Healing After Loss of Suicide offers family members and friends of those who have lost a loved one to suicide a place to connect with others who are dealing with this highly specialized grief recovery process
When: Wednesday, Dec. 12
2004 Main St. Hays, KS 67601
Bring your favorite snack and one Dollar Tree gift to exchange.
RSVP by Dec. 10.
Supervised child care is available.
By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The Hays USD 489 school board approved raises for teachers, administrators and classified staff at its meeting on Monday.
However, not everyone received the same amount.
The board approved the teachers’ contract, which was ratified on Nov. 14. That contract included a 3.7 percent raise, a $200 one-time payment for insurance and vertical and horizontal movement on the pay scale. The raises will be retroactive to the beginning of the fiscal year in June.
The board approved a 4.6 percent raise for classified staff and 3.7 percent raise for administration.
The administration and classified received a 4.6 percent pay increase in error in June. On Nov. 1, the board stopped that raise, but agreed the staff would not have to pay back the salary increase that was paid in error.
The board in the past has given administration and classified staff the same percent raise as it has negotiated with teachers. However, the Hays NEA can’t legally negotiate on the behalf of other staff.
Board member Greg Schwartz made a motion to increase pay for classified and administrative staff by 3.7 percent. That failed on a vote of 5 to 1. Board member Lance Bickle was absent.
Luke Oborny proposed increasing classified staff by 4.6 percent and increasing administrative staff by 3.7 percent.
A wage comparison that was included in the board packet indicated some of the classified staff are being paid less than comparable positions in Ellis County.
The district budgeted a 4.6 percent increase for all staff. The difference between a 4.6 and 3.7 percent raise for the classified staff would be $20,000 total. Board member Paul Adams said the difference in hourly rate for classified staff on a 4.6 percent raise would be between 9 and 23 cents.
Although that might not seem much to the board, he said he that might mean something to the staff members.
Board member Sophia Rose Young said she could not live on the amount some of the classified staff are being paid.
Schwartz said, “Where are you going to draw the line? $50,000?”
Schwartz voted against the split raises. He said the pay system needs to be evaluated, but the board needs the facts before making any significant changes in the pay scale.
However, he and other board members agreed a committee needs to be formed to review staff pay.
Board member Mike Walker said it would be very bad for morale if the board took action Monday and then did nothing to evaluate and revise staff pay. Superintendent John Thissen said he would work to form a committee to bring back recommendations to the board.
District custodians had already negotiated a 4.6 percent pay raise. This is the last year the district will negotiate with the custodian’s union, SEIU. The board also already approved a $2 per hour raise for paraprofessionals. The move was aimed at reducing turnover among special education staff.
Chris Hipp, special education director, told the board Monday the coop has had a 4 percent reduction in open positions since the raise was instituted in August.
The board also approved the contracts for the Oak Park Medical Plaza. The property will be renovated for use by Early Childhood Connections. See a complete story on Tuesday.
By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The Hays USD 489 school board approved the contracts for the $2 million purchase of the Oak Park Medical Complex at its meeting Monday night.
The district will use a $1.47 million federal grant to renovate the complex for use by the Early Childhood Connections program.
The district will pay back a lease agreement on the complex $217,000 per year for 10 years using capital outlay funds. District taxes will remain the same. HaysMed owns the most significant portion of the complex and has agreed to donate $500,000 back to the district from the purchase price to be used for the renovation of the complex.
Because the lease agreement was more than $100,000, it required a protest period for taxpayers. That period ended Sunday, Nov. 25, without a petition being presented.
The project will allow the district to expand its ECC program as well as vacate the 94-year-old Washington Elementary School building and Munjor school building.
The federal government has a goal of all Head Start positions moving to full day. On Monday, Donna Hudson-Hamiiton presented a grant application to the board, which it approved, for funds to expand 21 slots to full time.
This will mean 45 percent of the ECC’s Head Start slots will be full-time. Hudson-Hamilton projected more grants will follow to bring the rest of the slot to full-time within the next five years.
The ECC grant also requested $185,000 in start-up costs for the program to move playground equipment from the Washington location to the new Oak Park complex on 13th Street.
Preference for the all-day slots are given to parents who work or are going to school. Hudson-Hamilton said Head Start helps fill a gap for child care, as there is not enough private child care available in the community.
Board member Paul Adams described the increase in Head Start slots as an economic development issue because the Head Start spots keep parents employed.
The ECC program is available to all children in the district. This includes children who will go on to private school or to be home schooled.
There is currently not enough classroom space at Washington to house moving all the Head Start children to full-time attendance.
Only part of Washington school can be used for student classrooms. Law prohibits small children from attending classes on the second floor of a building because of the difficulty in evacuating them in case of an emergency.
Washington is also not handicap accessible and has had significant infrastructure issues, including problems with water and sewer. Superintendent John Thissen said the district questioned whether it was worth putting money into renovations of a building that was so old.
The vote was split on approval of Oak Park purchase with board members Mandy Fox and Greg Schwartz voting against. Board member Lance Bickle was unable to attend the meeting but sent a letter to Fox outlining his concerns about the project and his objection to the purchase.
Bickle said in his letter he thought the district was overpaying for the property based on the fact that it had been on the market for some time with little interest expressed in its purchase. He was also concerned about the condition of the roof, HVAC system and parking lot. He expressed concerned about a rush to purchase the property as well as a potential loss in tax revenue when the property comes off the tax roles. The taxes on the complex were almost $48,000 in 2017.
He also said he did not think this was the greatest need in the district at this time.
Schwartz also bemoaned a lack of a long-term plan.
“I don’t think we have addressed what we are going to forgo to get there,” he said of the Oak Park purchase.
He noted at one time the district had discussed moving the ECC program to O’Loughlin Elementary School if it were to no longer be used as an elementary school.
Adams said he believed the project was a proactive step to prepare local children for kindergarten, which is being emphasized by the Kansas Department of Education.
“This is not new. It is not out of the blue. This is a way to move forward with something that we have on our docket for a few years and do it,” Adams said.
He continued, “There is a risk, but there is not often that there is $1.5 million to mitigate that risk.”
Schwartz also expressed concern that one of the entities the district has a contract with is not the current owner of that portion of the property. Board Attorney Bill Jeter said that person has a contract to buy the property and will close on the property with the current owner and then sell the property to school district.
“I have concerns about the appraisal,” Schwartz said. “I have concerns about the overall project. I have mentioned those before. I would happy to go back over those, but I think everyone here knows my position on it.”
The federal grant funds for the renovation must be used by June 30. The new space is expected to be open for ECC students in fall 2019.
Washington school will be closed and put up for sale. If the building can’t be sold, money will be included in the project for the building to be demolished. The Munjor building will go back to the Catholic church.
By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The Hays USD 489 school board approved raises for teachers, administrators and classified staff at its meeting on Monday.
However, not everyone received the same amount.
The board approved the teachers’ contract, which was ratified on Nov. 14. That contract included a 3.7 percent raise, a $200 one-time payment for insurance and vertical and horizontal movement on the pay scale. The raises will be retroactive to the beginning of the fiscal year in June.
The board approved a 4.6 percent raise for classified staff and 3.7 percent raise for administration.
The administration and classified received a 4.6 percent pay increase in error in June. On Nov. 1, the board stopped that raise, but agreed the staff would not have to pay back the salary increase that was paid in error.
The board in the past has given administration and classified staff the same percent raise as it has negotiated with teachers. However, the Hays NEA can’t legally negotiate on the behalf of other staff.
Board member Greg Schwartz made a motion to increase pay for classified and administrative staff by 3.7 percent. That failed on a vote of 5 to 1. Board member Lance Bickle was absent.
Luke Oborny proposed increasing classified staff by 4.6 percent and increasing administrative staff by 3.7 percent.
A wage comparison that was included in the board packet indicated some of the classified staff are being paid less than comparable positions in Ellis County.
The district budgeted a 4.6 percent increase for all staff. The difference between a 4.6 and 3.7 percent raise for the classified staff would be $20,000 total. Board member Paul Adams said the difference in hourly rate for classified staff on a 4.6 percent raise would be between 9 and 23 cents.
Although that might not seem much to the board, he said he that might mean something to the staff members.
Board member Sophia Rose Young said she could not live on the amount some of the classified staff are being paid.
Schwartz said, “Where are you going to draw the line? $50,000?”
Schwartz voted against the split raises. He said the pay system needs to be evaluated, but the board needs the facts before making any significant changes in the pay scale.
However, he and other board members agreed a committee needs to be formed to review staff pay.
Board member Mike Walker said it would be very bad for morale if the board took action Monday and then did nothing to evaluate and revise staff pay. Superintendent John Thissen said he would work to form a committee to bring back recommendations to the board.
District custodians had already negotiated a 4.6 percent pay raise. This is the last year the district will negotiate with the custodian’s union, SEIU. The board also already approved a $2 per hour raise for paraprofessionals. The move was aimed at reducing turnover among special education staff.
Chris Hipp, special education director, told the board Monday the coop has had a 4 percent reduction in open positions since the raise was instituted in August.
The board also approved the contracts for the Oak Park Medical Plaza. The property will be renovated for use by Early Childhood Connections. See a complete story on Tuesday.
By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The Kansas Supreme Court on Wednesday denied a petition to review the case of a former Hays bookkeeper who was seeking millions from her former employer’s estate.
The bulk of the estate of Earl O. Field instead will go to the Fort Hays State University Foundation to be used for scholarships.
Wanda Oborny alleges Field, her employer, signed a codicil to his will shortly before his death in 2013, leaving half of his $20 million estate to her with a quarter of the estate going to Fort Hays State University and the rest going to Field’s attorney, Joseph Jeter.
Oborny alleged 98-year-old Field went to a local car dealer to have the codicil of his will witnessed by two of Oborny’s longtime friends, Steve and Kathy Little.
The Littles died in a murder/suicide after they were visited by federal agents and received federal grand jury subpoenas. However, their deaths were never definitively linked to the Field will case.
A district court ruled Oborny or someone on her request forged the codicil to the will. Oborny appealed. The appellate court ruled against her in February, and she appealed to the Kansas Supreme Court.
Related story: Court rules in FHSU’s favor; bookkeeper denied millions in Field will case
The FHSU Foundation has been fighting Oborny’s claim to the estate for years. Attorney for the FHSU Foundation Coy Martin said a portion of the funds from the estate were released to the university after the district court trial. However, the Kansas Supreme Court’s decision should allow the rest of the estate to be processed and the rest of the university’s portion to be released.
Oborny also faces felony charges in federal court stemming from the codicil.
Oborny is set for trial at 9 a.m. Feb. 19 in U.S. District Court in Wichita.
The Family Night Out will be 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 27 at the Center for Life Experience, 2900 Hall St.
Enter through east door.
Whitney Jeter Whitaker, assistant professor in the FHSU Department of Psychology, will present “Smiling Despite Struggle: Can Humor Foster Health, Hope and Healing?”
Share with other parents what works and does not work in raising healthy children and building strong families. Interactive learning will be provided from a variety of professionals in their area of specialization related to child and family relationships. The event is for all families in our community with children 0-10 years of age.
There will be a meal and child care provided. The meal will be served from 6 to 6:30 p.m. RSVP for child care by noon Nov. 26. Call or text Ann Leiker at 259-6859, Karla at 623-2430 or Kaysie at 623-2440.
Healing After Loss will meet 10 a.m.-11:45 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 4 for dinner at IHOP, 400 General Hays Road, Hays for lunch. Lunch will be at noon.
The groups Longest Night Candlelight Service will be Thursday Dec. 20. More details will be released later.
The Christmas dinner buffet will be 6-9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 14 at Thirsty’s. Buffet includes twice baked potatoes, vegetable, garden salad, rolls, coffee and tea. Choose pecan chicken $16.25 or prime rib $23.75 for your entrée. Tax and gratuity is included. RSVP to Ann Leiker at 785-259-6859 by Nov. 26. Bring a non-perishable food item in a reusable bag for the Community Assistance Center.
For more information, call Ann Leiker at 785-259-6859 or email [email protected].
National Alliance on Mental Illness Hays will have its Recovery Support Group and Family Support Group from 6 to 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 3 at The Center for Life Experience. There will be no education workshop this month.
The Center for Life Experience shares in the leadership and administration of the NAMI Hays Affiliate and is the point of contact for the public for information, referrals and support.
The center provides the meeting facility and houses the Affiliate’s reference library.
For more information, contact Ann Leiker at 785-259-6859 or [email protected].
By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The Hays USD 489 school board is set to vote on a contract with teachers as well as pay for classified staff and administrators at its meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday at Rockwell Administration Center.
The teachers and board reached impasse, met with a mediator on Nov. 8 and were able to come to an agreement. Teachers voted on the contract on Nov. 14.
The contract will add $1,250 to the teacher base pay and a one-time $200 bonus toward district insurance for certified staff. The teachers were also offered horizontal and vertical movement on their pay scale.
The raise amounts to about an 3.7 percent increase in pay for teachers.
The classified and administrative staff were given a 4.6 percent pay increase in error in June without board approve. The board voted Nov. 1 to step that raise, but did not require those who had receive the raise to pay back any of the funds paid in error.
The board members said in the past, pay increases for administrators and classified staff had been equal to those for teachers. However, legally the teachers can’t negotiate for those groups.
The district had budgeted a 4.6 percent pay increase for all staff. Board President Mandy Fox asked the administration to provide a financial review of how the teachers’ contract would affect the budget.
The teachers’ contract freed up $115,000 from the 2018-19 budget by paying $1,250 on the base for teachers instead of $1,665. $15,000 would be freed up from the 2018-19 budget by paying 3.7 percent as an increase for administrators instead of 4.6 percent.
There is a $20,000 total difference in pay for the classified staff when comparing a 4.6 percent raise to a 3.7 percent raise. Eighteen of the 141 staff (around 12 percent) work less than 30 hours.
Fox also requested an analysis of how classified staff pay compares to pay for similar positions in the community. The pay was compared for starting hourly wage.
Those positions that stood out as being much lower than comparable positions were administrative assistants and IT staff.
Principal’s secretaries and administrative assistants for USD 489 are being paid $11.42 to $12.18, but those in Ellis County are being paid $13.74 to $16.43. IT certified technicians for USD 489 are being paid $10.95 per hour, but their counterparts are being paid $18.70 plus benefits. Network/server certified technicians for USD 489 are paid $12.95 per hour compared to $17.91 per hour plus benefits.
No recommendations were included in the board packet on changes to classified pay.
Oak Park Plaza project
The protest period for the financing for the renovation of the Oak Park Medical Plaza ends Sunday, Nov. 25.
On Monday, the school board will vote on the final financing for the project as well as the purchase contracts.
The complex will be renovated for the Early Childhood Connections program.
The district preliminarily approved $2 million in financing for the purchase of the building on Oct. 15. The district will pay back the lease-purchase agreement $216,000 per year for 10 years.
The district has received a $1.47 million federal grant for the renovation of the property.
ECC expansion
The board will hear from Donna Hudson-Hamilton, ECC director, about a grant that would allow the district to expand its full-time Head Start slots. The $324,000 grant would also require the hiring of an additional teacher and two additional teacher assistants.
Slots that are currently half-day slots would be converted to full-day slots. The slots would be opened for enrollment in spring for the fall 2019 semester.
Superintendent search
The Hays USD 489 school board is set to vote on a firm to help it conduct a search for a new superintendent.
Superintendent John Thissen gave his letter of resignation to the board on Oct. 19. He will finish out his current contract, which runs through June 30.
Thissen cited personal reasons for his resignation.
The district has bids from three entities to aid in the search: Kansas Association for School Boards, $5,850; McPherson and Jacobson, $4,850; Ray and Associates, $24,250. Ray and Associates specializes in multi-state searches.
The board has worked with KASB on previous searches.
In other business, the board will hear a report from special education director Chris Hipp.
