Growth that has continued unabated in northern Hays County has led the Hays CISD to once again consider a bond election.
No firm decisions have been made, but a Facilities and Bond Oversight Committee (FBOC) is currently meeting to review the possibility of a bond election in May 2020, the district said last week.
Chief items being considered for May 2020 include a new elementary school as well as expansions at some middle and elementary schools.
It would be the first bond election in three years and the seventh since 2001. In 2017, voters approved $250 million for the construction of Johnson High school, two elementary schools including the replacement of Buda Elementary, a new district transportation facility, a new band hall and softball/baseball complex for Hays High School, career and technology education and maintenance projects.
The district says chief items being considered for May 2020 include a new elementary school as well as expansions at some middle and elementary schools. Key needs categories – all fueled by growth – are new construction, major maintenance, transportation, safety and instruction/technology.
At the end of September, the district had 20, 882 students enrolled – that’s up 860 students from the year prior.
According to the district’s timeline, the bond committee was empaneled in June. Through December, the school board will be considering recommendations related to the impacts of growth. In January, public forums will be held. Should the board decide to go forward with the May election, that vote will be held in late January or early February of next year, Election Day would be May 2, 2020.
The first meeting of the FBOC was Oct. 3, and committee members began consideration of $213,099,630 in spending, including:
• $50,619,868 for expansion and improvements at Wallace Middle School ($21,667,955); Dahlstrom Middle School ($19,403,515); and McCormick Middle School ($9,548,398).
• New elementary school with 900-student capacity in Sunfield Development ($39,011,578).
• Elementary School expansions at Negley Elementary School ($4,665,426) and Elm Grove Elementary School ($7,814,642).
• Historic Buda Elementary Improvements: select demolition and improvements at upper campus, preserving Kunkel Room ($4,359,457); demolishing all structure except playground at lower campus ($1,323,592).
• Stadium expansions and renovations: Increase capacity to 8,500 at Johnson High School and Lehman High School, renovate locker room and add “Bleacher Creature” area at Shelton Stadium ($16,587,489).
• Shelton Stadium parking: Replace stadium parking lost to residential development (across FM 2770) and provide a competition-size band practice area ($1,981,839).
• Lehman High School baseball and softball improvements: Renovate bleachers, backstops and dugouts ($1,623,511).
• Hays High School weight room: Increase size of weight room ($1,112,483).
• General Administration Building: Move Curriculum and Instruction and SPED to Central Office, includes demolition, renovation and new construction ($27,768,317).
• Live Oak Academy renovation and expansion: Convert Curriculum and Instruction Department areas into classroom space, approximately 26,500 square feet and parking for additional students ($8,113,384).
• Campus HVAC and fire alarms: Lehman High School ($9,528,576); Hays High School ($4,025,141), Fuentes Elementary School ($3,332,744); Elm Grove Elementary School ($3,136,841); Kyle Elementary School ($1,111,761); Tom Green Elementary School ($4,239,480); Bard units districtwide ($170,000).
• Campus roofing projects: Lehman High School ($4,025,000); Hays High School ($1,759,000); and Kyle Elementary School ($787,000).
• Campus flooring projects at Blanco Vista Elementary School, Camino Real Elementary School, Carpenter Hill Elementary School, Science Hall Elementary School, Hemphill Elementary School, Lehman High School, Fuentes Elementary School, Negley Elementary School, Tobias Elementary School, Hays High School, Kyle Elementary School, Plfuger Elementary School and Elm Grove Elementary School ($2,417,002).
• Miscellaneous maintenance projets at Fuentes Elementary School, Hemphill Elementary School, Hays High School, Performing Arts Center and Barton Middle School including stage lighting, bleachers and wash stations ($942,000).
• Hardscape improvements at Kyle Elementary School, Hays High School, Child Nutrition Warehouse, Carpenter Hill Elementary School, Hemphill Elementary School, Dahlstrom Middle School, Fuentes Elementary School, Camino Real Elementary School and Lehman High School ($1,694,799).
• Athletic Cycle maintenance: Athletic Cycle replacement tennis courts at Barton Middle School, Chapa Middle School, Dahlstrom Middle School and Simon Middle School ($120,000).
• New buses: 50 new fully equipped school buses for replacement and growth ($5,608,700).
• Keyless entry upgrades: Software system upgrade with connectivity to the district’s Active Directory to allow automatic able/disable upon hire and termination ($1,200,000).
• Intercom upgrades at Lehman High School, Barton Middle School, Chapa Middle School,
Wallace Middle School, Kyle Elementary School, Tom Green Elementary School, Elm Grove Elementary School, Blanco Vista Elementary School, Hemphill Elementary School, Fuentes Elementary School, Science Hall Elementary School, Tobias Elementary School, Camino Real Elementary School and Negley Elementary School ($320,000).
• Instructional technology: Provide additional mobile devices for teaching, virtual learning and on-line state assessments ($1,100,000).
• Musical instrument purchase: Replacement cycle and new orchestral program ($1,500,000).
• Uniform replacements: Cycle replacement of uniforms ($900,000).
• Technology infrastructure: Add storage capacity ($200,000).
The FBOC has 28 members, including four appointed by each of the district’s seven trustees and some Hays CISD administrators who serve as non-voting advisory members.
For more on the bond election, including the opportunity to share thoughts and idea through the “Bond Talk” feature, visit hayscisd.net/bond2020.
