Hays CISD received low rating scores

At Monday's meeting, the school board looked at two different scoring reports from the Texas Academic Performance Report and the Performance Based Monitoring Analysis System. Trustees were disappointed with the scores, they said. The TAPR groups the performance of students with demographic information, including ethnicity and low-income status. The PBMAS monitors programs that receive federal title funds and is based on indicators such as the performance of special education, bilingual programs, career and technology education and state assessments. Hays CISD performed lower than the state and regional average in every category, the TAPR report shows. As for the PBMAS, scores have progressively gone down in recent years.

Design for third high school approved

To open the district's third high school in time for the for the 2019-20 school year, the design process must begin before the proposed 2017 bond is passed, district staff told the board. Waiting a few weeks to vote on the design would make the project lose a whole year and force the school to delay opening until the 2020-21 school year. However, only one forum regarding the 2017 bond has been completed. “I don’t want it to seem like we don’t care what people have to say,” trustee Meredith Keller said. “I feel like we’re caught between a rock and a hard place here because we still several meetings where we expect to hear from people.” Ultimately, the board of trustees voted unanimously to approve the design. Most of the plans for the new school is set in stone, district staff said. The site and and how the building is laid out is “beyond the point of no return,” staffers said, but the finishes and interiors of the building can still be modified.

Trustees called for a school board election in 2017

School board voted unanimously voted to call for a 2017 board of trustees election. On May 6, voters will decided on candidates for districts 1 and 2 and an at-large trustee position. Trustee Teresa Tobias from District 1 and Trustee Willie Tenorio Jr. from District 2 are expected to defend their seats, while Trustee Sandra Bryant announced weeks ago she will not seek reelection.