5 takeaways from Hays USD 489 school board meeting
October 13 2025
Middle school move-in dates set for January 2026
Board approves middle school furniture in 4-2 vote
District reports stable enrollment, notes small kindergarten class
Bond fund in healthy position after first major payment
Final touches on high school project nearing completion
Middle school move-in dates set for January 2026
HAYS, Kan. - The district announced the transition plan for Hays Middle School students and staff into their new building. Students will not have school on Dec. 18-19 and Jan. 6 to allow staff time to pack and unpack. An open house for parents and students to tour the new facility is scheduled for the evening of Jan. 6, and the first day of classes in the new building will be Jan. 7. The district confirmed it has enough instructional hours built into the calendar to accommodate the days off.
Board approves middle school furniture in 4-2 vote
HAYS, Kan. - The USD 489 Board of Education approved a $181,236 furniture purchase for the new Hays Middle School in a 4-2 vote Tuesday following a debate over timing and funding. The purchase from Circadia includes new cafeteria tables, classroom tables and storage cabinets needed for the school’s opening in January 2026. Board members questioned why the large expenditure was presented for a vote on the same night it was introduced and whether the cost should be covered by bond funds rather than the capital outlay fund. Superintendent Ron Wilson stated the order needed to be placed immediately to ensure a January delivery.
District reports stable enrollment, notes small kindergarten class
HAYS, Kan. - Superintendent Ron Wilson reported that the district’s official full-time equivalency enrollment is flat compared to last year, placing the district in a stable financial position. The official count on Sept. 20 showed the junior class as the largest at 290 students, while the third-grade class was the smallest at 200. Wilson noted this year’s kindergarten class is smaller than average, a trend seen elsewhere that may be linked to birth rates during the 2019-2020 pandemic year.
Bond fund in healthy position after first major payment
HAYS, Kan. - The district’s bond fund remains in a strong financial position, according to a report from the finance department. After making the first major interest and principal payment for the year in September, the fund retains a carryover of approximately $800,000. Officials noted that this reserve will help build a cushion in the payment schedule for the bond projects.
Final touches on high school project nearing completion
HAYS, Kan. - The punch list for the new Hays High School project is nearly complete, with fewer than 50 items remaining from an original list of over 1,500, the board learned Tuesday. In response to board member questions, Superintendent Ron Wilson confirmed that issues with roof leaks and broken bathroom stall locks have been addressed by the contractor. Wilson stated that while a final completion date has not been set, the contractors have been responsive to all high-priority issues.
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