Adam RollinsVoters in the Hays County Independent School District (Hays CISD) have approved four of the five propositions in the $968.7 million bond.
The district will dedicate a majority of the funds—$498.9 million—to build and rehabilitate educational facilities across multiple campuses. Out of that allocation, $139.6 million will be used to upgrade and expand the Fuentes, Tom Green, Hemphill and Kyle elementary schools to enhance infrastructure and increase capacity to 900 students.
An additional $98.9 million will enable Hays CISD to renovate the Hays, Johnson and Lehman high schools. Rehabilitation work will consist of adding new classrooms and spaces to increase capacity to 2,800 students, building a fine arts gym and adding new spaces for a cafeteria, kitchen and weight room.
As part of the proposition, the district will build a new elementary school and fund the design for additional elementary and middle school campuses. Plans include building a Fire Training Academy Fire Tower to improve the Career and Technical Education (CTE) center, increasing security access controls, buying new buses and improving the existing fleet, enhancing critical internal systems, repairing roofs and performing general repairs.
Another approved project empowers the district to spend $396.1 million to build a comprehensive high school. When completed, the building will house up to 2,800 students. Hays CISD will spend $51.4 million to build a series of fine arts and athletics facilities. These buildings include four outdoor, covered and lighted athletics and fine arts educational, rehearsal and performance structures. They will be built at the Hays Johnson and Lehman high schools, as well as the upcoming comprehensive high school approved as part of the bond package.
The final proposition that received a green light from voters will allocate $16.2 million to upgrade technology across all campuses. This will include replacing network campus data switches, installing uninterruptible power supplies and replacing phone systems. The district will also distribute instructional technology devices, replace sound system components, install photocopiers and update the district’s printshop machines.
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