Hays school district asks voters to approve $968M in bonds for new schools, expansions
The Hays school district is asking voters on May 3 to approve $968.6 million in bonds that would pay for several projects, including a new high school, two new elementary schools, several school expansions and an outdoor pavilion for athletic and fine arts activities. It also would pay for new school buses with seatbelts.
In March 2024 a concrete truck driver hit a Hays school district bus carrying students from Tom Green Elementary and their families on a field trip. Two people were killed, including a child in the bus that had no seatbelts. Dozens of other bus passengers were rushed to hospitals with cuts and bruises.
"At that time, the district made a plan to accelerate getting buses that had seatbelts," said Tim Savoy, the district's communication officer. Ninety percent of the district's regular buses are now equipped with seatbelts, said Savoy. If voters approve the buses requested in the bond, he said, all of the district's regular school buses will have seatbelts.
Among 13 Central Texas school districts, an American-Statesman analysis in November found that only four have bus fleets fully outfitted with seat belts while four others have at least 75% of their fleets with restraints.
More: Deadly Hays crash reveals Texas school buses lack seat belts: 'They should know better.'
The proposed bond package, which is split into five different propositions, is the biggest in the district's history, Savoy said. During the bond election in 2023, voters approved $315.7 million in bonds but they turned down the outdoor pavilions for fine arts and athletics that are included in this year's bond package.
If approved, Savoy said, the bonds this year would not raise property tax rates because the growth in the county is expected to bring in more revenue. Hays County had 292,029 residents in July 2024, according to the latest figures from the U.S. Census. The estimated population in 2020 was 241,067.
More: Hays CISD could call almost $900M bond vote to expand, build schools
More: Hays school district calls $368 million bond. Here's what district hopes to get.
"We are growing anywhere from 800 to 1,000 kids a year and that is projected to continue for the next decade or more," said Savoy. The current student population of 24,144 is expected to grow to 45,019 by 2034, according to district figures. The district, which covers 221 square miles, serves the cities of Kyle and Buda and other areas in northern Hays County.
The five bond propositions are:
Proposition A: $498.9 million is proposed for these projects:
Hays High School: Academic expansion to accommodate 2,800 students, renovation of cafeteria and other maintenance and improvement projects.
Johnson High School: New weight room and additional parking.
Lehman High School: Academic expansion to 2,800 student capacity, new all-purpose gym, kitchen addition and cafeteria renovation, new weight room
Artificial turf at all middle schools
Wallace Middle School: Running tracks to be resurfaced to maintain safety and proper playability
McCormick Middle School: Running track to be resurfaced to maintain safety, weight room and locker room additions, art room renovation, driveway expansion, utility renovation, athletic turf and track improvements, temporary portable building relocation
Simon Middle School: Academic expansion to 1,200 student capacity, weight room and locker room renovation, performing arts studio addition, art room renovation, athletic turf and track improvements
Barton, Chapa and Dahlstrom middle schools: Athletic turf and track improvements, running tracks to be resurfaced to maintain safety and proper playability
Elementary 18: Construction in northeast part of district, location to be determined.
Elementary 19: Design, location to be determined.
Hemphill, Fuentes, Kyle and Tom Green elementaries: Add classrooms and other additions to expand schools to 900-student capacity each, refresh amenities to be consistent with current elementary prototype
Maintenance: Roof maintenance and replacement at Kyle, Negley, Science Hall and Tom Green elementaries, Barton and Chapa middle schools and Hays High School. Mechanical, electrical, plumbing and life safety system replacements at Kyle, Negley, Pfluger, Science Hall and Tom Green elementaries, Barton and Chapa middle schools, Hays High School and Shelton Stadium.
Uhland Maintenance Facility: Construction of new facility
Buses: Thirty buses, including 22 for daily transport. The other eight buses are activity buses with storage compartments for equipment including band instruments.
Security: Parking lot access control buildings, districtwide re-key, wayfinding signage
Career & Technical Education: Cycle replacement of tools and equipment; addition of Fire Academy burn tower; purchase of self-contained breathing apparatus, packs and accessories
Athletics and fine arts: Cycle replacements including but not limited to uniforms, equipment and instruments
Proposition B: $396 million is proposed for comprehensive high school #4. The district has three traditional high schools with activities including band, sports and theater, and one high school for early graduation and self-paced students, The new high school will be designed for 2,800 students at Main Street and Turnersville Road in Buda and will open in 2029.
Proposition C: $6 million to expand the sub varsity stadium at the Bob Shelton Stadium. The seating capacity will be expanded to allow for a second, shared district varsity competition space to accommodate the new high school. The anticipated total capacity will be approximately 8,500 people.
Proposition D: $51.3 million for construction and equipping of four outdoor, covered and lighted athletics and fine arts educational, rehearsal and performance facilities. The facilities will be at Hays, Johnson and Lehman high schools, and comprehensive high school #4.
Proposition E: $16.2 million for technology. This would replace old network campus data switches; provide uninterruptible power supplies for campuses; provide voltage regulation and stable power for expensive network equipment and replace phone systems at all campuses because the manufacturer no longer supports the current phone system. It also would provide non-brand specific tablets, computers and laptops for student use at campuses; replace old, outdated or broken school campus sound systems; replace outdated district printshop machines and provide new copiers to save money instead of leasing them.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: What voters get if they approve $968M bond package for Hays schools
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