All six Hays CISD middle schools are planned to undergo renovations for the installation of turf fields and new running tracks by the end of August, pending board approval.

The project is expected to come in more than $5 million over budget.

The details

The HCISD board of trustees received a presentation on the bond project and the proposed vendor, Hellas Construction, on Oct. 20.

The work is set to include:
  • Turf fields
  • School logos on the turf
  • Shock pads under the turf
  • Full-pour track surfaces
The cost


Funded by 2025 bonds, the project is expected to cost $17.34 million, or approximately $2.89 million per school.

Although it’s projected to be $850,000 over budget at each campus on average—a combined total of about $5 million—the bond still has $45 million in contingency.

Additionally, the higher-quality materials have increased longevity and will cost less to maintain over the coming years, Jeff Bresee from CEI Engineering said.

What’s next


The project will be brought back to trustees for further discussion on Oct. 27.

If passed, renovations are scheduled to occur at staggered intervals.

Projects scheduled for completion in March:
  • Chapa Middle School
  • McCormick Middle School
  • Wallace Middle School
Projects scheduled for completion in August:
  • Barton Middle School
  • Dahlstrom Middle School
  • Simon Middle School