By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

The Hays USD 489 school board is set to vote on a new superintendent at its meeting on Monday.

The board will meet at 6:30 p.m. in Toepfer Room of Rockwell Administration Center.

In the last two weeks, the board has interviewed four candidates.

They include Keith Hall, USD 489 interim director of finance and support services; Jamie Wetig, Ashland superintendent; Michael Gower, Phillipsburg and Logan superintendent; and Ron Wilson, Herington superintendent.

Current Hays Superintendent John Thissen resigned in October, citing personal reasons. He will serve the remainder of his contract, which ends June 30.

Oak Park Medical Complex

The board will see plans Monday for renovations for the Oak Park Medical Complex.

The board purchased the property, which it plans to use to house the Early Child Connections program. The program is now housed in the former Washington school, which the district will close and has sold.

The Washington building was purchased by a developer to be renovated into low-income housing.

The school board purchased the Oak Park Complex for $2 million. It received a $1.47 million federal grant to renovate the facility. HaysMed, which was the primary owner of the complex, also donated $500,000 toward the renovation project.

The federal grant money must be used by June 30. The school district hopes to have the renovated space open for fall classes.

Driver’s education fees

The board is set to vote on a change in driver’s education fees. The program is doing well and has a significant reserve. The recommendation is to reduce the fees by $25 to $225 for district students and $275 for non-district students. Administration has recommended to keep summer school fees the same as they were last year.

In other business:

• The board is set to vote on contracts for Shanna Dinkel, assistant superintendent, and Chris Hipp, director of special education, for the 2019-20 school year.

• Thissen will share the district-wide KESA educator, student and parent survey results with the board.

• Keith Hall, interim director of finance, will share the five-year Capital Outlay Resolution with the board.

• The board will consider the approval of negotiating agents for the 2019- 20 school year contract.