Takeaways from Hays USD 489 Education Board Meeting
Week of June 16, 2026
Board rejects all bids for property housing development
District prepares to close Rockwell Administration Center
Five-year maintenance contract approved despite split vote
New policy will restrict student cell phone access
City requests district fully fund school resource officer
Board rejects all bids for property housing development
HAYS, Kan. — After debate regarding the future of the property north of Felten Elementary School, all four developer bids were rejected, and new proposals will be solicited. Concerns were expressed over proposed duplexes and small housing sizes, with a desire to prioritize local buyers and larger single-family homes. The bidding process will be restarted with stricter guidelines, including a minimum requirement of 1,200 square feet and a restriction against multifamily units.
District prepares to close Rockwell Administration Center
HAYS, Kan. — Hays USD 489 is beginning the process of permanently closing the Rockwell Administration Center, with plans to relocate staff to Wilson Elementary School by next summer. Superintendent Ron Wilson said a resolution will soon be reviewed to officially close Rockwell as an educational facility, opening the door for a potential sale of the 46,000-square-foot property. The district is currently evaluating alternative locations with adequate square footage to house its existing warehouse and maintenance shop operations.
Five-year maintenance contract approved despite split vote
HAYS, Kan. — A five-year preventive maintenance contract with Glassman Corporation for district heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems was approved. Concerns were raised about locking into a multiyear agreement amid potential budget struggles and a lack of competitive bids during the request-for-proposals process. Supporters argued that professional preventive maintenance is a necessary expense to protect the district's recent investments in newly remodeled buildings.
New policy will restrict student cell phone access
HAYS, Kan. — A first reading of a policy update was reviewed that will make personal electronic devices inaccessible to students during the school day. Administrators noted that enforcing the state-recommended ban will look different across grade levels, with younger students utilizing lockers while high schoolers may need to leave phones in vehicles, at home or in their backpacks. Details on enforcement and storage logistics will be finalized in the student handbooks presented at the July board meeting.
City requests district fully fund school resource officer
HAYS, Kan. — A request from the city of Hays asks Hays USD 489 to take over 100 percent of the funding for a school resource officer, ending the previous cost-sharing agreement. Due to current municipal budget constraints, the district was asked to absorb the full $120,000 to $130,000 cost for the upcoming school year. The SRO funding agreement is scheduled for discussion at the next meeting, with notes indicating that funding could be considered for addition back into the municipal budget for fiscal year 2027.
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