ELLIS — The Ellis Public Library this week announced it was awarded a grant for $4,935 through the Heartland Community Foundation-Dane G. Hansen Community Grant Fund. This grant will go to the purchase of Tetrix starter kits for advanced robotics for projects within the new EPL Maker Space Program.

“This will expand a collaborative robotics effort with Ellis County Extension.” said Ellis Public Library Executive Director, Steve Arthur, “By doing so, EPL and Ellis County Extension will have the capability to bring robotics to more children in Ellis, as well as to offer the same programs outside of the community of Ellis.”

The EPL Maker Space program has numerous projects at the beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. There are projects involving sewing, soap making, hover crafts, little bits, coding, and more. The Ellis Public Library Board of Directors thanked the grant committee for selecting the program and providing patrons with the opportunity to provide this expanded service and STEM programing.

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.

By KARI BLURTON
Hays Posts

Starting next school year, all schools in Hays USD 489 except Hays High School will begin a new schedule, as school will start three minutes eariler than usual and end two minutes later adding five minutes to the school day.

The time changes provide six days in which students will be released from school at 1 p.m.

Sarah Wasinger, Hays USD 489 assistant to the superintendent and board clerk, said the change will result provide teachers with a requested increase in collaboration time between staff, especially in light of the USD 489’s decision to finance 2,100 iPads for grades K-8.

“(The teachers) will be able to collaborate at grade levels, at school levels as things come up they need help on,” Wasinger said. “The technology initiative is going to be a really key (topic) to give teachers extra time early on to really get an idea on how that technology will best serve them in the classroom and how to teach students how to use (iPads) as a proper tool in the classroom as well.”

Wasinger stressed teachers will be working the same number of hours despite the change.

The dates of early release have not been determined.

Corrected, 11:30 a.m. April 22

The Hays Public Library will be hosting a Community Registration event on Wednesday, April 29 from 6 to 8 p.m. in The Center for Health Improvement gymnasium at the Hays Medical Center. Enter through the southeast entrance.

Parents, families and community members can get more information about 2015 summer activities, programs and events for kids. Parents can also register their kids for programs and activities during this time. The event will allow parents to register their kids for all their favorite summer activities in one place.

“No more running all over town,” said Hays Public Library Children’s Librarian Cathleen Kroeger.

Participating organizations include:

Hays Public Library
Hays Arts Council
Hays Area Children’s Center
Sternberg Museum
The Center for Health Improvement
Pottery Works
Summer Blast
Jackie’s Dance Studio
Styles Dance Centre
Becky’s Dance Studio
Heartland Gymnastics
Aikido of Northwest Kansas
FHSU Athletics
FHSU Science & Math
Big Brothers Big Sisters
Boy Scouts
Girl Scouts

For more information about the Community Registration event, email Kroeger at [email protected], call (785) 625-5916 or visit the Children’s Department at the Hays Public Library.