Hays USD 489
On Sept. 12, the board and district administration outlined numerous steps that need to take place in order to address the facility needs that currently exist within the district. Four courses of action have been identified that will allow USD 489 to formulate a plan that Hays can endorse that also addresses the district’s aging infrastructure that has served past its normal life expectancy, as well as creating safer schools and providing space for educational programs that allow students to be college and career ready.
Recent mandates that are coming down the pike concerning the federally funded Head Start program will have an impact on what the district looks like in the future. The district currently has half-day Head Start. Space within the district does not currently support serving the same number of students as it does now for full day Head Start.
The following four action items will take place over the next several months in order for the board and administration to continue developing a plan that addresses the district’s facility needs.
1. Changing Architects
The board will meet with three separate architectural firms at an upcoming special meeting. All three firms have worked with school districts in western Kansas and are experienced in successfully completing bond-funded school building construction projects in this region.
2. Construction Management At-Risk
In recent surveys conducted by the district with staff and parents, feedback was received that the community is concerned with a bond issue being approved and the project going over budget. Construction Management At-Risk (CMAR) allows a firm to oversee the construction of all projects of a bond issue. The CMAR firm works for the district, and completes all bids for projects and is not allowed to go over budget once the contract is signed with the school district. CMAR firms for school districts are required to pay for any costs that exceed the set budget for the bond. All construction companies that submit bids to the CMAR are pre-qualified to ensure the highest integrity in performance.
3. Needs Assessment – Addressing Questions from the June 6, 2016 Election
The board has been working with Mike Walker, Assistant Director of the FHSU Docking Institute, to create an unbiased survey for district patrons. Survey questions will be focused on gathering valuable feedback from voters regarding the components of the June 6th bond issue election. The district values the opinions of all of its stakeholders and will use the information ascertained in that survey to make further long-range plans.
4. Building Systems Life Expectancy Software
The board and administration are in the process of reviewing software that determines the life expectancy of building systems. If purchased, this software would date the useful life cycle of all systems, allowing the district to better budget for the replacement of these systems. This purchase would further assist the district in its ongoing and transforming long-range plan.