By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post

Negotiations between members of the Hays Kansas National Education Association and Hays USD 489 Board members stalled Tuesday with the call for a special meeting Monday evening to allow HNEA members to review new topics.

Board member Greg Schwartz began the meeting with a “a substantial list of things we want to change,” listing topics such as salary and wages, maintenance standards, and putting caps on medical insurance, paid leave and concurrent credits.

Schwartz said the current contract needs to be rewritten, but when Schwartz mentioned removing language involving due process and disciplinary action, KNEA co-chairwoman Kim Schneweis asked for a copy, stating she had not received a notice on the topic and any other topics following.

“How many are there are after due process?” she asked.

Schwartz replied six, stating the next items dealt with individual contracts, including teacher evaluations and removing seniority.

Schnewies said the union had come into the meeting with a “short” list of topics.

“We noticed salary. We are not talking about that now since we know where the money is. We noticed supplemental salary, we noticed elementary education meeting time,” she said. “Our list was relatively short.” Schnewies said, requesting a 15 minute closed meeting with her negotiating team.

Following that conference, KNEA members returned to the table to ask for three items KNEA could provide written proposals for and requested written proposals from the board, as well.

It was agreed the items to be discussed Monday are hours and amount of work, and cap amount for sick leave, and concurrent credits.

The special meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 27, at 5:30 p.m. at Rockwell Administration Center.

Members of the KNEA negotiating committee include co-chairwoman Kathy Wagoner, Ron Leikam, Zach Butte, Tasha Lang and Suzanne Leikam.