By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post
At Monday’s work session, USD 489 Board of Education members prepared for next week’s board meeting when architects and financiers involved in the proposed $100 million in improvements to the district’s buildings will be available to answer questions and provide guidance.
Board member Greg Schwarz talked about the importance of communicating why the district’s Facility Needs Committee recommended the updates following a two-year study of the district’s schools and buildings, pointing to similar bond elections passed in Liberal and Salina.
“You have got to have the data and the literature out there to go present it,” school board member Greg Schwartz said, “And that would also involve this body having town hall-type meetings and educating, answering questions, getting public feedback … before you make a decision that absolutely we need a hundred-million-dollar bond project.”
The board also discussed asking the representatives from HTK Architects and Piper-Jaffray financial services for guidance on phasing the proposed projects and how the ballot, tentatively planned for November 2015, should be worded.
Superintendent Dean Katt agreed, stating a good starting point would be the development of a committee of USD 489 patrons to help “get the message” to the public.
Katt also said so far he has received positive comments about the proposed improvements — updates the FNC said needed to improve safety, security and space issues the district is facing now and will continue to face into the future.