The previous bond passed in the May 2022 election with 51% of the vote.
According to a demographic study conducted by Population and Survey Analysts, HCISD has the fifth-most enrollment in the Austin metro following Austin, Round Rock, Leander and Pflugerville ISDs. HCISD also has the third-most numeric change in enrollment from 2016 to 2021 following Leander and Liberty Hill ISDs.
In August, the HCISD Facilities and Bond Oversight Committee was tasked with determining what needs might need to be met with a 2023 bond with student projection data, bond capacity, estimated costs and other information in mind.
The capacity for the 2023 bond starts at $365 million and goes up to a maximum of $410 million.
Over the past four months, the committee has compiled a list of around 53 potential bond projects that range from districtwide needs to campus-specific projects, including the construction of the district’s 17th elementary school and design fees for the 18th elementary school and fourth high school.
At the Dec. 12 board of trustees meeting, the committee presented an updated worksheet with the proposed bond, whittled down to around 40 projects for a total of $423.63 million, which will need to be worked through to get the total within the bond capacity range.
The projects are listed in order of committee support, starting at 100% support down to 50%. The proposed projects range in cost from $94,500 for a greenhouse to $75.99 million for the construction of a new school.
“Some of the projects may not make it on [the 2023] bond but will stay on the list and may be looked at again for whatever the next bond will be,” Superintendent Eric Wright said.
The board will hold public forums throughout January and must call for the bond election by Feb. 17 for the May 6 ballot.
The first forum is Jan. 24 at 6 p.m. at 300 San Marcos St., Buda and the second is Jan. 26 at 6 p.m. at 1700 Lehman Rd., Kyle. Parents and community members can also submit input online at www.hayscisd.net/bondtalk through Feb. 6.
