Hays CISD buys 80 acres, considers bond election

The Hays CISD growth impact committee will hold its first meeting to examine the possibility of putting a bond election on the May ballot on Oct. 1. The committee will also determine whether to recommend construction of a new elementary, middle or high school.

Hays CISD spokesman Tim Savoy said the district's greatest need is for a new middle school, but if the committee recommends a bond election, it could provide funding for a middle school, two elementary schools and upgrades to existing campuses.

"The growth impact committee is going to look at the needs of the district over the next couple of months and make a recommendation in December to the board, first whether or not we need to do a bond as early as May of next year, and if so, what would be included in that," Savoy said.

If a bond is passed in May, construction would most likely begin in the summer, and the campus would open by August 2015, Deputy Superintendent Carter Scherff said.

At the Hays CISD board of trustees meeting on Aug. 29, board members approved the purchase of 80 acres of land for $800,000. Savoy said with the purchase of 80 acres, the district now has four properties that could eventually hold a high school campus.

"Down the line we'll need a third high school and a fourth one if the growth continues, but it's highly unlikely that a new high school would be on the table for a bond in May," he said. "You buy the land now if you can get a good price on it because it's cheaper to buy it and have it rather than wait ten years for [the price] to go up."

According to Savoy's timeline for the bond process, the growth impact committee will make a recommendation to the board of trustees on Dec. 9. Public hearings would be held in January, and the election would be held on May 10.