By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post

Hays USD 489’s Board of Education is seeking more nominations for the district’s inaugural “Best of the Best” awards by Friday’s deadline.

At Monday’s school board meeting, Superintendent Dean Katt said the district has received five staff nominations and just one student nomination.

The awards program is new and created to recognize one outstanding staff member and one outstanding student each month.

The first winners will be announced at the next board meeting on Oct. 27.

Superintendent Dean Katt said district staff will be working this week to inform teachers and the parents of the nomination process.

“We will be getting word out to principals and teachers … to get more students nominations,” Katt said, noting the nominations can come from anyone, including parents.

Board president James Leiker added any staff member at USD 489 can be nominated including janitors, drivers, teachers or administrators.

Leiker and board member Marty Patterson have acquired $50 dining gift certificates from two local restaurants as gifts for the winners. The award recipients will also receive a limestone trophy.

Katt said after nominations come in each month, the board president, vice president and a rotating board member will select the winners.

“It will be exciting,” Katt said. “I am glad we are doing it.”

A schedule, requirements and nomination form is located on the USD 489 website  HERE.