{"id":87800,"date":"2025-07-16T10:35:48","date_gmt":"2025-07-16T15:35:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=87800"},"modified":"2025-07-16T10:35:50","modified_gmt":"2025-07-16T15:35:50","slug":"high-school-handbook-fails-approval-at-usd-489-board-of-education-meeting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=87800","title":{"rendered":"High School handbook fails approval at USD 489 Board of Education meeting"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

BY ALICIA FEYERHERM
Tiger Media Network <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The USD 489 Board of Education did not approve the 2025-2026 Hays High School Student Handbook during Monday\u2019s meeting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the handbooks for the elementary, middle and virtual school were approved, the high school handbook was voted on separately and failed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Board Member Jayme Goetz\u2019s main concern was that the new handbook removed operational definitions. For example, under the \u201cProperty Damage\u201d section, the handbook now reads that the issue will \u201cbe addressed according to the HHS Discipline Framework,\u201d whereas the previous version stated specific consequences, such as \u201cup to 5 days ISS to up to 5 days OSS\u201d for the first offense. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cI\u2019m just really frustrated by it,\u201d Goetz said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Goetz said that these definitions ensure that consequences are equal for all students. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTo 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\u2019t matter who the student is, and it also doesn\u2019t matter what administrator they go to, the consequence is going to be for the action, not any sort of variability other than that,\u201d Goetz said.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, Goetz said she would like to have a committee of teachers review and provide recommendations for the handbook. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn discussing with some staff members at the high school, there is no such committee that they\u2019re aware of,\u201d Goetz said. \u201cChanges are made by the administration, passed to the teachers and that\u2019s kind of it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Board member Ruth Ruder disagreed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTeachers have every right to read this,\u201d Ruder said. \u201cThey have every opportunity, they have every access, they have everything.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a board, Ruder said they should respect the decisions of administrators. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI give kudos to Mr. Henderson and his staff on reviewing the policy and making the changes that they did,\u201d Ruder said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Board member Ken Brooks echoed that sentiment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re not micromanaging that whole team there,\u201d Brooks said. \u201cThey\u2019ve done a terrific job and there\u2019s no reason why we should put this on hold.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think that should be in the policy,\u201d Park said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The motion to approve the handbook failed 4-3. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWith the administration, it has to be something that works for them,\u201d Wilson said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other items from the meeting included:<\/p>\n\n\n\n