By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The Hays school board is set to take up an agreement with teachers at its meeting on Monday.
The school board will meet at 6:30 p.m. Monday at O'Loughlin Elementary School.
This has been a contentious year of negotiations, with teachers and the board locked in a stalemate over pay and insurance benefits.
At issue was the district's move from a state-run Blue Cross Blue Shield plan to a plan administered by Aetna. Although the plan saved the district money, teachers complained of higher deductibles and issues with service.
The tentative agreement in the board's packet for Monday has the district remaining with Aetna through the end of this contract year, which ends June 30.
The district also has made a move to establish a set amount it will pay toward family insurance plans. The tentative agreement has the district paying the full amount for a single plan, but limiting its payment for dependent and family plans to $1,050 per month starting July 1, 2020.
A federal meditator was unable to bring the two sides to an agreement, and the process moved on to fact finding in the fall. Teachers have been working under their contract for the 2018-19 school year since July.
On salary, the agreement stipulates a $1,900 per year addition to base pay plus horizontal and vertical movement on the salary schedule.
The board will also consider a proposal to add 4.9 percent to the salary of classified staff and administrators, which is roughly equal to the raise being received by the teachers.
HHS HVAC
The board also will consider a proposal from Integrated Consulting Engineers of Wichita to develop plans for the replacement of the heating and air conditioning system at the high school.
HVAC work has been completed on several areas of the building including the gyms. However, Rusty Lindsay, USD 489 director of buildings and grounds, told the school board at its last meeting the district can no longer wait to replace the system.
Lindsay said he hoped the gas lines to the building could be replaced, and then rooftop units could be added as the district had the funds or through lease agreements.
Lindsay added during his last report to the board the district is experiencing more major facility failures and it no longer has the funds in the capital outlay budget to address all of its needs.
The board will also hear a report from Nutrition Services director Jessica Younker and a report on Kansas State Board of Education dyslexia recommendations from Shanna Dinkel, USD 489 assistant superintendent.