By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The Hays USD 489 school district has posted land adjacent to the former Hays Middle School for sale.
The school board approved the sale of the land at its Dec. 15 meeting.
The lot includes 7.23 acres of land north of the former Hays Middle School football field. Bids will be accepted through a sealed-bid process, and the district will retain the right to refuse any bid.
The school board has asked bidders to include their plans for the land, along with a development timeline.
Support staff
The board approved adding a student support specialist position at Felten Elementary for the 2026-27 school year.
The former middle school is being remodeled into a new four-section elementary school. Wilson Elementary School is set to close at the end of this school year, and Wilson students will move to the new elementary school in the fall.
O'Loughlin Elementary School already has a student support specialist, and Roosevelt Elementary School has an assistant principal who serves a similar function.
Board leadership
The board reelected Curt Vajnar as president and elected Ruth Ruder as vice president of the board.
The board also approved policy changes recommended by the Kansas Association of School Boards.
However, the board delayed a vote on a $66,520 annual contract with Glassman Corp for a HVAC preventive maintenance service agreement for O'Loughlin, Roosevelt and Hays Middle schools.