By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The Hays USD 489 superintendent Monday encouraged parents of children studying at home through parent choice remote learning to consider sending their children back on site.
The state Department of Health and Environment reported that as of Dec. 7, only 3.3 percent of the state’s 174,000 confirmed or probable cases and none of its more than 1,800 deaths for the pandemic were in children 9 years old or younger.
Hays Superintendent Ron Wilson said the district has not seen transmission between children while in school. Those children who have tested positive are primarily contracting the illness from contacts at home, he said.
Wilson said district schools are also not seeing many flu cases.
He encouraged not only parents who have elementary children in parent choice remote learning, but also middle school and high school parents to consider allowing their children to come back to school on site.
The district has had COVID cases in the schools and will continue to have cases, but Wilson said he thought mitigation efforts are helping.
Board member Craig Pallister said he is seeing many people in the community not wearing masks. He said he wished people would do more to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 so kids could stay in school.
Hays to follow KSHSAA fan rules
The Hays school district will follow the latest KSHSSA policy that will allow two parents/guardians per family to attend winter activities.
The policy will be in effect until Jan. 28.
Parents and guardians can attend the games of their student, but not other games. For example, a parent can watch a freshman game, but will not be allowed to stay for the varsity game if the student is not suited up.
Spectators are to wear masks and social distance.
Anyone who has a medical exemption from wearing a mask will need to show documentation, and the administrators will determine if they can be admitted.
Parents and guardians will be asked to buy tickets through the school's online portal in advance. Names and IDs will be checked at the door.
A list of parents/guardians names will be provided to the opposing school for away games.
In other business, the board
• Approved a resolution finalizing the sale of the former Washington school
• Approved the purchase of new business software. The cost of the new system will be $72,371, which will be paid over three years. There will be an additional $26,340 annual fee for the service.
• Approved a $5,600 contract with K12ict for a district technology assessment.
• Discussed the board's agenda policy, but took no action.