By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

The Hays USD 489 school board directed staff during its meeting Monday night to develop a new pay schedule for classified staff.

The school board received a classified wage study from the Docking Institute at Fort Hays State University Monday night.

The study found several classes of USD 489 employees are not making as much as their peers.

These included building secretaries, office assistants and clerical workers, and information technology assistants.

RELATED STORY: Office workers at Hays USD 489 paid less than peers, according to study

Board member Lance Bickle asked if the study took into account benefit packages.

Board member Mike Walker is the director of the Docking Institute. He said he did not do the study himself, but said he knew the study did not include benefits.

Superintendent John Thissen also pointed out the study focused on starting wages only.

The USD 489 does not have a wage schedule for classified staff at this time. Thissen said the district could address the issue of wages by only addressing starting wages for those staff who are below the peer average.

However, he said creating a new pay schedule would address the issue longer term, but would require more time and money.

“You don’t have the bus driver who has been here 18 years and is being paid $10 and the other bus driver who is just hired getting paid $14 an hour,” Thissen said. “Even with the bus driver [pay increase] that was done two years ago, that does not answer the issue over time. You are still going to have the same issue 10, 20 years from now where you are going to have bus drivers making $14 and it is not putting into the thought of worth of experience in their position.”

Bringing wages up in a new pay schedule would probably take the district several years based on the expense required to do so, Thissen said.

Board member Greg Schwartz said he wanted to see options for pay schedules with costs to increase pay on those schedules. He said he would like those numbers as soon as possible considering the district is in negotiations with teachers at this time.

“If you do a schedule and plug them in for a three-year plan or one-year plan, what’s that look like?” he said. “Because if it’s $40,000, that is a lot easier to stomach than if it’s $400,000.”

Keith Hall, interim director of finance, said he will begin work on the schedules, but noted a lot of work would need to go into them and he is still working on the budget for FY20.

He suggested forming a committee to make recommendations on the schedule.

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Commerce is awarding a special series of Community Development Block Grants to 11 communities across Kansas.

The eligible activities in this category included a single pool of water. This can be the construction or reconstruction of a city Neighborhood Center (i.e. pool) and can include a maximum of two diving boards.

Only items necessary for a viable safe facility will be allowed (i.e. bath house, life guard chairs, a few benches/tables, fencing, necessary accessibility items and items needed for cleaning and disinfecting).

The city should consider an appropriate size based on population and ability to maintain.  Facilities may be designed to allow for extra features in the future but cannot be part of the application (for example: If a slide is wanted that the application does not allow, the Neighborhood Center can be designed to allow the installation after the project is closed).

Grants are being awarded to the following communities:

• The City of Baxter Springs will receive $960,000 in CDBG funds to rebuild the city swimming pool and provide ADA improvements to the bathhouse. Matching funds will be provided in the amount of $640,000 in city funds.
• The City of Blue Rapids in Marshall County is awarded $763,411 in CDBG funds. The City will use $508,942 in bonds for their matching funds. The funds will be used to demolish and rebuild a zero-entry swimming pool.
• The City of Caldwell is being granted $961,000 in CDBG funds to construct a fundamental pool. The City will supply $672,143 in matching funds secured with bonds.
• The City of Caney will receive $1,000,000 in funds from the CDBG program. Bonds will be used by the city to provide $1,208,000 in matching funds. The city has chosen to construct their almost 4,000 square foot neighborhood center to include a bathhouse.
• The City of Clyde is granted $1,000,000 in CDBG funds to assure the bathhouse complies with ADA, as well as, the construction of a zero-entry pool. The City employees will demolish the existing structure with force account labor estimated at $16,620 and $682,980 in bonds will be used to complete the project.
• The City of Conway Springs will create their 19,250 cubic feet neighborhood center through a CDBG grant for $892,121. Also, matching funds in the amount of $594,748 will be made available. This improvement includes a diving board, lifeguard chairs and ladders.
• The City of Ellis in Ellis County will receive $1,000,000 in CDBG funds to construct a new basic swimming pool with one diving board and fencing. The City is also contributing $850,500 of their local funds.
• The City of Moundridge will use $1,000,000 in CDBG funds to establish their 4,000 square feet neighborhood center. The City will provide $1,375,768 in bonds to match the grant funds.
• The City of Osborne is being awarded $1,000,000 in CDBG funds to construct a pool with benches and shade canopies. The City will provide matching funds in cash for $22,000. The total of $1,108,109 was collected from fundraisers, donations and other grants. In addition, the city employees will supply force account labor estimated at $23,977.
• The City of Smith Center will receive $1,000,000 in CDBG funds and provide $700,206 in matching funds from the city. The monies will be used to demolish and reconstruct a 125,000 gallon zero-entry pool.
• The City of Yates Center in Woodson County is being awarded $1,000,000 in CDBG funds to complete a new swimming pool and bathhouse. This facility will meet all accessibility requirements and is located at 310 West Chellis. The City will provide matching funds in the amount of $729,155.

— Kansas Department of Commerce