Hays USD 489 school board candidate: Luke Oborny

Age: 40

Education: Graduated from Fort Hays State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication with an emphasis on Public Relations and a certificate in Leadership.

Do you have a student currently attending USD 489 schools?

I have three children attending USD 489 school district. A third grader, seventh grader and a senior in high school.

Qualifications?

I have served on the USD 489 Board of Education for the past four years and have a good understanding of district needs and operations. Through my work experience, I’ve learned skills of budgeting, planning, sense of team, and accomplishing goals. I also understand the value of every individual to reach those goals I feel my service record up to this point in time proves I am a man of integrity. My voting decisions are based on what I feel is the best decision for our children and our district.

Do you support USD 489 trying for another bond issue? What do you think that bond should include? If you don’t support a bond issue, how do you think the school district should address its infrastructure needs?

I support a bond. What it should entail I leave up to the voters. A bond is the only way the district can address aging facilities and it is the process the state has developed specifically for projects like new buildings and major facility upgrades. Some support a large bond and fixing all issues for the next 20-30 years while others favor small bonds closer to $25 million (average cost of a new elementary building) and hopefully continuing these as they become paid off. Both concepts have advantages and disadvantages the decision should truly lie in the voters as to what direction they would like to proceed. My goal would be to encourage communication, feedback, and education with voters so we can begin to make progress.

What would you do to secure the financial health of the school district?

I am very pleased with changes that have already been made and feel the district is in a good financial situation. Knowing the dire financial position of the district was one of the reasons I sought election. If tough choices had to be made, I wanted to be a part of them. I have been very pleased with our overall budget the last few years, and we have been able to put money into our contingency fund. This has been achieved through increased funding from the state and following wise guidance and planning from our administration. Through a created culture of financial responsibility with staff we have been able to cut expenses and still meet the needs of the district. Just remember the district’s yearly budget was never designed or intended by the state to replace buildings. A bond process was designed to fill that need.

The Hays school board is at impasse with its teachers for the second year in a row. What would you do to improve relations with teachers?

Build trust! Treating negotiations as a legal proceeding where we both fight to gain something for our side continues to have the same outcome and strains relations. I would like to see us take a whole new approach and move back to interest-based bargaining. I see this as a difficult road since trust between the board and teachers just isn’t there, but even before this term is over, I hope to help move us in a whole new direction.

Do you support the district’s current one-to-one technology policy? If not, what would you propose?

As proven in my prior votes on the board, I support the district’s one-to-one technology policy. Technology is advancing so fast and is becoming such an intricate part of our day-to-day lives. Student success especially after high school requires an understanding of technology. Whether students are moving into a career, college, military, etc. technology is a significant part of the daily job function. I feel removing technology would put our students at a disadvantage and removing a wonderful educational tool that can expand learning methods and opportunities.

How would you support the district in its work to improve student performance?

We already have some of best educators and administrative leaders in the state. As a board I feel our job would be to help define the goals or objectives in line with KESA standards and then let our team go to work and ensure that we don’t get in the way.

Is there anything else you would like to add about you or your campaign?

I would greatly appreciate your vote and support! I love quotes and one of my favorites is from Gandhi. “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” I originally sought election to the school board to bring about change. I feel we have a good start and am excited what the next four years could bring. I encourage anyone whom might still have questions to reach out to me.