By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
At its meeting on Monday, the Hays USD 489 school board agreed to move forward with the process to close the Rockwell Administration Center.
Rockwell was scheduled for closure as part of the bond-funded projects.
Wilson Elementary School was closed as an elementary school at the end of the spring semester. The district plans to renovate the Wilson building and move the administrative offices to Wilson next summer.
The Wilson students will be transferred to the new Felten Elementary School (the former Hays Middle School).
District officials have discussed selling the Rockwell building, but the school board will make that decision at a later date.
The district must first conduct a public hearing on closing Rockwell as a school.
If the board agrees to close the building, the state has the right of first refusal to purchase the property.
If the state approves, the district can pursue the sale of the property.
Superintendent Ron Wilson said if the district sells the property, the funds would go into the capital outlay fund.
Wilson said the Wilson school has adequate space for the administrative offices. Still, the district will need to find another warehouse space and a new location for its maintenance shop, both of which are on the Rockwell property.
Board member Ruth Ruder said it would be in the district’s best interest to sell the Rockwell property as soon as possible after the move so it would not have to continue incurring upkeep costs on the building.
No action was taken. Administrators will bring a resolution back to the board to begin the school closure process.
In other business, the board:
- Had a first reading on policy changes recommended by the Kansas Association of School Boards• Approved a classified staff handbook change. The change will bring the district into compliance with federal labor standards and the reporting requirements of the Big Beautiful Bill.
- Approved preventive maintenance contracts with Glassman Corporation for the maintenance of HVAC units.
- Approved personnel transaction, including the retirement of Bruce Rupp, assistant principal and athletic director at Hays Middle School. Rupp has worked for the district for 34 years.