By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The Hays USD 489 school board was informed this week it has been allocated $1.6 million in federal COVID relief funds.
Superintendent Ron Wilson discussed with the board Monday how that money will be used.
A large portion of those funds are being spent for summer school for two years for elementary, middle and high school students. The district is providing transportation for summer school this summer, as well as some supplies.
"This is to address the learning loss that occurred during COVID," Wilson said.
Additional kindergarten teachers who were added last school year will be funded again this year. This has helped keep kindergarten class sizes down.
The district is adding a high school support teacher. District officials hope this teacher can help students with credit recovery.
The district will have a staff person for the multi-tiered system of support, which is also known as MTSS. The program is meant to target support for students who are struggling academically.
The district added a lead nurse position last school year, who coordinated all questions and COVID-19 contact tracing during the pandemic. The district is keeping that position into coming school year.
The district hopes to hire a community outreach specialist, who will help the district with grant writing and communication with the community.
Books will be added to school libraries. The district will also use federal funds to pay for some of the district's subscriptions, including the student/parent communication platform Seesaw.
The district is considering using some of the funds for behavioral and emotional support programs for the elementary schools, but that has not been finalized, Wilson said.
The district is considering adding classroom aides as well as professional development in 2021-22.
Some funds will also be used for capital improvements. The district hopes to replace windows at Wilson and O'Loughlin elementary schools.
"We will never see anything like this in our history again in terms of how we have been supported with federal funds for learning and improvements," Wilson said. "It's really phenomenal. We are really going to try to make the best of it."
Wilson said it is going to take the district, teachers and students time to regroup from the pandemic.
"Even though we were very fortunate that we were a district that was in session, other than last spring. We were is session most every day. We had some learning loss. We've got to do some things to help kids catch up. These things are really going to help."
No masks in the fall
The district is working on a safe return to school plan for the fall, Wilson said.
The district does not plan to require masks when school begins in the fall. However, officials are making plans of what to do if another COVID-19 outbreak would happen in the coming year.
District network replacement
The district heard a report on the replacement of the district network. The cost of the replacement will be $384,000. However, the school qualifies for E-rate funds, which means the district's cost will be reduced to $135,000.
The E-rate program provides discounts to assist schools to obtain affordable internet access and telecommunications services.
Scott Summers, technology director, told the school board Monday night replacing the network will increase security, coverage and the district's ability to manage the system.
The system was installed in 2014, and the service contract is set to expire.
The board is set to vote on the purchase at its meeting in July.
Cold snap gas bill
The district still owes $65,000 to cover the gas bill from the cold snap that happened in February. The district has joined other school districts in disputing its bill.
The board voted to set aside $65,000 from its contingency reserve fund to pay the bill. However, Chris Hipp, assistant superintendent of business services, said the district will likely owe less than that amount once the dispute is settled with the utility company.
Hail damage
Thirty-nine of the district's vehicles received significant hail damage during the recent storm. Several windshields were broken, which have been repaired. Repairs are ongoing on the other vehicles.
The roof on the Early Childhood Complex will likely be totaled. The district is waiting to receive word if the metal roof on the vocational building at the high school will also be totaled.
In other business, the board:
• Heard reports on the student and classified handbooks.
• Approved an Emergency Hazard Mitigation Plan resolution.
• Approved a three-year renewal for elementary social studies textbooks at a cost of $40,825.