By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The Hays USD 489 school board will discuss a timeline for the Oak Park Medical Complex project.
The district has initiated purchase of the property and accepted a $1.47 million federal grant to renovate the building.
The building will house the Early Childhood Connections program and allow the district to vacate the former Washington Elementary School and Munjor School buildings.
The district has had increasing maintenance problems with the more than 90-year-old Washington building. These have included water, sewer and HVAC system issues.
The district is currently in a protest period regarding the financing on purchase of the property.
See related story: ECC Oak Park project moving forward
HMS pilot projects
The board will hear a report on three pilot projects at the Hays Middle School.
The first is the HMS Tech Team. Students are helping other students with technology issues through a ticket system.
The HMS staff is also working on a zone regulation project. Under this program, students would take a quiz to convey their mood. That data can be forwarded to teachers, counselors or administrators to help the student deal with anger, frustration or depression.
The Tech Team students mentioned above have been taking the quizzes and helping refine the system.
A team at HMS also hopes to engage a small test group of students in the Signs of Suicide Prevention Program. Students will learn about the relationship between mental illness and suicide, and are encouraged to self report and to reach out to adults when they have concerns about friends.
Other business
The board will hear a technology update. The update includes information both on the roll out of new computers at Hays High School and a Chromebook pilot program at several other district schools.
The district’s ACT scores will be released. Shanna Dinkel, assistant superintendent, will also give a further explanation of the new Kansans Can accreditation process. School report cards are expected to be released later this year.