By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The Hays school district will survey the community on options for an upcoming bond issue beginning the first of December.
No decisions have been made on the scope or the cost of the bond.
However, USD 489 officials, after meeting with members of community and teachers, have ideas that have floated to the top of the discussions.
These have included:
• Close Lincoln Elementary School and move students the district's existing but updated elementary schools.
• Close Lincoln and Wilson elementary schools and move them to the middle school. This would require building a new middle school or moving the middle school to the high school and building a new high school.
• Build a new middle school
• Repurpose Hays High School into a middle school and build a new high school
• Build a new high school auditorium
• Move Rockwell administrative service and Westside to Wilson Elementary School. Relocate Wilson students and close Westside school and Rockwell Administration Center.
• Do additions and updates at all schools to provide adequate space.
"I think one of themes that has risen to the top is that we have all realized space is our No. 1 priority," Wilson said. "We don't have enough space in our schools."
Wilson said this is another way to receive input from the community. It doesn't meant the district will pursue any of these options.
"Now we're trying to reach out to a broader group of people and get their feedback," he said.
Board President Tammy Wellbrock said she appreciated the survey will focus on need and not on cost initially.
The survey will be available online on the district's website, sent out through the parent alert system and available through all of the district's social media platforms.
The survey will also contain general questions about how individuals feel about the district's current facilities and what they should look like in the future.