Hays CISD Board of Trustees declares hazardous areas for children

BUDA — The Hays CISD Board of Trustees voted 6-1 to adopt a resolution declaring hazardous traffic conditions for several roads throughout the district at its May 20 meeting.

The following areas were listed as hazardous:

• Blanco Vista Elementary School:

- Old Stagecoach Road

- IH-35

• Buda Elementary School:

- Main Street railroad tracks

- Bridge on FM 967

- Old San Antonio Road

• Camino Real Elementary School:

- Rhode Road

- Highway 21

- FM 2001

• Carpenter Hill Elementary School:

- FM 967

- FM 1626

• Cullen Elementary School:

- FM 150

• Elm Grove Elementary School:

- Cullen Country

• Fuentes Elementary School:

- Dacy Lane

- Casetta Ranch subdivision

- South Lake Ranch subdivision

• Tom Green Elementary School:

- FM 2001

- CR 119 (Old Goforth Road)

- CR 133 (Hillside Terrance Road)

• Hemphill Elementary School

- FM 150 East

• Kyle Elementary School

- Rebel Road/ FM 150

- Old Stagecoach Road

- IH-35

- Railroad tracks

- Scott Street from Opal Lane to and including Hitching Post Drive

- Bradford Meadows

• Negley Elementary School

- FM 2770/ Mountain City

• Pfluger Elementary School

- Windy Hill Road

- FM 2001

• Science Hall Elementary

- Bebee Road

- Dacy Lane

• Tobias Elementary School

- FM 150

• Uhland Elementary School

- High Road

- Highway 21

- Pradera Subdivision

• Barton Middle School

- FM 2770 (Hidden Oaks subdivision only)

• Chapa Middle School

- Dacy Lane

- Bebee Road

- Windy Hill Road

• Dahlstrom Middle School

- FM 967

- FM 1626

- Old Black Colony Road

- Cole Springs Road

• McCormick Middle School

- Dacy Lane

- IH-35

- FM 150

• Hays High School/ Live Oak Academy

- FM 2770/ Mountain City

• Lehman High School

- Lehman Road

• Johnson High School

- FM 967

- FM 1626

Trustee Johnny Flores began by relaying his concern that adding sidewalks could cause some families to lose access to bus service. Specifically, he noted the Casetta Ranch subdivision and its bus service to Lehman High School or Fuentes Elementary School. He also mentioned the city of Kyle's road bond and how the city is planning to build sidewalks in approximately eight areas, which could, again, affect bus service.

Assistant Director of Transportation Cassandra Behr said that the Transportation Department met with the city of Kyle to discuss the road bond and what possible changes to transportation could occur. She confirmed that Kyle is supposed to provide the district with additional maps detailing the bond and they are set to meet in person on June 17 to further discuss plans.

Next, trustee Courtney Runkle immediately notified the board that she will be voting “no” on the item due to Campo Del Sol Parkway not being included on the list of dangerous roads.

“As it stands today, I do believe that Campo Del Sol is a hazardous road; however, I do hear and I do see the responses of the county working on the improvements of Campo Del Sol. Unfortunately, I have not seen exactly what those are,” said Runkle. “I can’t tell you where they want to put a crosswalk, where they want to put the lights, where they’re doing the painting. That’s not a visual that I have seen and that has not been provided.”

She continued by stating that the school board began conversations with Hays County in October and there have been Zoom meetings, numerous emails, signs put up at Sunfield Elementary School and more, but that there has been no indication what these improvements are supposed to be.

“I’m going to vote no on this without the inclusion of Campo Del Sol, but I want to be real clear. It’s not that I don’t agree with the other areas on the hazardous map,” concluded Runkle. “We have a lot of kids that travel that road and we need to make that road safer, so if this is not going to be included as a hazardous road, then I am going to be coming down hard on the county.”

The item was motioned for approval by trustee Vanessa Petrea and seconded by trustee Byron Severance, passing 6-1, with Runkle dissenting.