USD 489 board member Sarah Rankin makes decision on spring elections

KARI BLURTON
Hays Post

USD 489 board member Sarah Rankin congratulates a student at an October board meeting.

Hays USD 489 board member Sarah Rankin has announced she will run for re-election this spring.

Rankin said serving on the board for the last six months has been important to her and also taught her nothing is “black to white.”

“There has to be that critical discussion and due diligence on every subject we talk about to make sure we make the best possible decision for our students and staff,” she said.

Rankin said her decision to run is particularly important to her because she was appointed by the current board members after Darren Schumacher vacated his seat due to a job relocation.

“I would like to know that my continued service is the result of a vote of confidence by the community,” Rankin said.

Rankin is one of four board members whose seats open this spring.

Board members Marty Patterson, James Leiker and Greg Schwartz also will stand for re-election — and all three said they have yet to make a final decision.

Anyone interested in running for one of the open school board seats should contact the Ellis County Clerk’s office at (785) 628-9410 by the filing deadline of Jan. 27.

According Ellis County Clerk Donna Maskus, no one has officially filed for the open seats but, “we have had a few come by to pick-up applications.”

Filing deadlines can be found HERE.

The spring elections will see a total of seven seats on the school board and Hays City Commission on the ballot — a majority on each decision-making body.

Click HERE for more.