Hays school board to get first look at projected enrollment

By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

The Hays USD 489 school board will receive a report Monday on projected enrollment for the 2018-19 school year.

A report in the board packet estimated total K-12 enrollment at 2,912. Kindergarten through fifth-grade enrollment is estimated at 1,409. Hays Middle School enrollment is projected at 674, and Hays High enrollment is projected to be 829 students. Hays enrollment was 3,047 students on its official count day on Sept. 20, 2017. Hays enrollment was 3,070 in 2016.

The final enrollment figures are important because they are plugged into a state formula to determine funding.

The online enrollment is ongoing. Go to www.usd489.com to start that process. Go to https://hays.revtrak.net to pay online.

Superintendent John Thissen said Wednesday he hoped as many as half of all students will be enrolled online by the time in-person enrollment starts. That will be Aug. 1 and 2 at the Hays High School cafeteria. This is the second year for one-stop enrollment. You will be able to enroll all your children at the same time at this site. The site will also have an express pay line for those who do not wish to pay enrollment fees online.

Wilson playground

The board is also set to consider the purchase of new playground equipment for Wilson Elementary School.

Wilson has received a $5,000 grant toward the purchase of playground equipment from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation. The total cost of the equipment will be about $78,000. No district funds will be used to purchase the equipment. The Wilson Home and School Association has been saving for years toward the replacement of the aging equipment and will cover the rest of the cost.

Other business, the board will

• Hear recommendations for committee appointments from board president Mandy Fox

• Vote on Kansas Association of School Boards policy recommendations

• Discuss board goals

• Hear a report from Chris Hipp, new director of special education

• Discuss the annual Lewis Field Stadium facility use agreement with Fort Hays State University