By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The Hays USD 489 school board approved a $1.76 million contract with Paul-Wertenberger Construction Monday night for renovations of the former Oak Park Medical Complex.
The complex is being renovated for use by the Early Childhood Connections program.
Construction work should start any day at the Oak Park property.
The district is still trying to finish the project so at least three of the buildings can be opened by the start of school in August.
The fourth building is going to be used by the program at Munjor, which runs year-round. Superintendent John Thissen said the work on that portion of the project may go into the fall.
The school district purchased the complex for $2 million, which will be paid for through a lease agreement out of capital outlay funds.
The district received a $1.47 million federal grant and a $500,000 donation from HaysMed, the primary owner of the complex before it was sold, for the renovations. The district has until June 30 to use the federal grant funds.
The district is behind its original time table on the project. However, Donna Hudson-Hamilton, ECC director, said the district could file for an extension on the use of the funds if needed.
The board also received architectural plans for the project. Thissen said the district went through several drafts with the architects to make sure classroom sizes were what was needed for the programs that would use them.
The district plans to use much of the existing plumbing, cabinets and hardware to be as efficient as possible with its funds.
Board member Paul Adams suggested the district try to include CTE students from the high school in the renovation process.
Hudson-Hamilton said the district had not considered doing that yet. However, ECC will need to have some cubbies built and installed, and the HHS students might be able to help with that project.
The district applied for two more grants for the project, including funds to pay for construction of a storm shelter at the complex and money to move playground equipment. The district did not receive the shelter grant and has not heard back on the playground grant.
The district will still include those two components in the project. They are a part of the existing budget.