By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
The first of four candidates for the superintendent position at USD 489 spent Monday meeting staff and residents, along with a formal interview with the Board of Education.
John Thissen currently serves as the Herington USD 487 superintendent, a district of about 450 students southeast of Salina.
During his meeting with community members, he spoke about how his experience – especially a series of bond issue elections – could suit the Hays district.
“At Herington, when I was hired there nine years ago, they were in the process of studying (a bond issue),” Thissen said.
There were three bond elections in 18 months, ultimately securing $15 million in funding for a new elementary school, he said.
“It was fun. It really was,” he said, but acknowledged how challenging a bond issue is.
Thissen had positive things to say about the Hays school district, calling it “really amazing.”
“I knew that Hays had a very good district, that was where the interest was,” he said.
While Thissen has never lived in Hays, he said he is familiar with the area, as many of his family members graduated from Fort Hays State University, including his wife, Kelli, who also works in education as a physical education teacher in Junction City.
Thissen also served as a principal at Great Bend Middle School.
During his community session, he also spoke about the success his district has had with putting graduates on track for good-paying jobs, even without a four-year college degree.
“There’s so many of them, they’re not going to go four years in college, they’re not going to go six years in college and we changed our plan,” he said, “(to) courses after high school that allows you to get a job. If it’s 12 months, if it’s 18 months, if it’s an electrician, a plumber, but the idea is getting them a job and a good one,”
He said Hays is well-geared for those types of programs, as well.
The second candidate will interview with the district is set for Wednesday, with a community session again planned for 3:30 p.m. in the Rockwell Administration Center, 323 W. 12th St.
Check Hays Post for more on superintendent candidates as details are released by the district.