By TONY GUERRERO
Hays Post
The Hays USD 489 school board approved updating existing HVAC preventive maintenance service agreements during its Monday meeting.
The amendments proposed include HVAC equipment that was previously under warranty. The agreements are with Glassman Corp.
Rusty Lindsay, USD 489 director of buildings and grounds, said older systems were simpler and required fewer specialized tools, while newer systems are more complex with higher ongoing maintenance needs.
"We don't have the equipment, certification or the skill levels to work on some of the stuff that needs to be worked on," Lindsay said. "We're completely overwhelmed with everything. It's beyond what we can keep track of."
The service agreement includes equipment at Roosevelt Elementary and Hays Middle School, which will cost $61,000.
Board members Allen Park and Derek Yarmer questioned whether the district was getting the best price and whether it should have been bid out. Ron Wilson said the original agreement, which runs until December 2029, was bid out at the state level.
A motion was made with Craig Pallister, Ken Brooks and Ruth Ruder voting in favor and Park and Yarmer voting not in favor. It did not pass.
Jayme Goetz excused herself due to a conflict of interest from the discussion, and board president Curt Vajnar was absent.
A motion was made to revise the original motion to include a districtwide request for proposals for preventive maintenance, with the request to be brought back no later than the last board meeting in November.
The revised motion, which included Roosevelt and Hays Middle School maintenance contracts through Dec. 31, passed unanimously.
The board plans to rebid the HVAC maintenance contracts for all buildings, including the high school, before the end of the year.
A Glassman representative said they would hold their bid price.
District director, administrator contracts
There was a failed motion to push district director contract extensions back to the March 9 meeting. Pallister, Brooks and Ruder voted no, while Park, Goetz and Yarmer voted yes.
A motion to extend the contracts then failed. Pallister, Ruder and Brooks voted for the motion, while Park, Goetz and Yarmer voted against.
The contracts will come back on the next meeting's agenda.
The board approved a motion to push back contract extensions for district administrators, such as principals and superintendents, until its next meeting on March 9. Brooks and Ruder voted no, Goetz, Pallister, Park and Yarmer voted yes.
Goetz said it was important that Vajnar was present for the vote.
The board also heard an update on Early Childhood Connections and its programs.