By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

The Ellis County Commission has scheduled a special meeting for 3 p.m. Wednesday at the 718 Main Administrative Center to discuss open employment positions within the county.

Ellis County has a number of open positions and, according to County Administrator Greg Sund’s memo to the commission, department heads are reluctant to fill them.

He said the commission needs to issue a direction for future hiring.

Department heads will present the commission with a list of all of the openings they have and why they need or do not need to fill the vacancies.

Commissioner Dean Haselhorst, who works in the oil industry, will also provide the commission with a report of the oil industry.

Lower oil prices are expected to reduce the amount of taxes the county collects this year.

By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post

The Hays USD 489 Technology Committee is recommending a technology device put in the hands of every student and is asking the board to approve spending the $400,000 already budgeted for the next four years.

Director of Technology Brian Drennon told board members at Monday’s work session the four-year plan will lease Apple devices for grades K-8, and Windows devices for grades 9-12.

Drennon said the recommendation comes after months of research and input from teachers in every school building and grade level in the district.

Board members Sarah Rankin, Greg Schwartz, Marty Patterson and Lance Bickle all wondered if the plan could be scaled back.

“Could we look at the elementary level not one-to-one?” Schwartz asked, suggesting K-5 classes could share devices.

“I have been (at the elementary schools) and have had these conversations with various staff members and, once you start talking with (the teachers) and hearing their justification, its gets hard to judge them for that,” Drennon said. “I am telling you the tech committee is recommending one-to-one and if that is  not going to be in the cards, we need to sit the down and have a conversation.”

Mark Hauptman, assistant superintendent of special services, said the the technology committee has been going by the current $400,000 budget that has been in place for several years.

“We understand the board can say no at any time, but that is what we have been predicating a lot of this upon,” Hauptman said. “That is why we are now at the point saying we are ready at $400,000 and we have a plan and let’s move forward.”

Board member Josh Waddell said he agreed a lot of time and effort had gone into the technology plan.

“The money is the money. We see the projections we know what we can spend over the next  several years,” he said. “I think it is our duty to come up with a budget for them to work with that and put together the best plan within that budget constraint.”

Drennon said the committee needs a dollar figure approved before it can move forward, adding he hopes to bid devices in April or May.

Even with state budget concerns,  Superintendent Dean Katt said he felt comfortable with the $400,000 budget figure.

“Everything I hear coming from Topeka is capital outlay is local and (legislators) are not going to mess with that,” Katt said. “I think ($400,000) is the max, we need to look at efficiencies. … Do we need iPads for every 3-8 grader or are mini-iPads an option and those types of things?”

Board members asked the technology committee to present other options at Monday’s BOE meeting including what a $200,000 and $300,000 plan would look like and invited every principal in the district to present their input.

 

By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post

Outgoing USD 489 Board of Education President James Leiker said he feels he will be leaving the school board in good hands after watching six school board candidates campaign for his spot and three others  in the USD 489 candidate section at Monday’s  forum held in Fort Hays State University’s Memorial Union.

“Six candidates stepped up there, they all did very very well, all bring very special talents from their backgrounds. I love the diversity of the candidates which is a great asset for the Hays community,” Leiker said. “I look forward to seeing how this does shake out April 7, but I do know based on the quality of the candidates we had up there, we will have quality board members.”

Leiker also thanked the community for their attendance.

“This was a tremendous turnout. … Well over 100 people in attendance to see what the future of 489 is for the next four years,” he said.

Following the Hays City Commission candidate forum, 12-year school board veteran Greg Schwartz, current board member Sarah Rankin,  and challengers Leslie Blagrave, Luke Oborny, Dr. Paul Adams and Miranda Fox took the stage at Monday to answer formal questions from moderator Deborah Ludwig, FHSU’s Dean of Forsyth Library, followed by questions from the audience.

The city and school election is April 7, with advance voting available now at the Ellis County Administration Building, 718 Main St. from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday until noon April 6.

Watch Hays Post for more details on the school board forum. Watch the City of Hays/USD 489 candidate forum — sponsored by the American Democracy Project and Hays Area Chamber of Commerce — HERE. 

RELATED: Braun issues statement on his withdrawal from race.

 

By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post

The school board section of Monday’s Hays city/USD 489 candidate forum at Fort Hays State University began with an announcement Jerry Braun had withdrawn from the race.

Braun emailed a public statement Monday night:

“Personal issues have occurred beyond my control which put into question my ability to adequately fulfill the duties of board of education member. My desire to serve the district is still strong and hope to run at a future time but this is not that time. I am officially withdrawing my candidacy for USD 489 Board of Education.”

According to Ellis County Clerk Donna Maskus, Braun’s name will remain on the ballot due to a Kansas law stating once the filing deadline has passed, which was noon Jan. 27, a candidate can’t remove himself from the ballot.

Maskus said if Braun is elected on the April 7 election, he could decline the appointment and someone else would be appointed.

Until two years ago, Braun was a math teacher for 15 years at Hays Middle School.

Braun has worked as an education consultant throughout western Kansas and is a supervisor at Sunflower Child Support Services in Hays.

FHSU University Relations

Members of the Criminal Justice Club at Fort Hays State University visited New York City over spring break to engage in activities that promote service and professionalism.

The service project provided students the opportunity to serve lunch at the Xavier Mission Soup Kitchen on Sunday, March 15. They volunteered from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., serving lunch to about 1,100 people and visiting with many of them.

“Participation in service activities such as this not only provides the opportunity to give back to the communities we visit but also allow students to see a different aspect of the criminal justice system,” said Dr. Tamara J. Lynn, assistant professor of justice studies and faculty advisor for the club.

“Specifically,” she said, “those who experience homelessness and extreme poverty also indirectly — or directly — experience the criminal justice system. Furthermore, these opportunities also introduce various career choices that club members may not have previously considered.”

Members of the club were also invited to a private tour of the New York City Joint Operations Center, Real Time Crime Center and Counter-Terrorism Unit.

“This was a tremendous opportunity, not afforded to other groups, to observe the marriage of technology and law enforcement in practice,” she said. “In addition, club members had the opportunity to network with a variety of professionals across the criminal justice system throughout this private tour.”

Members also toured real-life television and movie crime scenes throughout Little Italy and China Town, hosted by NYPD detective Ike Ilkew. Additional tour stops included the Federal Court House, City Hall, NYPD Central Booking Unit and NYPD headquarters.

Besides the service and professional activities, club members visited the 9/11 Memorial and attended a Broadway show. While club members receive some funding through SGA to attend these activities, they also engage in a number of fundraising activities throughout the school year, as well as pay out-of-pocket in order to participate.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Hays City Commissioners will consider approval several resolutions and ordinances for continued development of residential and business areas in north Hays during their meeting Thursday night.

Information was presented last week by Jesse Rohr, Superintendent of Planning, Inspection and Enforcement, for a replat in the North Hays Addition east of Carrico Implement, the final plat and rezoning of Clubhouse Gardens II adjacent to the Smoky Hill Country Club, and for establishing a benefit district as well as an engineering services agreement in King’s Gate Addition Phase II on the north side of 41st Street.

Commissioners will also consider setting a public hearing for April 23 for proposed special assessment districts in 46th Street Second Addition and Golden Belt Estates Fifth Addition for water, sanitary sewer, storm sewer and streets.

The March 26 meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. in Hays City Hall.

See the complete meeting agenda here.

There is a slight chance for light rain showers later today and tonight. North winds will increase to 25 to 35 mph. A warming trend is on tap into the Weekend.

Today A 40 percent chance of showers, mainly after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 57. Windy, with a north northeast wind 5 to 15 mph increasing to 18 to 28 mph.

Tonight A 20 percent chance of showers before 8pm. Cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 26. Blustery, with a north wind 15 to 20 mph decreasing to 9 to 14 mph after midnight.

Thursday Mostly sunny, with a high near 59. Light west wind becoming west northwest 6 to 11 mph in the morning.

Thursday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31. North northeast wind 7 to 13 mph.

Friday Partly sunny, with a high near 63. North wind 6 to 10 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.

Saturday Sunny, with a high near 72.

Sunday Sunny, with a high near 75.