BY ALICIA FEYERHERM
Tiger Media Network
The USD 489 Board of Education did not approve the 2025-2026 Hays High School Student Handbook during Monday’s meeting.
While the handbooks for the elementary, middle and virtual school were approved, the high school handbook was voted on separately and failed.
Board Member Jayme Goetz’s main concern was that the new handbook removed operational definitions. For example, under the “Property Damage” section, the handbook now reads that the issue will “be addressed according to the HHS Discipline Framework,” whereas the previous version stated specific consequences, such as “up to 5 days ISS to up to 5 days OSS” for the first offense.
“I’m just really frustrated by it,” Goetz said.
Goetz said that these definitions ensure that consequences are equal for all students.
“To be on the same team, teachers need to know that if they send a student to the office for any sort of violation that that student, it doesn’t matter who the student is, and it also doesn’t matter what administrator they go to, the consequence is going to be for the action, not any sort of variability other than that,” Goetz said.
Additionally, Goetz said she would like to have a committee of teachers review and provide recommendations for the handbook.
“In discussing with some staff members at the high school, there is no such committee that they’re aware of,” Goetz said. “Changes are made by the administration, passed to the teachers and that’s kind of it.”
Board member Ruth Ruder disagreed.
“Teachers have every right to read this,” Ruder said. “They have every opportunity, they have every access, they have everything.”
As a board, Ruder said they should respect the decisions of administrators.
“I give kudos to Mr. Henderson and his staff on reviewing the policy and making the changes that they did,” Ruder said.
Board member Ken Brooks echoed that sentiment.
“We’re not micromanaging that whole team there,” Brooks said. “They’ve done a terrific job and there’s no reason why we should put this on hold.”
Board member Allen Park opposed the handbook for a different reason, saying there should be language put in the handbook regarding the new gender neutral bathrooms in the high school.
“I think that should be in the policy,” Park said.
The motion to approve the handbook failed 4-3.
Superintendent Ron Wilson said the handbook will go back to the administrators, but the board does not have the authority to write the policy itself.
“With the administration, it has to be something that works for them,” Wilson said.
Other items from the meeting included:
- Curt Vajnar was re-elected as Board President and Ken Brooks was elected as Board Vice President
- Approval of Guaranteed Maximum Price for the Hays Middle School renovations from Nabholz Construction
- Approval of Kansas Association of School Boards (KASB) policy updates
- Approval of purchase of 180 Dell laptops for Hays High and Rockwell Administration Staff
The board will have a special meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Monday in the Topefer Board Room.
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