The Hays CISD board of trustees will host three public forums to hear citizen feedback on a proposed May bond. In the fall, the board appointed members to a Growth Impact Committee, a group of citizens who reviewed district needs and created a bond recommendation. The committee ranked 23 projects with a proposed combined cost of $265,026,591. According to the draft recommendation approved by the board at a Jan. 9 meeting, the committee’s top three priorities are the construction of several new campuses: a third high school, a 14th elementary school and a school to replace the existing Buda Elementary School campus. The committee recommended the cost of construction for all three schools to be $250 per square foot. The recommendation estimates the high school will cost $122 million and budgets the elementary schools to both cost just under $34 million each. The committee also suggested capping the proposal at the $265.03 million amount. The board of trustees will consider public comment and feedback regarding changes to the recommendation. The public forums and speaking opportunities will take place starting tomorrow through mid-February, the deadline for when the board must call a bond for a May election to occur.

Forum and meeting schedule

Jan. 17, board workshop meeting with public comment at 5:30 p.m., Lehman High School, 1700 Lehman Road, Kyle Jan. 21, public forum with emphasis on future use of historic Buda Elementary School at 10:30 a.m., Buda Elementary School, Kunkel Room, 300 N. San Marcos St., Buda Jan. 23, board business meeting with public comment at 5:30 p.m., Lehman High School, 1700 Lehman Road Jan. 24, general bond public forum at 6 p.m., Kyle Elementary School, Kimbro Building, 500 Blanco St., Kyle Jan. 26, public forum with an emphasis on Spanish-speaking audience at 6 p.m., Hemphill Elementary School cafeteria, 3995 E. FM 150, Kyle Feb. 6, special board meeting to determine bond package at 5:30 p.m., Hays High School CTE Building, 4800 Jack C Hays Trail, Buda Feb. 13, special board meeting to call for election at 5:30 p.m., Hays High School CTE Building, 4800 Jack C Hays Trail, Buda