By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The Hays USD 489 school board decided not to sell 7.23 acres north of Felten Elementary School (the former Hays Middle School) at its meeting on Monday night.
Superintendent Ron Wilson said the district received four bids for the property, but they were all well below the $630,000 appraised value.
Board President Curt Vajnar suggested the board reject all bids, which it had reserved the right to do during the bidding process.
He said the district is in no hurry to sell the property. He suggested the board discuss the issue further during its upcoming work session on March 23.
Board Vice President Ruth Ruder said, "We're not saying no. We want to see what the future holds."
The property is currently zoned residential and could be transformed into about 20 residential lots. However, a developer could apply for a zoning change, Wilson said.
Contracts
The board approved contract extensions for district administrators and directors for the 2027-28 school year.
The board unanimously approved the directors' contracts. However, the vote on administrators' contracts was split, with Allen Park and Derek Yarmer voting against.
Yarmer made a motion, and Park seconded it to vote on each administrator contract individually.
"I think if the truth or criticism gives you pause, then I think you need to reflect internally," Yarmer said. ... "I don't think the truth is anything to hide from."
Board member Craig Pallister said Wilson recommended renewing all the administrator contracts, and he supported those recommendations. Ruder said she agreed.
Pallister, a former principal, said, "I think that would be singling people out and saying we do not have faith in you."
Board member Jayme Goetz, a former district teacher, said she thought it was important for the board to be on the same page. She also said she thought the board should support Wilson's recommendations.
Wilson said he opposed the board voting on the contracts one by one.
He said the district is very lucky to have the administrators they have.
He added administrators' jobs are often conflict-based, and not everyone is going to agree with how things are handled.
"It's a tough job. It's a lonely job, and you're singling them out," Wilson said.
The board's approval of the administrators' contracts brought applause from the audience.
Contract revisions to go to work session
Before the vote on the contract extensions, the board members discussed changes to the administrators' contracts. Most of the originally proposed changes were minor, including some recommendations from an attorney at the Kansas Association of School Boards.
The contracts for administrators in several places refer back to the administrator's handbook and benefit guide.
Park and Yarmer said they wanted the specific number of vacation and holiday days, as well as salary, spelled out in each administrator's contract.
Park also expressed frustration that the administration handbook was not approved by the board in 2025. However, Chris Hipp, assistant superintendent for business, noted the administration handbook did not come before the board in 2025 because there were no changes since it was last approved in 2024.
The changes to the contract were ultimately tabled by a 5-2 vote, with board members Ruder and Ken Brooks voting against the motion.
If changes to the contract were approved, district counsel Bill Jeter said the administrators could accept the new contract or continue working under their current one.
Construction update
Wilson said construction continues to progress at O'Loughlin Elementary School.
Demolition work inside Felten Elementary School is set to begin this week.
Other business
Kyle Carlin, director of the special education cooperative, has announced his resignation as of the end of June.