Hays CISD Board of Trustees approve 15 additional SROs and affordable housing program

BUDA — On Monday, Sept. 25, the Hays CISD Board of Trustees discussed the addition of 15 school resource officers (SRO) and approved a memorandum of understanding with the Texas Workforce Housing Foundation.

In an effort to adhere to House Bill 3 — a law passed that requires schools have at least one full-time SRO at each campus, with the possibility of adding more if the district deems it necessary — Hays CISD Superintendent Dr. Eric Wright read a letter addressed to Hays County Sheriff Gary Cutler requested 15 SROs to be added to campuses.

The state would provide $0.28 per student for this bill, totaling approximately $395,000; however, the total of 15 SROs would be around $1.5 million.

Though the request was approved 7-0 to be submitted, Wright acknowledged that there is still a significant issue — staffing.

“[HCSO] is grossly understaffed right now, just as are many law enforcement agencies across the state and the nation,” said Wright. “Because of the negative media attention.”

Wright continued by stating that the district has reached out to the Texas Education Agency, but was told that, currently, TEA is not in a position to provide advice about SROs.

Trustee Esperanza Orsoco was furious when learning of this, stating that this response only further confirms that “TEA has no idea how they’re going to implement [this bill] with over 1,000 school districts, with other 8,000 campuses in the state of Texas … TEA does not have any guidance or support for us — another way to fail public education.”

In the meantime, Wright stated that Jeri Skrocki and the district safety & security team are beginning discussions about a marshal program. This would potentially be similar to the program Dripping Springs ISD has implemented.

Trustees also approved a memorandum of understanding 7-0 between Hays CISD and the Texas Workforce Housing Foundation. The memorandum approves district employees to receive benefits from the foundation.

According to the agreement, the foundation is a “nonprofit corporation dedicated to providing safe and sanitary workforce housing which declared a desire to assist in the provision of safe and sanitary workforce housing to the district’s workforce within the boundaries of the district at rent levels that its personnel can afford.”

The complex that is being looked at for this program is The Chloe, located at 3400 Kyle Crossing, which has approximately 300 units, 50 of which the district is hoping to have dedicated for the affordable housing.

The foundation would provide annual expense reports, as well as information on who is utilizing the program and what unit type is being used.

There are four other districts signed up for the project, but it is estimated that by the end of the year, there would be 12, making Hays CISD one of the first to implement this program.

“When we take care of our staff, we’re ultimately taking care of our students,” said Christina Courson, Hays CISD chief human resources officer.

Surveys will soon be sent to district staff gaging interest and need. From there, more information will follow.

Currently, district employees are the priority, but if there is not enough need within the district, the foundation is open to enrolling first responders as well.