By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
Facilities once again dominated the discussion at the Hays USD 489 Board of Education meeting Monday night, as the board discussed details for an upcoming bond issue. HTK Architects presented four plans to the board for consideration, along with timelines for action in order to get the measure ready for a late spring special election.
The plans range from $96,257,530 to $102,582,490, with the primary difference in cost being the fate of the Rockwell Administration Center, with the attached Westside School and maintenance facilities.
The least expensive of the four options would move the administration and Westside into the Lincoln Elementary, bringing the number of elementary schools in Hays to three. That option, however, was not well-received by the board, but was not taken off the table.
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“I think it will hurt the bond,” said board member Sarah Rankin, given the district closed one school already at the beginning of the year.
Later in the meeting, Superintendent Dean Katt echoed that concern.
If Lincoln were to be closed, “I think we’re going to hurt ourselves with the bond,” he said.
The most expensive option would see everything presented by the Facilities Needs Committee come to fruition, with a new building to house administration, Westside and maintenance to be constructed on grounds at the high school, middle school or Roosevelt Elementary.
The other two plans directly concerned the fate of Rockwell, with one option to leave the building as is for the next five to 10 years, for a cost of $96,906,797, or to scale down the size of the facility into more modern – and size-appropriate – facility for the cost of $99,813,423.
While the cost to stay in Rockwell without major work done at the site would be cheaper now, that cost would be offset later as the building would need be be brought up to code within a 10-year time frame.
“You have a lot more work to stay here,” said Chuck Smith, HTK partner.
The board also put time into discussing if a new gym and auditorium at Hays High School should be apart of this current plan.
“My concern with the gymnasium is, can we sell it?” Rankin said.
During the discussion, HHS Principal Marty Straub informed the board as to the current need for a larger gymnasium, as it is frequently overfilled, and many events are forced to be held offsite. He also talked about safety concerns in the current auditorium at Rockwell.
“Safety is a key word,” said Luke Oborny, board member.
Even with the options presented, HTK informed the board classroom space would remain the same in the upgraded facilities, no matter which plan was chosen.
The target for elementary schools across the district is 13 sections, which would allow the district to get under its goal of a 25-to-1 student teacher ratio.
“This is what we are comfortable with, where we are,” Katt said.
The plan will also allow future sections to be easily added on at Wilson and Roosevelt, with a cost of approximately $1.2 million per section according to Zach Snethen, HTK project manager.
After Monday’s meeting, members of the board will work with Katt to obtain feedback through a community survey and put the decision on the scope of the project up for vote at the next board meeting on Nov. 16. It is necessary for the board to make a decision soon in order to stay on track for a spring special election, but board members also want to make an informed decision before moving forward.
“If people have thoughts or feedback, let’s get it,” Rankin said.