By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post

With the Hays USD 489 Board of Education advancing a proposed $100 million bond issue to upgrade buildings district-wide, Superintendent Dean Katt told O’Loughlin staff at one of the first Talking Tours” of the year that security issues are especially important.

The board voted Monday to continue working on the proposed bond issue, tentatively scheduled for the November 2015 election.

“The big issue, I think, is that every school will have a safe room/tornado shelter and every building will have a secure entrance, so those are two of the big things,” Katt said, noting the architectural plans remain in the conceptional stages.

Katt told teachers at O’Loughlin Elementary School recently that outdated HVAC issues and other structural improvements are also near the top of the list of improvements. He expected artist renderings and plans for each school will be available for the public to view as soon as possible.

Katt  said he will also begin looking for committee members and volunteers to help with the education component of the bond election, adding HTK architects also will help provide guidance on raising awareness on why improvements are needed.

The plan is based upon a proposal offered by the district’s Facility Needs Committee, which delivered its recommendation to the board earlier this year.