to turn that around to where we don't have people talking about moving out of Hays. We have people talking about moving into Hays. I want to fill that high school with as many students as it can handle, and I think there are some things that we can do to make that happen.As told to Cristina Janney/Hays Post

Hays USD 489 candidate Q&A: Kelly Ancar

The City of Hays is issuing a final reminder to residents that the annual Fall Cleanup is set to begin at 7 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 20. All materials for collection must be sorted and placed at the proper pickup location (curb or alley) by this deadline to ensure pickup.

Crews will make only one pass through the city.

To serve every household, a time limit of 10 minutes per residence will be strictly enforced.

An additional 10 minutes will be allotted for the collection of tree limbs and brush.

Any items remaining after the time limit has been reached will be the responsibility of the property owner to remove.

"The success of the cleanup hinges on resident cooperation," said Joe Billinger, solid waste superintendent. "Properly sorting items into the four required categories is the most important step a resident can take. It allows our crews to use the right equipment for each type of material, which protects our staff and machinery and helps us stay on schedule for the whole community."

Waste must be separated into the following four piles:

Construction &amp; Demolition Debris: Lumber, drywall, bricks, sinks. Please bend over or pull all nails from lumber and place small quantities of brick or concrete in containers. A maximum limit of 5 pallets will be collected.

Tree Limbs &amp; Brush: Small quantities only. No other yard waste will be collected. Citizens must instead use the compost site or the yard waste tag program

White Goods / Metals: Refrigerators, dryers, guttering. All refrigerators and freezers must be completely emptied of food and other contents to be picked up.

Municipal Waste: Furniture, carpet, large toys. Exceptionally large items like hot tubs must be cut into manageable pieces.

Residents are also reminded that the city will not collect tires, hazardous waste, batteries, or medical waste.

Tires should be taken to the Ellis County Landfill (785) 628-9460, and hazardous waste can be taken to the Ellis County Hazardous Waste Facility.

To avoid accidental collection, any "treasured items" like yard art or equipment located near the pickup area should be clearly tagged or moved away from the refuse piles. Full details can be found on the city’s website: <a href="https://www.haysusa.com/303/Annual-Fall-Cleanup">www.haysusa.com/303/Annual-Fall-Cleanup.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584721067731.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>City of HaysThe City of Hays is issuing a final reminder to residents that the annual Fall Cleanup is set to begin at 7 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 20. All materials for collection must be sorted and placed at the proper pickup location (curb or alley) by this deadline to ensure pickup.Crews will make only one pass through the city.To serve every household, a time limit of 10 minutes per residence will be strictly enforced.An additional 10 minutes will be allotted for the collection of tree limbs and brush.Any items remaining after the time limit has been reached will be the responsibility of the property owner to remove."The success of the cleanup hinges on resident cooperation," said Joe Billinger, solid waste superintendent. "Properly sorting items into the four required categories is the most important step a resident can take. It allows our crews to use the right equipment for each type of material, which protects our staff and machinery and helps us stay on schedule for the whole community."Waste must be separated into the following four piles:Construction &amp; Demolition Debris: Lumber, drywall, bricks, sinks. Please bend over or pull all nails from lumber and place small quantities of brick or concrete in containers. A maximum limit of 5 pallets will be collected.Tree Limbs &amp; Brush: Small quantities only. No other yard waste will be collected. Citizens must instead use the compost site or the yard waste tag programWhite Goods / Metals: Refrigerators, dryers, guttering. All refrigerators and freezers must be completely emptied of food and other contents to be picked up.Municipal Waste: Furniture, carpet, large toys. Exceptionally large items like hot tubs must be cut into manageable pieces.Residents are also reminded that the city will not collect tires, hazardous waste, batteries, or medical waste.Tires should be taken to the Ellis County Landfill (785) 628-9460, and hazardous waste can be taken to the Ellis County Hazardous Waste Facility.To avoid accidental collection, any "treasured items" like yard art or equipment located near the pickup area should be clearly tagged or moved away from the refuse piles. Full details can be found on the city’s website: <a href="https://www.haysusa.com/303/Annual-Fall-Cleanup">www.haysusa.com/303/Annual-Fall-Cleanup.</a>

Hays Annual Fall Cleanup begins Monday; residents reminded of sorting guidelines

The Board of Directors of the United Way of Ellis County is issuing an urgent call for help from businesses, residents and community partners. After years of declining funding, compounded by recent leadership instability, our organization is at a critical juncture — and we need Ellis County to step up now.

· Over the past several years, funding for United Way of Ellis County has steadily decreased by about 20% since 2021. Much of our revenue comes from donations made by local businesses and members of this community, and contributions have not kept pace with rising demand for services.

· In June 2025, our executive director position was vacated. The board undertook a careful search and identified a highly qualified candidate expected to begin in October. However, after months of waiting, we have recently learned this individual is backing out of the job. This unexpected development has again left us without permanent leadership during a time of great need.

· In the interim, Bill Ring graciously stepped in as temporary director, guiding operations and ensuring that critical work continued through these past few months. We thank Bill for his dedication and willingness to step up for the community during this transition.

How United Way Serves Ellis County

United Way of Ellis County plays a critical role in the community by raising funds and distributing them to partner agencies that deliver vital services. 

Some of our 2025 partner agencies include:

· Big Brothers Big Sisters — youth mentoring programs

· Cancer Council of Ellis County — financial assistance for cancer patients and nutritional support

· CASA of the High Plains — Advocacy for abused/neglected children

· Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas — Support for early intervention and job follow-along services

· First Call For Help — Local assistance, Meals on Wheels, Backpacks for Kids

· Habitat for Humanity — Affordable housing programs

· Hays Senior Center — Meal services

· Options – Domestic &amp; Sexual Violence Services — Safe shelter and support

· Salvation Army — Financial assistance, food pantry services

· … and others that help with transportation, safe housing, crisis stabilization, parenting education, etc.

These agencies, and many more, depend on United Way of Ellis County for funding and support. When our funding falls short, so too do their services — at a time when many in our community are already stretched thin.

What we are asking from the community

1. Businesses: If your organization runs internal giving or payroll-deduction campaigns, we ask that you continue these efforts — and if possible, increase your contributions this year. Your ongoing support makes a measurable difference in ensuring basic human services remain available.

2. Residents: If you are able, please consider making a donation today. Even a modest increase over previous years helps multiply impact across all of our partner agencies. Every dollar stays local and supports people right here in Ellis County.

3. Potential leadership candidates: We are still actively recruiting for a dedicated, visionary executive director to lead United Way into a more stable future. If you know of someone who might be a strong fit, we encourage you to reach out to our board of directors.

The board of United Way of Ellis County remains committed to our mission: to support health, education, financial stability and resilience in our community. We believe deeply in the power of collaboration, and we believe that — together — Ellis County can overcome this moment of crisis.

We will continue to provide updates to the public as we secure new leadership and stabilize our funding base. In the meantime, we thank all those who have given in the past and strongly invite renewed and expanded support now.

— Jaden Richardson, board president of the United Way of Ellis County jrichardson@bankofhays.com director@liveunited.us

<a href="https://www.liveunited.us/">Click here for more information on the United Way of Ellis County.</a>

<a href="https://liveunited.harnessgiving.org/donate/?selected-method=one-time&amp;amount=50&amp;campaign_id=0">Or go straight to their donate page.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698091063975.png" alt="Image by Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image by Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>The Board of Directors of the United Way of Ellis County is issuing an urgent call for help from businesses, residents and community partners. After years of declining funding, compounded by recent leadership instability, our organization is at a critical juncture — and we need Ellis County to step up now.Key Challenges We Face· Over the past several years, funding for United Way of Ellis County has steadily decreased by about 20% since 2021. Much of our revenue comes from donations made by local businesses and members of this community, and contributions have not kept pace with rising demand for services.· In June 2025, our executive director position was vacated. The board undertook a careful search and identified a highly qualified candidate expected to begin in October. However, after months of waiting, we have recently learned this individual is backing out of the job. This unexpected development has again left us without permanent leadership during a time of great need.· In the interim, Bill Ring graciously stepped in as temporary director, guiding operations and ensuring that critical work continued through these past few months. We thank Bill for his dedication and willingness to step up for the community during this transition.How United Way Serves Ellis CountyUnited Way of Ellis County plays a critical role in the community by raising funds and distributing them to partner agencies that deliver vital services. Some of our 2025 partner agencies include:· Big Brothers Big Sisters — youth mentoring programs· Cancer Council of Ellis County — financial assistance for cancer patients and nutritional support· CASA of the High Plains — Advocacy for abused/neglected children· Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas — Support for early intervention and job follow-along services· First Call For Help — Local assistance, Meals on Wheels, Backpacks for Kids· Habitat for Humanity — Affordable housing programs· Hays Senior Center — Meal services· Options – Domestic &amp; Sexual Violence Services — Safe shelter and support· Salvation Army — Financial assistance, food pantry services· … and others that help with transportation, safe housing, crisis stabilization, parenting education, etc.These agencies, and many more, depend on United Way of Ellis County for funding and support. When our funding falls short, so too do their services — at a time when many in our community are already stretched thin.What we are asking from the community1. Businesses: If your organization runs internal giving or payroll-deduction campaigns, we ask that you continue these efforts — and if possible, increase your contributions this year. Your ongoing support makes a measurable difference in ensuring basic human services remain available.2. Residents: If you are able, please consider making a donation today. Even a modest increase over previous years helps multiply impact across all of our partner agencies. Every dollar stays local and supports people right here in Ellis County.3. Potential leadership candidates: We are still actively recruiting for a dedicated, visionary executive director to lead United Way into a more stable future. If you know of someone who might be a strong fit, we encourage you to reach out to our board of directors.Looking forwardThe board of United Way of Ellis County remains committed to our mission: to support health, education, financial stability and resilience in our community. We believe deeply in the power of collaboration, and we believe that — together — Ellis County can overcome this moment of crisis.We will continue to provide updates to the public as we secure new leadership and stabilize our funding base. In the meantime, we thank all those who have given in the past and strongly invite renewed and expanded support now.— Jaden Richardson, board president of the United Way of Ellis County jrichardson@bankofhays.com director@liveunited.us<a href="https://www.liveunited.us/">Click here for more information on the United Way of Ellis County.</a><a href="https://liveunited.harnessgiving.org/donate/?selected-method=one-time&amp;amount=50&amp;campaign_id=0">Or go straight to their donate page.</a>

LETTER: United Way of Ellis County needs community support to sustain vital services

<a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/state-farm-weather-window">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760638997238.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/state-farm-weather-window">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>

Three-day weather outlook

By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

The Fort Hays State University College Republicans issued a statement condemning Kansas Young Republicans for sending texts with&nbsp;violent, racist and antisemitic rhetoric.

The student-led group posted the following on its Instagram page:

"As conservatives, we believe in personal responsibility, respect, and the dignity of every person. The hateful, antisemitic, racist, and violent language seen in recent messages does not represent our values or our movement. There’s no room for hate in the Republican Party — or anywhere in America. FHSU College Republicans formally denounces Kansas Young Republicans and any associated groups."

Kansas Young Republicans chairman Alex Dwyer and vice chair William Hendrix took part in the Telegram group chat, which also included references to white supremacy and suppression of the Jeffrey Epstein files.

On Tuesday, the chairman of the Kansas Republican Party said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/14/private-chat-among-young-gop-club-members-00592146" target="_blank">the Politico article</a>&nbsp;disclosing the commentary prompted immediate deactivation of the Kansas Young Republicans organization.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/a51243bd-5b70-446b-9496-6ea524e03ec9">SEE RELATED STORY: Kansas Young Republicans shut down after Politico report on racist, violent encrypted chat</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760644949990.jpg" alt="Courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostThe Fort Hays State University College Republicans issued a statement condemning Kansas Young Republicans for sending texts with&nbsp;violent, racist and antisemitic rhetoric.The student-led group posted the following on its Instagram page:"As conservatives, we believe in personal responsibility, respect, and the dignity of every person. The hateful, antisemitic, racist, and violent language seen in recent messages does not represent our values or our movement. There’s no room for hate in the Republican Party — or anywhere in America. FHSU College Republicans formally denounces Kansas Young Republicans and any associated groups."Kansas Young Republicans chairman Alex Dwyer and vice chair William Hendrix took part in the Telegram group chat, which also included references to white supremacy and suppression of the Jeffrey Epstein files.On Tuesday, the chairman of the Kansas Republican Party said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/14/private-chat-among-young-gop-club-members-00592146" target="_blank">the Politico article</a>&nbsp;disclosing the commentary prompted immediate deactivation of the Kansas Young Republicans organization.&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/a51243bd-5b70-446b-9496-6ea524e03ec9">SEE RELATED STORY: Kansas Young Republicans shut down after Politico report on racist, violent encrypted chat</a>

FHSU College Republicans react to Kansas Young Republicans racist chats

FHSU daily crime log: Oct. 10-16, 2025

By BECKY KISER Hays Post

Recommended bid awards for two projects in Hays will be presented to the city commission during its meeting today.

Jeff Crispin, water resources director, will talk about the 2025 sanitary sewer cleaning and inspection program.&nbsp;

The low bid for light cleaning and video inspection of about 20 miles of sewer line was from CC Steel, LLC, North Dakota, for&nbsp;$145,022.

Replacement of the playground equipment at Massey Park, 17th and Allen, will be discussed by Jeff Boyle, parks director.

&nbsp;The selection committee reviewed all of the proposals and recommended&nbsp;approval of the Aspire 2 Play&nbsp;for $119,363. Boyle said the  playground unit would be unlike any other in Hays.

The existing playground at Massey Park was installed in 2002.

Jesse Rohr, public works director, will also present a proposal for consent to vacate annexation, or deannex, the plat of DK Ranch Addition west of Columbine Drive in anticipation of the planned&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/fd7b7dd8-86e3-4e72-bcfb-91fa38f6f8a8">Smoky Hill Plains Addition</a> housing development.

The complete Oct. 16 agenda is available <a href="https://haysusa.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10162025-1575">here</a>.&nbsp;

The meeting begins at 4 p.m. in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584721067731.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY KISER Hays PostRecommended bid awards for two projects in Hays will be presented to the city commission during its meeting today.Jeff Crispin, water resources director, will talk about the 2025 sanitary sewer cleaning and inspection program.&nbsp;The low bid for light cleaning and video inspection of about 20 miles of sewer line was from CC Steel, LLC, North Dakota, for&nbsp;$145,022.Replacement of the playground equipment at Massey Park, 17th and Allen, will be discussed by Jeff Boyle, parks director.&nbsp;The selection committee reviewed all of the proposals and recommended&nbsp;approval of the Aspire 2 Play&nbsp;for $119,363. Boyle said the playground unit would be unlike any other in Hays.The existing playground at Massey Park was installed in 2002.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760622980959.png" alt="Courtesy image" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy image</figcaption>
 </figure>Jesse Rohr, public works director, will also present a proposal for consent to vacate annexation, or deannex, the plat of DK Ranch Addition west of Columbine Drive in anticipation of the planned&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/fd7b7dd8-86e3-4e72-bcfb-91fa38f6f8a8">Smoky Hill Plains Addition</a> housing development.The complete Oct. 16 agenda is available <a href="https://haysusa.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10162025-1575">here</a>.&nbsp;The meeting begins at 4 p.m. in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main.&nbsp;

Hays City Commission to discuss bids for sewer cleaning, playground equipment 

The Hays Public Library met on Wednesday to a standing-room-only crowd after criticism erupted on social media about a display of books in the young adult section of the library during Banned Book Week.

The president of the library board read a statement concerning the book display, followed by 30 minutes of comments from community members in support and against the display.

Amy Feauto, board president, said the books displayed last week in the young adult section of the library addressed the practice of banning books and were part of an American Library Association awareness campaign that runs for one week every year.

"While we understand that a number of the comments circulating on social media these last few days focused on content within examples of books that have been targets of banning that were on display, the display was not about promoting any particular book," Feauto said.

"It was instead about the free and open exchange of ideas. The display included, in fact, arguments on both sides of the issue of book banning, including examples of arguments for and against banning certain books, in keeping with the idea that the foundation of a public library rests upon a free and open exchange of ideas," she said.

Sophie Miller, a young Hays resident, said she had the unique perspective of being able to read most of the books that were part of the display.

Miller described herself as an avid reader when she was 13, checking out as many as 10 books at a time.

"I am so grateful that was something that was available to me and that I was able to learn about it through a source of educational library books, and not through sketchier sources on the internet&nbsp;or through peers who are less knowledgeable on these subjects," Miller said.

She said she thought all ages having access to information is important.

"I'll say that I have experienced no negative results from having read any of those books, and, in fact, it made me a more knowledgeable and more thoughtful person having been well read from a young age," Miller said, "So I would like to thank the board for allowing libraries to exist in this community."

Hays resident John Pyle said he was not supporting banning the books in question, but he thought books on sex or LGBTQ issues should be moved to the adult section of the library.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760580445083.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe Hays Public Library met on Wednesday to a standing-room-only crowd after criticism erupted on social media about a display of books in the young adult section of the library during Banned Book Week.The president of the library board read a statement concerning the book display, followed by 30 minutes of comments from community members in support and against the display.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760580773730.jpeg" alt="Amy Feauto, library board president, makes a statement about a display of books in the young adult section during Banned Book Week. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Amy Feauto, library board president, makes a statement about a display of books in the young adult section during Banned Book Week. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Amy Feauto, board president, said the books displayed last week in the young adult section of the library addressed the practice of banning books and were part of an American Library Association awareness campaign that runs for one week every year."While we understand that a number of the comments circulating on social media these last few days focused on content within examples of books that have been targets of banning that were on display, the display was not about promoting any particular book," Feauto said."It was instead about the free and open exchange of ideas. The display included, in fact, arguments on both sides of the issue of book banning, including examples of arguments for and against banning certain books, in keeping with the idea that the foundation of a public library rests upon a free and open exchange of ideas," she said.Sophie Miller, a young Hays resident, said she had the unique perspective of being able to read most of the books that were part of the display.Miller described herself as an avid reader when she was 13, checking out as many as 10 books at a time."I am so grateful that was something that was available to me and that I was able to learn about it through a source of educational library books, and not through sketchier sources on the internet&nbsp;or through peers who are less knowledgeable on these subjects," Miller said.She said she thought all ages having access to information is important."I'll say that I have experienced no negative results from having read any of those books, and, in fact, it made me a more knowledgeable and more thoughtful person having been well read from a young age," Miller said, "So I would like to thank the board for allowing libraries to exist in this community."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760581263090.jpeg" alt="John Pyle, Hays resident, compared some of the books in the young adult section to Hustler or Playboy. at a meeting of the library board on Wednesday. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>John Pyle, Hays resident, compared some of the books in the young adult section to Hustler or Playboy. at a meeting of the library board on Wednesday. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Hays resident John Pyle said he was not supporting banning the books in question, but he thought books on sex or LGBTQ issues should be moved to the adult section of the library.He compared the books to Playboy or Hustler magazines and called them porn."The LGBTQ movement takes a route to teach and normalize gender confusion and transgenderism, and the children will likely grow up to be at least accepting of the movement, or at worst, a part of it, as at the core of this is a sick perversion that seeks to display sexuality to children and, of course, sexualize them," Pyle said.Meagan Zampieri-Lillpopp, a former library employee, spoke in favor of access to diverse titles in the library and urged parental supervision of children's book choices.Although speaking only as a Hays resident Zampieri-Lillpopp, who is the director&nbsp; of client service at Options Domestic and Sexual Violence services, described how books can be outlets for survivors of vioelnce both young and old to deal with their trauma.&nbsp;"This curfuffle began over a week ago, and since then, no fewer than three women have told me or the public that bad things were happening in their home when they were young," Zampieri-Lillpopp said. "They didn't know that these things were bad, because the person hurting them was supposed to love them. They had to seek outside help, and in some cases, not all of them, that outside&nbsp;help was books."She gave several examples of books that people have tried to ban, which feature characters dealing with traumatic experiences, including "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," "The Kite Runner" and "13 Reasons Why.""Brave authors, especially those who share their own life stories, give us the words and hope we need sometimes to keep going," Zampieri-Lillpopp said. "I've seen people find themselves in a book after years of feeling invisible. I've seen people find recovery from their failures. ..."I found the courage to face my fears after reading a book that took me six months. I've seen people find God in the library."She added, "The greatest gift my mother ever gave me was the unwavering freedom to read. No book ever hurt me. Plenty of people have, and the books laid a path for me to find my way back. Not every book for every reader, but every reader for its book."Jessica House of Hays said she appreciates what the Hays Public Library provides the community. She said it is more than a building full of books."It's a place where people come to learn, connect and grow. I've learned a lot through the programs I've attended here," she said, "practical things to new perspectives that I might not have understood before. That's what a good library does. It opens minds and it brings people together.Joe Giebler, a rural Ellis County resident, expressed concerns about youth having access to books that contained sexual material.Giebler said he asked Brandon Hines, library director, if he would allow his own children to read some of the books in the banned book display, and he said no. Giebler called that a double standard."I'm not saying anyone should ban any book ever. You can't go to a rated R movie if you're under 18. There are reasons for restrictions, I believe this is one," he said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760581346035.jpeg" alt="David Koshiol, Hays resident, read from a book titled "Gender Queer" during the Hays Public Library board meeting on Wednesday. He said he opposed that and other books being available in the young adult section of the library.Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>David Koshiol, Hays resident, read from a book titled "Gender Queer" during the Hays Public Library board meeting on Wednesday. He said he opposed that and other books being available in the young adult section of the library.Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>David Koshiol, Hays resident, read from a book titled "Gender Queer" that is found in the young adult section.It describes the use of dildoes, strapons and a blow job."There are so many books in publication worldwide that you could fill the library numerous times and still not have any of these books that are inappropriate for our children in Hays, Kansas," he said.Bernie Hayward, Hays residents, said the library needs to take steps to correct the book issue."We've got enough bad things going on in this world. We need to start taking the right steps to correct all this. I don't know what it's going to take to get the people doing what is morally right. Right now, we're going down the wrong track," he said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760581427321.jpeg" alt="Anna Towns, Hays resident, said she is proud of the library. She said its OK to disagree with books in the library, but she did not support restricting access to those books. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Anna Towns, Hays resident, said she is proud of the library. She said its OK to disagree with books in the library, but she did not support restricting access to those books. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Anna Towns, a former interlibrary loan coordinator for the library, said she is proud of the library."I am proud of what we have built here as a community. I am proud of every book that's on the shelf," she said. "It might not be something that I agree with, and oftentimes in interlibrary loan, I was requesting books that were on topics that I did not agree with, or by authors that I did not think we should be promoting, but I am proud that we offer something for everyone."She added, "It's OK to read something and disagree with it, but it's not OK to tell other people that they can't read about it, that they can't have those conversations in their family. "Just because it's not something that your kid is ready for doesn't mean that every kid can't have access to it."Towns also noted that youth have to have their parents' permission to have their own library cards. Parents can also access a list of all the books their children have checked out.&nbsp;Some of the speakers and social media posters had referenced the banned book display being in the children's section. However, all of the books were in the young adults section, which is geared toward youth ages 11 to 18, she said.She said moving the books to the adult section of the library was not appropriate because they are not adult books; they are young adult books geared specifically to that age group."It's ironic to have this happen during Banned Books Week," she said. "And yes, what you're doing is trying to ban books."Kelly Ancar, Hays resident, said she thought the library is robbing parents of the right to decide what books their children are exposed to."All we're asking is that the books be put somewhere, that an adult can have some supervision," she said. "There are other ways to address kids who are at risk, like Ms. Towns reflected, that there are some kids who reach out to books to learn about situations for themselves and find a way to reach out for some help."Ancar said other programs exist to help children who are at risk.