By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The Hays USD 489 school district is on schedule to complete a couple of major capital projects this summer. The district is also moving forward with its $143.5 million bond issue.
The first phase of the $6 million Hays High School HVAC project is nearing completion. Superintendent Ron Wilson said water should be back in the system and air conditioning functioning in the building by the end of the week.
The second phase of the project will be completed next summer.
Work is also on track for the replacement of windows at O'Loughlin Elementary School. The $652,730 project is supposed to be completed by the beginning of the school year. It also included replacing windows at Wilson Elementary School and Rockwell Administration Center.
The board on Monday approved a bid for $165,258 from Commercial Builders for concrete paving at the district's transportation facility. That work will begin before the end of the year but be finished after the start of school.
Arrangements have been made to park the buses outside of the fence while the concrete work is being done.
Bond progress
Wilson reported to the board that 10 teachers and administrators recently toured high schools that had work completed by the district's architectural firm, DLR.
The trip was meant to help in the planning process for the new high school. The group visited high schools in Tonganoxie, Ottawa, Salina and Lee's Summit, Mo.
“We've seen pictures and gotten excited, but when you're walking in those spaces and knowing we are going to have something as good or better. ... It's going to be unbelievable," Wilson said.
A Kansas Department of Transportation grant will be used to do a traffic study of 13th Street and Canterbury near the new high school. Some residents raised concerns during the bond election about congestion in the area when the new school is built.
The board also approved the letting of bonds for the bond projects at its meeting Monday.
Wilson said the district has been advised by its bond counsel that conditions may be favorable soon to let the bonds. The school district has already started the process of obtaining a bond rating, which Wilson said he thought would be favorable.
Wilson said the City of Hays also will soon take up a measure that will annex the 41 acres of land for the new high school, which is currently in the county. The land for the high school also will need to be rezoned.
iPads
The district approved the purchase of 800 student iPads and cases for Hays Middle School.
The district applied for $320,000 in emergency connectivity funds to help pay for the devices. The total cost of the devices is $354,360.
The district has yet to hear back about the grant, but could still be reimbursed if the grant is awarded.
Board elections
The board conducted its annual reorganization meeting Monday. Craig Pallister was elected president, and Ken Brooks was elected vice-president.
Pallister, who has served as vice-president of the board for the past year, takes over the role from Tammy Wellbrock.
Westside school update
The board approved the hiring of five new positions for Westside school. The district announced earlier this month that High Plains Mental Health Center would no longer administer the program at Westside.
The new positions will fill vacancies left by High Plains staff.
The school assists children with mental health needs that can't be addressed in their home schools. The cost to the special education cooperative, which Hays is a part, will be $198,350. Additional state aid will cover $78,520. Net cost to the cooperative will be $119,830 per year.
"Our goal is from a family perspective, from a student perspective and base school, where students come from, we hope there will be minimal disruption," Special Education Cooperative Director Kyle Carlin said.
The cooperative also includes Ellis, Victoria and La Crosse. The Russell school district's membership in the cooperative is being phased in.
Lewis Field contract
Board member Curt Vajnar questioned why the girl's soccer team was contracted to play seven games at Fort Hays State University's Lewis Field, and the boy's soccer team was only scheduled for two games.
FHSU charges the district $1,000 per game for the rental of the field.
Wilson said it is the coach's discretion. He also noted the boys play in the fall, and girls play in the spring, and field conditions are different according to the seasons.
Vajnar voted against the contract.
In other business, the board:
• Heard a report on the district's strategic plan. The board is scheduled to finally approve the plan after its board retreat on Aug. 5.
• Approved the contract for the board attorney Bill Jeter.
• Heard a report on the USD 489 property boundary with Thomas More Prep-Marian. A small piece of the TMP softball field is part of the O'Loughlin Elementary School property. Jeter said the school should have no liability for injuries that might happen on that piece of land.