The Hays Police Department conducted 35 traffic stops and received 13 animal calls on Wednesday, May 7, according to the HPD activity log.

Driving while suspended/revoked, Interstate 70, 3:26 a.m.
Parking complaint, 800 block Ash, 7:23 a.m.
Animal at large, 1000 block Reservation Road, 8:02 a.m.
Juvenile complaint, 300 block West 12th, 9:05 a.m.
Welfare check, 1600 block East 13th, 9:19 a.m.
Abandoned vehicle, 100 block West 14th, 9:30 a.m.
Animal at large, 900 block Commerce, 9:54 a.m.
Found/lost property, 3400 block Vine, 10:15 a.m.
Violation of restraining order/PFA, 1200 block Fort, 10:56 a.m.
Violation of restraining order/PFA, 800 block Fort, 11:55 a.m.
Bicycle/lost, found, stolen, 400 block Walnut, 12:19 p.m.
Document service, 500 block West 32nd, 12:48 p.m.
Disorderly conduct, 13th and Canterbury, 1:08 p.m.
Motor vehicle accident/private property, 1000 block East 43rd, 1:17 p.m.
Vehicle theft, 600 block East 13th, 2:15 p.m.
Theft, 2500 block Vine, 3:24 a.m.
Motor vehicle accident/private property, 2300 block East 13th, 4:22 p.m.
Motor vehicle accident, 1800 block Vine, 4:28 p.m.
NCIC hit, Ellis County, 4:42 p.m.
Animal call, 1100 block Centennial, 5:26 p.m.
Water use violation, 1600 block Elm, 7:45 p.m.
Abandoned vehicle, 1300 block Schwaller, 7:38 p.m.
Found/lost property, 2900 block Vine, 7:45 p.m.
Drug offenses, 3300 block Hall, 7:48 p.m.
Abandoned vehicle, 400 block West 32nd, 8:05 p.m.
Water use violation, 2500 block Indian Trail, 8:10 p.m.
Water use violation, 2700 block Willow, 8:15 p.m.
Water use violation, 2700 block Hillcrest, 8:57 p.m.
Animal call, 700 block College, 11:18 p.m.

By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post

With the district facing more than a million-dollar budget deficit for the 2014-15 school year, Hays USD 489 Superintendent Dean Katt presided over the first of seven community “Talking Tours” Wednesday to discuss the upcoming local option budget election, emphasizing if the LOB increase is passed, the “No. 1 priority is to reduce class size” by rehiring some of the 16 teachers who recently received notice their jobs would be cut.

Speaking  to 13 people at the Hays High School site council, Katt said the average USD 489 class size ranges between 21 to 23 students, but large classes are a problem within third, fourth and fifth grades — leaving one teacher to handle as many as 29 students in some cases.

“And we know that is high, and we would like to reduce that — and that is the priority of the board,” Katt said. “The board has said if we do pass the LOB to 31 percent, it would be used to bring back some of those lower-grade level teachers and then work our way up from there.”

According to Katt, if the LOB were passed, the proposed fee increases and transportation cuts up for discussion at Monday’s school board meeting might not be necessary, as well.

Katt displayed a chart to the crowd and explained, should voters approve the one percent LOB increase in June, the mill levy would increase .0002 mills.

“That would cost, on a $100,000 home, $2.3o a year or .19 cents a month and generate $198,000 which would go into the district’s general fund,” he said.

Responding to a question from the audience, Katt did acknowledge once the LOB is raised to 31 percent the board does have the option to raise the LOB another 1 percent or 2 percent without a public referendum.

“The LOB could go to 32 or 33 percent. … It is an option, but it would have to happen after the election,” Katt said, pointing out if the school board voted to raise the LOB, the increase would only be in effect for one year and it would then revert to 31 percent.

“At that point, if (the board) wanted to (raise the LOB permanently), it would have to go to vote,” said Katt.

Katt said a number of factors have led to the district’s budget shortfall including state funding cuts beginning in 2009 in which the district’s general operating funds declined from $24.6 million in 2008-09 to $23.3 million in 2013-2014. He also said enrollment figures were predicted incorrectly and figures for wage increases for teachers were budgeted incorrectly.

Katt said mail-in ballots will be sent to every registered voter in the USD 489 district June 11, and ballots must be returned to the Ellis County District Clerk by noon June 27.

Until then, Katt said he plans “to visit civic organizations and anyone I can to get the word out.”

For a full Talking Tour schedule and more information on the LOB election visit the USD 489 website.

Related story: USD 489 offers information with LOB issue looming.

Related story: Documents show costs for district programs, potential cuts.

Related story: USD 489 discussed new and increased fees at latest meeting.

FHSU University Relations

Fort Hays State University’s Virtual College will soon give another benefit for its students. An agreement with Blackboard Inc. will improve reliability and add online teaching tools to FHSU’s education platform.

Starting this summer, FHSU will switch to Blackboard’s Managed Hosting. The change will be most noticeable by the improved performance, but it will also add features such as Blackboard Collaborate, which will allow for multiple functions such as videoconferences and instant messaging through Blackboard.

This upgrade to Blackboard is an outgrowth of the university’s commitment to continuous improvement, evidenced by the creation two years ago of the Student Engagement and Advisory Center.

Recent continuous improvement initiatives from the Virtual College include:

• Working with the Student Government Association to establish the Virtual College Student Advisory Committee;
• Conducting a student affairs and Virtual College taskforce on areas for improvement;
• Adding a student authentication tool to identify cheating;
• Online teaching/adjunct resource center and training site;
• Working with the Enterprise Leadership Committee to create a wait list for the online TigerEnroll system.

“FHSU’s commitment to continuous improvement will keep the university as the leader of high-quality distance education, and providing a support network of faculty, staff and alumni that we are all proud of,” said Dennis King, director of the Virtual College and learning technologies.

FHSU University Relations

The National Association for Campus Activities recently elected Edie McCracken, director of the Memorial Union at Fort Hays State University, to its board of directors. McCracken has worked in campus activities for 15 years.

Prior to her current role at the university, McCracken held the position of assistant director of the union.

Active in NACA, she has served as institute series coordinator, institute facilitator, central region conference logistics coordinator and other leadership roles. She has presented several educational sessions during NACA regional conferences and national conventions. McCracken has also been published in “Campus Activities Programming,” NACA’s award-winning publication, and has been honored numerous times for her accomplishments in student activities.

She is also actively involved with other professional organizations, including the Association of College Unions International, the Association of Student Personnel Administrators and the National Association for College Auxiliary Services.

McCracken holds a bachelor’s degree from East Central University in Ada, Okla., and a master’s degree in higher education administration from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.

Thunderstorms will be possible this afternoon and evening. A few of these thunderstorms may be severe east of a Larned to Ashland line. The main hazard late today will be quarter size hail and damaging winds. Cooler temperatures are also expected. Highs today will average between 15 and 20 degrees cooler when compared to the highs yesterday.

Today A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 72. Breezy, with a south wind 10 to 15 mph becoming west 19 to 24 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 39 mph.
Tonight A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 10pm and 11pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 40. Breezy, with a north northwest wind 11 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Friday Mostly sunny, with a high near 76. Northwest wind 6 to 13 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.
Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 50. South wind 9 to 14 mph.
Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. Southwest wind 7 to 17 mph becoming north northwest in the morning.
Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 54.
Sunday A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 70. Breezy.