By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The Hays USD 489 school board during its meeting Monday agreed to participate in community strategic planning sessions.
These sessions typically include up to 40 participants, consisting mostly of community members along with the school board and some district representation. Each board member will be encouraged to invite community members to the sessions.
The work is generally accomplished over the course of two meetings each lasting 2.5 to three hours.
The objectives of strategic planning process are as follows:
• Strategic objective planning for the next three to five years in Hays USD 489
• Focusing on district efforts to maintain a focused mission, vision and core values objectives when making decisions
• Full community engagement in the strategic process
Superintendent Ron Wilson said he hoped to have the meetings in January or February.
He said they would fit well with what the school bond committee is working on. The discussions will include facilities, but also a variety of other topics.
"It's picking the priorities of what's important," he said.
The Kansas Association of School Boards will help coordinate the process. The cost will be $5,715.
Board self-evaluation
The board voted to also pay KASB to help it with a self-evaluation between now and the end of the year.
The board will rank topics, and the scores will be based on an average of the six board members plus the superintendent. The individual scores are kept anonymous.
KASB will compile the results and a member of its leadership will visit with the board to discuss the results.
The cost will be $500, plus mileage and $200 per hour for the KASB consultant.
Broadcasting meetings
After community members expressed concern the last board work session was not broadcast on YouTube, board president Tammy Wellbrock and board vice-president Craig Pallister discussed making work sessions videos available to the public online.
Wilson said the district intends to do this. The district will not be able to bring in all of the equipment it does to the regular board meetings at Rockwell Administration Center, but the district will make a broadcast available.