Where they stand
No sourced position or public action found for Abortion / life.
What they have done
No public action found for this issue.
NonpartisanCurrent official, not on 2026 ballot
Curt C. Vajnar
Hays USD 489 Board of Education - current local official
This is a current-official accountability profile, not a 2026 ballot-candidate profile. The next expected election cycle for this local body is 2027, based on current local-cycle research.
Sources
27
linked public trail
Issues
6/14
with evidence
Records
17
documented items
Online
5
observations
Source mix
27 total
9 primary18 secondary0 social
Latest source access: May 20, 2026
Source TrailBackgroundWho They Are
Curt C. Vajnar is profiled here for Hays USD 489 Board of Education as a nonpartisan incumbent/current official. Teacher recruitment and retention are long-running concerns for him. In 2021, he named teacher shortages and retention as one of the greatest problems facing public education and suggested using student-teacher placements, early postings, and incentives for t... | s-ellis-2025-filings | primary | https://www.ellisco.net/DocumentCenter/View/5736/2025-Candidate-Filings | 2026-05-19 | 2025 city/school candidate filing list includes Curt C. Vajnar under USD 489 at-large positions | election status |. These biography/status records are descriptive background only; no policy position is inferred from identity, faith, family, or associations.
- Party
- Nonpartisan
- Office
- Hays USD 489 Board of Education
- Occupation
- USD 489 Board President
Issue overviewWhere They Stand on Big Issues
Position summary
Shown first when sourced
Dated actions
17 items on file
Online signals
5 observed
Where they stand
No sourced position or public action found for LGBT / gender / parental rights.
What they have done
No public action found for this issue.
Where they stand
Vajnar's fiscal message is a tradeoff message, not a simple anti-tax line. In 2025, he said the district was doing well financially but acknowledged that mill-levy increases are hard on residents whose incomes are not rising as fast as costs. He paired that with the teacher-pay problem: if the district does not stay competitive, it risks losing good teachers or failing to recruit them. Source: Hays Post, Oct. 14, 20...
What they have done
His reelection result reinforces the local profile. Hays Post reported that Vajnar, the current board president, was re-elected in 2025 with 2,531 votes, the highest total in the USD 489 race, and that all three winning candidates focused on completing bond projects. Vajnar's election-night comment was that he wanted to complete the bond work on budget. Source: Hays Post, Nov. 5, 2025.
On curriculum and assessment, his visible comments favor practical learning. Hays Post reported in 2024 that a graduation-policy revision was tabled because Vajnar wanted a list of electives that would meet a new STEM requirement. In 2025, as board president, he said he hoped curriculum would focus on real-world math instead of teaching only to the test. Sources: Hays Post, Mar. 5, 2024, Hays Post, Nov. 14, 2025.
Curt Vajnar's public voice is local, school-specific, and governance-focused. The reviewed public record did not identify verified campaign website or campaign social feed for him. The strongest source set is Hays Post candidate Q&As and forum coverage, USD 489 public board infrastructure, local news coverage of board meetings, and student/local media coverage. The official USD 489 public portal lists Vajnar as Board President and connects him to board retreat, regular, special, and work-study sessions. Source: US...
Teacher of the Month: Vajnar says goodbye to HHS
On safety, Vajnar has a specific ask: more school resource officer coverage. In the 2025 Q&A, he said he was proud of helping push the first resource officer for the 2023-24 year and would continue pushing for a second one. He framed it as student and staff safety in a more dangerous world, while acknowledging the budget cost. Source: Hays Post, Oct. 14, 2025.
Vajnar's fiscal message is a tradeoff message, not a simple anti-tax line. In 2025, he said the district was doing well financially but acknowledged that mill-levy increases are hard on residents whose incomes are not rising as fast as costs. He paired that with the teacher-pay problem: if the district does not stay competitive, it risks losing good teachers or failing to recruit them. Source: Hays Post, Oct. 14, 2025.
Social/online observations
These observations show public activity tied to this issue. They are context, not confirmed positions.
US
Curt Vajnar's public voice is local, school-specific, and governance-focused. The reviewed public record did not identify verified campaign…
Public activity only; not a policy position.
Where they stand
Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish
What they have done
No public action found for this issue.
Where they stand
Vajnar's fiscal message is a tradeoff message, not a simple anti-tax line. In 2025, he said the district was doing well financially but acknowledged that mill-levy increases are hard on residents whose incomes are not rising as fast as costs. He paired that with the teacher-pay problem: if the district does not stay competitive, it risks losing good teachers or failing to recruit them. Source: Hays Post, Oct. 14, 20...
What they have done
His reelection result reinforces the local profile. Hays Post reported that Vajnar, the current board president, was re-elected in 2025 with 2,531 votes, the highest total in the USD 489 race, and that all three winning candidates focused on completing bond projects. Vajnar's election-night comment was that he wanted to complete the bond work on budget. Source: Hays Post, Nov. 5, 2025.
On safety, Vajnar has a specific ask: more school resource officer coverage. In the 2025 Q&A, he said he was proud of helping push the first resource officer for the 2023-24 year and would continue pushing for a second one. He framed it as student and staff safety in a more dangerous world, while acknowledging the budget cost. Source: Hays Post, Oct. 14, 2025.
Vajnar's fiscal message is a tradeoff message, not a simple anti-tax line. In 2025, he said the district was doing well financially but acknowledged that mill-levy increases are hard on residents whose incomes are not rising as fast as costs. He paired that with the teacher-pay problem: if the district does not stay competitive, it risks losing good teachers or failing to recruit them. Source: Hays Post, Oct. 14, 2025.
Social/online observations
These observations show public activity tied to this issue. They are context, not confirmed positions.
HA
2025 Q&A budget/class-size message: He described teacher raises, taxes, fixed-income residents, and class sizes as tradeoffs the board has t…
Public activity only; not a policy position.
Where they stand
The Golden Belt Bank naming-rights debate is the clearest example of his sponsorship philosophy. Vajnar delayed action on the $200,000 offer for the Hays High football field, arguing the district should decide what is named, set contract terms, avoid merely reacting to the first offer, and give other supporting businesses an opportunity. Later, he said facility names belong to Hays citizens, not a business, and that...
What they have done
The Golden Belt Bank naming-rights debate is the clearest example of his sponsorship philosophy. Vajnar delayed action on the $200,000 offer for the Hays High football field, arguing the district should decide what is named, set contract terms, avoid merely reacting to the first offer, and give other supporting businesses an opportunity. Later, he said facility names belong to Hays citizens, not a business, and that any naming-rights money should be tied to field maintenance. Sources: Hays Post, Aug. 19, 2025, Tig...
Where they stand
No sourced position or public action found for Guns / Second Amendment.
What they have done
No public action found for this issue.
Where they stand
No sourced position or public action found for Immigration / border.
What they have done
No public action found for this issue.
Where they stand
No sourced position or public action found for Health care / insurance / Medicaid.
What they have done
No public action found for this issue.
Where they stand
That support for facilities does not mean he treats construction decisions as automatic. In 2023, he voted against the guaranteed maximum price contract for Hays High and Roosevelt, saying he did not believe he had enough chance to study the contract. In 2025, he joined the losing side of a vote to explore a separate bond-project manager, while also being quoted as thinking the idea came late in the process. His pat...
What they have done
His reelection result reinforces the local profile. Hays Post reported that Vajnar, the current board president, was re-elected in 2025 with 2,531 votes, the highest total in the USD 489 race, and that all three winning candidates focused on completing bond projects. Vajnar's election-night comment was that he wanted to complete the bond work on budget. Source: Hays Post, Nov. 5, 2025.
That support for facilities does not mean he treats construction decisions as automatic. In 2023, he voted against the guaranteed maximum price contract for Hays High and Roosevelt, saying he did not believe he had enough chance to study the contract. In 2025, he joined the losing side of a vote to explore a separate bond-project manager, while also being quoted as thinking the idea came late in the process. His pattern is pro-facility but review-heavy: the board should finish the bond, but contracts and oversight...
Social/online observations
These observations show public activity tied to this issue. They are context, not confirmed positions.
Where they stand
No sourced position or public action found for Public safety / law enforcement / criminal justice.
What they have done
No public action found for this issue.
Where they stand
No sourced position or public action found for Agriculture / rural economy / water.
What they have done
No public action found for this issue.
Where they stand
Vajnar's fiscal message is a tradeoff message, not a simple anti-tax line. In 2025, he said the district was doing well financially but acknowledged that mill-levy increases are hard on residents whose incomes are not rising as fast as costs. He paired that with the teacher-pay problem: if the district does not stay competitive, it risks losing good teachers or failing to recruit them. Source: Hays Post, Oct. 14, 20...
What they have done
His reelection result reinforces the local profile. Hays Post reported that Vajnar, the current board president, was re-elected in 2025 with 2,531 votes, the highest total in the USD 489 race, and that all three winning candidates focused on completing bond projects. Vajnar's election-night comment was that he wanted to complete the bond work on budget. Source: Hays Post, Nov. 5, 2025.
On curriculum and assessment, his visible comments favor practical learning. Hays Post reported in 2024 that a graduation-policy revision was tabled because Vajnar wanted a list of electives that would meet a new STEM requirement. In 2025, as board president, he said he hoped curriculum would focus on real-world math instead of teaching only to the test. Sources: Hays Post, Mar. 5, 2024, Hays Post, Nov. 14, 2025.
Curt Vajnar's public voice is local, school-specific, and governance-focused. The reviewed public record did not identify verified campaign website or campaign social feed for him. The strongest source set is Hays Post candidate Q&As and forum coverage, USD 489 public board infrastructure, local news coverage of board meetings, and student/local media coverage. The official USD 489 public portal lists Vajnar as Board President and connects him to board retreat, regular, special, and work-study sessions. Source: US...
The Golden Belt Bank naming-rights debate is the clearest example of his sponsorship philosophy. Vajnar delayed action on the $200,000 offer for the Hays High football field, arguing the district should decide what is named, set contract terms, avoid merely reacting to the first offer, and give other supporting businesses an opportunity. Later, he said facility names belong to Hays citizens, not a business, and that any naming-rights money should be tied to field maintenance. Sources: Hays Post, Aug. 19, 2025, Tig...
Vajnar's fiscal message is a tradeoff message, not a simple anti-tax line. In 2025, he said the district was doing well financially but acknowledged that mill-levy increases are hard on residents whose incomes are not rising as fast as costs. He paired that with the teacher-pay problem: if the district does not stay competitive, it risks losing good teachers or failing to recruit them. Source: Hays Post, Oct. 14, 2025.
Social/online observations
These observations show public activity tied to this issue. They are context, not confirmed positions.
US
Curt Vajnar's public voice is local, school-specific, and governance-focused. The reviewed public record did not identify verified campaign…
Public activity only; not a policy position.
Where they stand
No sourced position or public action found for Environment / energy / land use.
What they have done
No public action found for this issue.
Actions and source trailActions and Decisions
This profile links 17 public items across 5 of the 14 issue areas. Examples include: Education / curriculum / schools: Vajnar's fiscal message is a tradeoff message, not a simple anti-tax line. In 2025, he said the district was doing well financially but acknowledged that mill-levy increases are hard on residents whose inc... Education / curriculum / schools: On safety, Vajnar has a specific ask: more school resource officer coverage. In the 2025 Q&A, he said he was proud of helping push the first resource officer for the 2023-24 year and would continue pushing... Education / curriculum / schools: Teacher of the Month: Vajnar says goodbye to HHS. Education / curriculum / schools: Curt Vajnar's public voice is local, school-specific, and governance-focused. The reviewed public record did not identify verified campaign website or campaign social feed for him. The strongest source set... Public online activity is listed separately as context.
How to read this section
Dated actions appear here when a linked source supports them. Candidate statements, reporting, and public online activity are labeled where they appear.
- Abortion / life0 documented items
- LGBT / gender / parental rights0 documented items
- Education / curriculum / schools6 documented items, 1 online observation
- Religious liberty / church / civic morality0 documented items
- Taxes / spending / debt3 documented items, 1 online observation
- Economy / jobs / labor1 documented item
- Guns / Second Amendment0 documented items
- Immigration / border0 documented items
- Health care / insurance / Medicaid0 documented items
- Election integrity / voting / courts2 documented items, 2 online observations
- Public safety / law enforcement / criminal justice0 documented items
- Agriculture / rural economy / water0 documented items
- Local governance / transparency / ethics5 documented items, 1 online observation
- Environment / energy / land use0 documented items
Faith affiliationWhere They Worship
Vajnar is publicly identified with Our Lady, Help of Christians Catholic Church in Antonino, where the source record says he has served on the parish council. Church website: https://www.ihm-church.com/.
Campaign financeDonor/Funding Information
Finance snapshot
No online donor list, campaign-finance report, affidavit of exemption, or treasurer appointment for Vajnar was found. Kansas SOS Election Standards point most local school-board campaign reports to the county election officer when reportable, while KPDC's central local coverage does not include ordinary USD 489 school board races.
Reporting period
Most recent public filing reviewed
Source: Kansas Election Standards - Chapter IV, Candidates
Research trailSources
27 linked public sources
Open the complete source trail with every public URL used for this profile.
Is Something Wrong or Missing?
If you are Curt C. Vajnar or represent their campaign, or if you have a correction or additional information, let us know. We want to get this right.
Social/online observationsPublic Online Activity
5 public online items are tied to issue areas. Additional online activity is treated as context, not a policy position.
Curt Vajnar's public voice is local, school-specific, and governance-focused. The reviewed public record did not identify verified campaign website or campaign social feed for him. The strongest source set is Hays Post candidate Q&As and forum coverage, USD 489 public board infrastructure, local news coverage of board meetings, and student/local media coverage. The official USD 489 public portal lists Vajnar as Boar...
Public activity only; not a policy position.
2025 Q&A budget/class-size message: He described teacher raises, taxes, fixed-income residents, and class sizes as tradeoffs the board has to weigh. Source: Hays Post, Oct. 14, 2025.
Public activity only; not a policy position.
2025 bond management: Vajnar supported looking into another bond-project manager, joining the losing side of a 3-4 vote, while Hays Post also reported his view that hiring one was late in the process. Source: Hays Post, Mar. 28, 2025.
Public activity only; not a policy position.
Hays Post - 2025 election results
Public activity only; not a policy position.
Curt Vajnar's public voice is local, school-specific, and governance-focused. The reviewed public record did not identify verified campaign website or campaign social feed for him. The strongest source set is Hays Post candidate Q&As and forum coverage, USD 489 public board infrastructure, local news coverage of board meetings, and student/local media coverage. The official USD 489 public portal lists Vajnar as Boar...
Public activity only; not a policy position.