Hays school board to discuss failed bond Monday

By CRISTINA JANNEY

Hays Post

Members of the Hays USD 489 school board will discuss the district’s failed bond issue at its meeting Monday night.

The district proposed a $78.5 million bond issue in November that would have built two new elementary schools, remodeled two more and also provided money for additions and renovations to the Hays Middle School and High School.

The 30-year bond would have raised taxes on a $150,000 by $16.43 per month.

60 percent of voters voted against the measure.

This is the second recent Hays school bond to fail.

The district floated a $94 million bond in 2016.

Following the vote Superintendent John Thissen said Hays schools still need many repairs. He said he supported another attempt at a bond, sooner rather than later.

It will be up to the school board how to proceed from here. Sarah Wasigner of the USD 489 said Wednesday there would be open board discussion Monday on the bond.

Despite the bond’s failure, the district has committed to moving forward with a major work on Hays High School’s HVAC system.

The district has received a bid from Building Controls and Services for $778,000 for improvements to HVAC for the main gym, auxiliary gym and wrestling room. This is part of a multi-phase project.

Also Monday, the district will be ready for a vote on a program that would help Hays teachers earn master’s degrees through Fort Hays State University.

In other business: the board will:

• Hear about HHS curriculum guide changes

• Hear a Kansas Education Systems Accreditation update

• Consider revisions to the Classified Handbook