By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The Hays school board approved several capital improvement purchases and heard a bond construction update at its meeting Monday.
The district approved two sets of computer purchases.
The district approved the purchase of 30 business lab and 15 tech lab desktop machines for the Hays Middle School at a cost of $39,600.
It also approved the purchase of 80 student computers for Hays High School at a cost of $53,331.
The district has a regular rotation for purchasing computers, but the enrollment at HHS is growing, Superintendent Ron Wilson said.
This will give the high school a few spares. The district is also expecting a large eighth-grade class who will become freshmen in 2024-25, Wilson said.
The board also approved a renovation of the Hays High dish room at a cost of $53,884.
Bond update
Wilson gave a brief bond update to the board on Monday.
The schematic design has been completed for the O'Loughlin Elementary School project. The architects now move on to more detailed plans.
Schematic designs are being done for the renovations of the current Hays High School, which will become the new middle school as well as the new elementary school, which will be in the former middle school building.
Wilson said officials hope those two sets of drawings will be done by the start of the school year.
The bid opening for the new high school will be Aug. 3.
A groundbreaking has not been set for the high school, but Wilson said he anticipates it will be in late September.
Work is ongoing on renovations and an addition at Roosevelt Elementary School.
Temporary classrooms at Roosevelt are being added so work can continue during the school year. The upper grades will be in those classrooms.
Although it is not part of the bond, the district is making repairs to the HVAC system at Wilson Elementary School. Once the bond is completed, Rockwell Administration Center will be closed and Wilson will be used for administration offices.
Wilson will be closed as an elementary school and students moved to the new elementary or other elementary schools in the district.