By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Hays USD 489 released a request for proposals this week for the sale of Rockwell Administrative Center.
The district closed Wilson school in the spring and moved those students into the newly renovated Felten Elementary School.
The district plans to renovate the former Wilson school, move administrative offices into Wilson and sell the Rockwell property.
SEE RELATED STORY: Hays USD 489 BOE discusses Wilson renovations, member questions cost
Superintendent Ron Wilson told the school board on Monday the district has already had three developers express interest and tour the Rockwell building.
The district is requesting developers provide a description of their intended use as well as a timeline for development.
The district is requesting a phased development so it can continue using the Rockwell shop until it can build a new shop on the Wilson property.
The district is also reserving the right to reject any and all proposals.
The deadline for proposals is Nov. 11, with the board likely reviewing them at its Nov. 16 meeting.
Board member Allen Park said he thought the district needed to engage in more marketing rather than just posting the proposal on its bid website.
Park also said he thought the request for proposal should contain the assessed value for the building.
Board member Ken Brooks explained the county appraisal for the building is not accurate because the property has not been subject to property taxes.
The district also took a first step in renovations at Wilson school.
The board approved a quote from KCAV for audio/visual equipment that will be installed at the Wilson Administration Center for $114,028. This will include the new boardroom, which will be in the school’s former gym, as well as two other training rooms.
HMS on absenteeism
Hays Middle School Principal Tom Albers gave a report on the efforts the school staff is making to reduce absenteeism.
The school set a goal last year of reducing its chronic absenteeism rate from 15.25 to 13%. It did not reach its goal, but reduced chronic absenteeism by .5%.
SEE RELATED STORY: Chronic absenteeism on the rise in Hays USD 489 schools
Albers said the middle school staff is constantly looking at the absenteeism data and trying new programs to engage students and parents.
The implementation of the JAG-K program, which is a class that provides additional support for at-risk students, has seen success in increasing attendance rates.
The school has also created several incentive programs for students.
Students can receive stickers on their lockers for attendance, and students with 95% attendance or more can have a chance to earn an Arby’s gift certificates.
The school has awarded prizes to squads that have the highest attendance rates. Squads who met attendance goals received a piece of a Mr. Potato Head. When they received all the pieces, they received doughnuts. Albers and Shauna Zweifel, assistant principal, dressed up as Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head as part of the incentive program.
The school has had guest speakers on the importance of attendance and sent postcards to students’ families who have missed class. Staff also send postcards to brag on students’ achievements.
Julie Zollinger, school psychologist, has made it a point to greet and give fist bumps to all students as they enter the school every morning.
Students with perfect attendance at the end of the school year are recognized at the awards assembly.
Albers said school officials have made personal contacts with students and families who are struggling with attendance or tardies.
Since the school has moved to 13th Street, more students are riding the bus. Albers said the school is working with individual students and the district’s transportation department to make sure that students who need transportation can get to it, even if it means having a student walk four blocks to a bus pickup.
Positives in the district
Wilson reported on some of the positive happenings around the district during his superintendent’s report.
- Hays High Athletic Director Chris Drees was named Athletic Director of the Week.
- Hays High debaters recently defeated a rival school but stayed after to help them develop their arguments.
- The Hays High School band went to the Central States Marching Festival at K-State. As part of a fundraiser, the students purchased shout-outs for the Garden City, Dodge City and Liberal bands to show their support because those communities were going through ICE raids.
- A gentleman who came to watch his granddaughter play at Hays High School lost his wallet. A district custodian turned the wallet into the office. That gentleman donated $1,000 to the athletic department to be used for a student scholarship.
- The district also hosted “Think Before You Post,” a speaker on cyber safety and bullying.
In other business, the board voted to send the administrative handbook to the Kansas Association of School Boards for review. The handbook will come back to the board for approval.