5 takeaways from Hays USD 489 school board meeting

Board approves $71,000 for middle school door locks in 5-1 vote

District awarded $154,000 grant for tennis court project

Board halts land sale, demands appraisal in split 4-2 vote

District earns state honors for academic performance, graduation rates

Elementary principals report rising food insecurity among families

Board approves $71,000 for middle school door locks in 5-1 vote

HAYS, Kan. - The board approved a $71,086 purchase from Nex-Tech for interior electronic door locks at the new Hays Middle School campus. The SALTO lock system allows badge access and aligns with systems used elsewhere in the district. The capital outlay-funded purchase covers 99 doors. Administrators said Nex-Tech is the authorized provider for the district and honored original bid pricing from the first project. The dissenting vote was cast without comment.

District awarded $154,000 grant for tennis court project

HAYS, Kan. - Superintendent Ron Wilson announced that the district secured $154,000 in grant funding for tennis court renovations—$140,000 via United States Tennis Association Tennis Venue Services and $14,000 from USTA Missouri Valley. Wilson, who said he wrote the application over six months, noted the grants will offset capital outlay costs. Several board members suggested exploring a dedicated grant-writer role.

Board halts land sale, demands appraisal in split 4-2 vote

HAYS, Kan. - The Unified School District 489 Board of Education voted 4-2 Monday to halt the potential sale of a 7.23-acre property north of the current Hays Middle School football field until a formal appraisal is completed. The motion to secure an appraisal, estimated to cost $1,350, followed a lengthy debate among board members. Proponents said an appraisal would establish a baseline value before accepting bids; opponents cited comparable sales and the board’s right to reject all bids. The board will revisit sealed bids after the appraisal.

District earns state honors for academic performance, graduation rates

HAYS, Kan. - Assistant Superintendent Shanna Dinkel reported Unified School District 489 earned Bronze in “Academically Prepared for Postsecondary” and Silver in Graduation under the Kansas State Department of Education Kansans Can Star Recognition program, and also received the Commissioner’s Award. She said scores showed growth in math and English Language Arts and are based on a new baseline after the state recalibrated standards. The district’s 2024 graduation rate was 93.5 percent.

Elementary principals report rising food insecurity among families

HAYS, Kan. - During a presentation by elementary principals, Roosevelt Principal Chris Sramek said many families are “really struggling” to afford food and daily necessities, noting the school pantry has been distributing boxes of food and supplies. The report prompted a broader discussion about food and coat pantry needs across the district, with consensus to assess pantry levels and coordinate donations to buildings with the greatest need.

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