By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The Hays USD 489 school board voted to close Rockwell Administration Center at its meeting on Tuesday.
The board had a public hearing on the closure, but no community members spoke.
This is the first step in closing the building.
The district has indicated it would like to sell the property at 323 W. 12th St., but it first must receive permission from the Kansas Legislature.
The district intends to use capital outlay funds to renovate the former Wilson Elementary School building and move the administrative offices there.
Wilson closed as an elementary school this spring. Those students were moved to the newly renovated Felten Elementary School.
The district plans to complete the Wilson renovations in phases. It has budgeted $3.15 million during the next four years.
SEE RELATED STORY: Hays USD 489 BOE reviews capital outlay plan as bond projects come to a close
Superintendent Ron Wilson said he hopes to move the administrative offices to Wilson next fall.
Board member Derek Yarmer said the Wilson renovations were supposed to be covered in the bond.
Board member Jayme Goetz said more money had to go into the high school construction and other projects, so the Wilson project was cut from the bond.
The district’s maintenance shop is also part of the Rockwell property.
Yarmer said he had concerns about selling the Rockwell property before the district had a plan to provide shop space.
The district plans to build a new maintenance shop on the Wilson property, but it may need to make interim arrangements.
Wilson said the district could stipulate in its sales contract that it could still use the shop for a certain amount of time or it could rent space elsewhere.
Board member Allen Park said he was concerned about the budget.
“We could stay here if we choose to for four or five years, depending on what budget we have,” he said.
Board member Ruth Ruder said the Rockwell building is older, more difficult to maintain and costs the district more in utility bills.
“You have to make the staff that's here safe in an environment, too. Have you walked around this building during the day and seen how empty it is? Why would you want to keep that open?”
The motion to close the Rockwell passed 5-2, with Yarmer and Park voting against.
In other business:
- The board approved revisions to payroll and employee benefits.
- It heard a first reading of the classified handbook.