BY ALICIA FEYERHERM<\/p>\n\n\n\n
USD 489 board of education met for its regular meeting on Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During public comment, Ruth Legleiter brought up concerns about the possible rebranding of the Hays High Indians. She said she recently read an article from a Wichita news station saying that with the construction of a new high school, the district was looking to rebrand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The article said surveys would be sent home with students to gather ideas for potential name changes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTo me that sounded like a fact and a goal so that kind of got my attention,\u201d Legleiter said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Legleiter said she talked to the Hays High principal and was referred to the superintendent and then to the district\u2019s public relations specialist. Legleiter was unsatisfied with the answers she received.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe need a community meeting kind of like the ones that were held to inform the people, the community, about having a school bond,\u201d Legleiter said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of Legleiter\u2019s main concerns about the rebranding is the cost. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNobody\u2019s got an extra dime today,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Legleiter felt there were many unanswered questions including the deadline for the name change, who decides the name change, how many people make up the branding committee and finally, why surveys were only being sent to parents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI know a lady who\u2019s lived here two months and she got a survey,\u201d Legleiter said. \u201cI\u2019ve lived here all my life; I\u2019m an alumni. I had to ask for one.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Legleiter emphasized if the district wants community support in this initiative, they need to be transparent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRight now, how I feel about it is totally emotional because I have no facts on anything else,\u201d Legleiter said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Board president Craig Pallister thanked Legleiter for voicing her concerns and said the district would be putting out more information soon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI don\u2019t want to put down any news media that is hours away from us, but there was some probably incorrect information,\u201d Pallister said. \u201cYou gotta watch where you get your information.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some other items discussed at the meeting included:<\/p>\n\n\n\n