By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The Hays school district has hired Chris Hipp as the new assistant superintendent of finance and human resources.
Hipp is currently serving as the director of the special education cooperative. This is Hipp's second school year in that position.
Hipp will replace interim director of finance Keith Hall, who is leaving June 30 to take a position as the superintendent of the Thunder Ridge school district.
Superintendent Ron Wilson said the title is being changed from director to assistant superintendent because of Hipp's background in education.
The school board was also informed at its meeting Monday night two principals will not be returning this fall.
Vicki Gile, O'Loughlin Elementary School principal, announced her retirement after four years with the district.
Paula Rice, Roosevelt Elementary School principal, also announced her resignation.
The school approved the renewal of all other administrator contracts for one year.
School calendar
The school board voted to accept the school calendar for the 2020-21 school year. The first day of school will be Aug. 12. The last day of school will be May 14.
Spring break will be March 22-26 and will coincide with FHSU's spring break.
JAG-K
The school board approved the renewal of its contract with Jobs for America's Graduates-Kansas. The program helps students at Hays High School who have risk factors that might keep them from graduating.
The annual cost of the program is $73,000. USD 489 will be responsible for $11,000 with federal funds paying for the rest of the cost of the program.
Audit report
The district heard a report from Adams, Brown, Beran and Ball on the district's audit.
The auditor found four significant deficiencies. The district pays pass-though funds to the recreation commission. That budget was overspent by over a $1,000.
The auditor found a journal entry that had to be added after the end of the fiscal year.
The district also struggled with turnover, which resulted in staff taking on multiple duties. Procedures should be implemented to establish segregation of duties wherever possible, the auditor said in its report.
This protects both the employee and the school district.
The auditor also found procedures needed to put in place to ensure that information put into the payroll system is being reviewed. This includes information about pay raises.
Wilson said he had been made aware of the problems and corrective action is being taken.
Enrollment increase
Willson reported the state audit of the district's enrollment will add 19 more students to district's total for the year. This will mean slightly more funding for the district.
Vaping policy
The district also approved three policy revisions recommended by the Kansas Association of School Boards. Two of these policies dealt with clarifying language in the school's vaping policy.