By Kim Hilsenbeck.
Middle school number six is on the bond package proposal being considered by the Hays CISD Board of Trustees. District officials recently completed three public meetings on the bond issue to gather input from the community. The total bond would be $59.3 million - more than half, $35 million, would be for a new middle school. The remaining funds would be for new buses, security improvements and technology upgrades and purchases.
Superintendent Mike McKie told attendees at the meetings that the Growth Impact Committee, comprised of 25 area residents, considered the district’s bond proposal items carefully over the course of several weeks in the fall.
Community members had questions about the debt repayment schedule, whether the district could forgo a new middle school another year or two, how the district would measure the effectiveness of technology on student outcomes (test scores, graduation rates and college or life skills readiness) and whether a new high school is also on the horizon. McKie said the 25-year repayment schedule would include paying off everything except the new school within 15 years. In response to a question about early repayment, McKie said if the district can pay off the bond early, it would be foolish not to consider that option.
However, the bond oversight committee will have the chance to decide if leftover funds could be used for other purchases that are allowed under the bond terms.
McKie also said a new high school is needed, but that bond would be three or more years down the road.
Holding off on a new middle school for a year or more, according to McKie, would prove troublesome. He told audience members at the input meetings that common areas such as cafeterias and gyms are not built to handle the influx of new growth the district expects.
In terms of whether technology is proven to improve student outcomes, McKie said the data doesn’t exist yey but it will in about five years. But he said technology has shown to help make students more engaged in the learning process.
McKie told parents the proposed new middle school would likely be built in the northeast quadrant of the district in the Sunfield subdivision on Buda’s east side.
The district already owns the land, which was donated by the Sunfield developer. However, McKie said his team is talking with the Sunfield team about relocating the school property to be closer to the homes in the subdivision.Hays CISD board will vote on the bond at the Feb. 24 workshop meeting.
District officials said attendance zones wouldn’t be reviewed or considered until fall 2014.
