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Contemplated Bond would Increase Elementary and Middle School Sizes
The proposed new elementary school in the Sunfield is dominating the headlines as we head into the public hearings for the proposed 2020 Hays CISD Bond, but I would like to highlight another item that has received less of the spotlight.
The administration proposed and the bond committee highly ranked the expansion of two existing elementary schools.
(The following details were provided to me by the Hays CISD Administration and are subject to change.)
The FBOC recommends adding nine additional classrooms to Negley Elementary and 10 additional classrooms to Elm Grove Elementary. This would result in increased capacity (Negley 948 students, Elm Grove 907 students).
As a point of comparison, the proposed new Sunfield Elem school will have a functional capacity of 900.
The fall enrollment at Negley and Elm Grove respectively was 876 and 862. Both schools are currently over capacity.
In addition, the current bond proposal will increase the capacity of all middle schools, predominately Dahlstrom and McCormick, feeder schools for Johnson High School. The bond would add 11 regular classrooms and 1 fine arts classroom to Dahlstrom and 15 classrooms and 1 fine arts classroom to McCormick.
In addition, one fine arts classroom would be added to Wallace, Barton, Chapa and Simon Middle Schools.
The aforementioned items are only potential projects. The actual projects and estimated costs will vary during the development of a potential bond package for a May 2020 election. No projects or expenses are approved unless and until the Board calls for an election and the voters approve the measures.
To provide input on the proposed bond items, please attend a public hearing or visit www.HaysCISD.net/bond2020 and click on the “Bond Talk” button.
The next schedule public hearings are listed here.
MONDAY
January 13, 2020, 6:00 p.m.
Dahlstrom Middle School
(También en Español)
WEDNESDAY
January 15, 2020, 6:00 p.m.
Wallace Middle School
(También en Español)
Hays CISD Convocation 2019
At Convocation, every employee in the District gathers in one place for the start of the new academic year. Superintendent Dr. Wright provides information on initiatives and goals for the upcoming year. Convocation also gives everyone a chance to hear about the direction of the District, directly from Dr. Wright. The message comes directly to everyone, not through a memo or layers of management.
Convocation also gives us time to celebrate the accomplishments of the previous year, provides team building and sets a positive tone for the new academic year.
As I traveled through our gathering, I had the opportunity to speak to teachers, principals, administrators, librarians, food service staff, electricians, counselors, nurses and more. Every employee in the District was gathered on the grounds of Texas Old Town. One person told me that even though each of our 23 campuses had their own section, everyone walked around and visited with friends from other schools. We all know each other, regardless of the campus we are on, she said. We are all one family.
Susie T. Fuentes Elementary at Hays CISD Convocation 2019
Hays CISD Education Foundation Awards campuses with high participation in Team Hays Scholarships
Joanne Klaerner – Executive Assistant to Superintendent and Board of Trustees, and Trustee Willie Tenorio, Jr. at Hays CISD Convocation 2019
Best Convocation Ever! Hays CISD – August 9, 2019
Hays CISD 2017 Year in Review
We accomplished a lot at Hays CISD in 2017. Let’s look at the year in review.
New Superintendent
We hired a new superintendent. Dr. Eric Wright starts on January 1, 2018. Dr. Wright started his career in 1989 as a teacher and coach and then became a superintendent in 2004. Most recently, he was the superintendent for Fredericksburg ISD. The School Board started the process in June and ended the search in December with Dr. Wright’s hiring.
50th Anniversary
May 6th was a huge day. We celebrated our 50th anniversary of the consolidation election that merged the Kyle, Buda, and Wimberly schools into the Hays Consolidated Independent School District. The new district had 1,157 students. Currently, we have almost 20,000 students. We celebrated with a parade and all 23 campuses had a float.
Bond Election
In addition, on May 6th, two bond measures totaling $250,000, the biggest in our history, passed with comfortable margins. The 2017 Hays CISD bond included funds to build high school #3, Elementary School #14 and a replacement campus for Buda Elementary. The bond also included roof replacements, heating ventilation and air condition replacements, career and technical education and library improvements and much more.
Rezoned Elementary Schools
New elementary school zones were created for our new elementary school #14. Several schools were impacted by the new school – Blanco Vista, Hemphill, Science Hall, Tobias,
Named Two Schools
We named our two newest schools. High School #3 will be known as William Moe and Gene Johnson High and is expected to open in August of 2019. Mr. Johnson was the founding superintendent of the district and Gene, his wife, made numerous contributions to the Hays CISD, including writing the book, A Tribute to Vision, Courage, and Trust: The Story of the Hays Consolidated Independent School District. In addition, our newest elementary school will be named Uhland Elementary. It will open in August of 2018.
AVID
The AVID Program, which stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination, made its debut at the beginning of the 2017-18 school year. AVID helps to close the achievement gap by preparing students for college readiness. Hays CISD made it clear that we are serious about reaching all students.
STEM Expansion
The Saturn V – STEM Program was expanded to the Lehman High School feeder pattern when the school board decided to add it to Kyle Elementary and Tobias Elementary. The STEM program is a heavily integrated project-based teaching approach with an emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering and math. It started at Carpenter Hill and Pfluger Elementary schools in 2010.
Post by Willie Tenorio, Jr. – Hays CISD Board of Trustees
So Where is the New Proposed High School Location?
So where is the new high school location? Since before Thanksgiving, there has been a lot of speculation about where it will be. Some persons have told me it is going East of the Highway. Others say it’s going North West. So where is it going?
The location of the proposed high school is still undetermined. At this time, a Site Selection Committee, appointed by the Hays CISD School Board, is reviewing four possible locations. At the end of their review process, the committee will recommend a location to the Board of Trustees.
The committee may pick any of the four locations. Or they could decide none of the locations are suitable, and request the Board obtain another site.
Now, I need your help. In fact the entire Hays CISD Board and the Site Selection Committee needs your input. Please help us determine where the school needs to go. Here is how you can help.
The selection committee has created draft selection criteria.
Tell us what you think! There are three ways you can provide input.
- Come to a public hearing. At the hearing, you can provide verbal or written comment to the committee.
Public Forum #1
Thursday, January 21, 2016, at 6:30 p.m.
Lehman High School Cafeteria
(Spanish Translation is available at this meeting)
Public Forum #2
Tuesday, February 2, 2016, at 6:30 p.m.
Performing Arts Center
- Provide input on our website. Click the link that says ‘HS#3 SiteChat’ and leave a comment.
3 Attend a school board meeting and sign up for public comment.
So what happens after the Site Selection Committee makes its recommendation to the Hays CISD School Board? The Board will decide to accept, amend or reject the recommendation. If the recommendation is approved, the Board will likely call a bond election in May 2017. The school could open as early as the 2019-2020 school year.
Thanks for reading my blog. I would really love your input!
Public Comment 101 – School Board Meetings
Did you ever say to yourself, I need to speak to the school board!
You can email the Hays CISD Board of Trustees, or speak to directly to a member, but sometimes you want to make sure they all hear it at once. In person.
You may want to voice your opinion about something you are not happy about. And you want it to stop.
Or you may be very happy with something and want to thank us and make sure it continues. We get some of those comments too.
You may want ensure the Board knows about something so you want to put it on our “radar”.
You may want to invite us to an event. We get invitations to school events, and booster club sponsored events. We love those.
In this blog post, I will explain what you need to know if you want to speak at a meeting.
You can choose to speak about an item on the agenda. But the topic doesn’t have to be on the agenda in order for you to bring it up.
You can speak at any meeting if “public forum” is on the agenda.
Hays CISD routinely adds “public forum” time to “agenda workshop” meetings and “ regular meetings”. A third type of meeting, special meetings or workshops, usually don’t have public comment time. Special meetings are usually work sessions for specific topics, such as budget workshops or training. Check the board meeting schedule online for the dates, and types of meetings.
To confirm public comment will be allowed at the board meeting, read the agenda online. Agendas for non-emergency meetings are posted at least 72 hours in advance.
Complete the “Request to Speak to Board of Trustees form”, a bright green sheet), when you arrive at the meeting. The green sheet will ask for your name, address, telephone number and email. Turn the form into the school administration members at the front of the room.
Most meetings begin at 5:30pm. However, the school board usually uses the first hour for closed session and reconvenes, at the discretion of the Board President, at 6:30pm. The public comment will occur early in the meeting. So most people who want to speak at a meeting usually get there between 5:30 pm-6:00 pm. However, the building is often open thirty minutes before the meeting starts.
Per Board policy, you will have five minutes to speak. Board policy allocates up to thirty minutes of time for public comment at each meeting. The Board, however, can choose to further limit the amount of time you have to speak. For example, the time per person could be cut to three minutes, if there is a large crowd, to allow everyone a chance to speak. The board can also decide to allow public comment to go beyond thirty minutes if they choose to do so. If the Board reduces individual comment limits, the Board President will notify everyone before the first speaker begins.
When public comment starts, the board president will read the following:
“PUBLIC FORUM It is the policy of the Board that, if members of the audience wish to address the Board, they must complete the Request to Speak to Board of Trustees form (green sheet) at the entrance prior to reconvening in open session. Commentaries and/or questions are limited to public forum section of the set (said) agenda as is provided in Board policy. Please be aware that the audio of Public Forum is recorded as part of the recording of the entire meeting and is published on the District’s website without alteration. A person who chooses to speak in Public Forum is consenting to the online publication of their comments.”
Everything you say is recorded and is part of the public record. The school records the audio of the entire meeting, including public comment, and places it on the the Hays CISD website. Sometimes reporters and members of the public will also record or video your comment also.
When public comment begins, the Board President will call speakers to the front of the room, in the order they turned in their request to speak. The Board President will introduce speakers, but it’s a good idea to restate your name at the beginning of your comment.
For example, “I am Jane Smith, a parent of a student at Buda Elementary, and I am here to discuss bus safety”. Or I am Joe Smith, a student at Chapa Middle School, and I am here to ask you to vote “no” on agenda item, J1, the school calendar.”
If you have handouts, this is a good time to give them out. You will need at least eight copies for the seven trustees and the superintendent. If you provided the handouts earlier when you turned in your green sheet, point out the title of your handout. Board members have lots of paper on their desk so it’s a good idea to place your name on the handout so the board members can clearly identify it’s from you or the organization your represent.
Board members will listen to you and take notes while you speak. Some of the Trustees take notes on their ipads or computers, so you may see them typing away. Afterwards, the Board President may ask the superintendent to address your concerns by calling or emailing you later.
The Board can’t ask questions, debate or discuss an item with you during the meeting.
However, if the item is on the agenda, the Board can discuss it among themselves when the agenda item is under consideration.
Since your public comment time is brief, it’s important to be clear on why you are there.
For example, a speaker might say
As a ________.
I want _____.
so that ____.
For example:
As a student, I urge the Board to vote no on agenda item J1, the school calendar, because the weather make-up day falls on Memorial Day and may keep us from honoring our heroes.
Or, as a long time attendee of football games, I have noticed the exit gates are not always open on time. We need to open them quickly to improve safety as we leave football games.
Or, as a parent of two elementary school students, I commend the school district for its after care program. Please make sure it continues in the future so other parents have an affordable option.
If the item is on an agenda, the Board can make a decision on the matter. The school calendar weather make-up days is definitely a Board decision. When to open the football exit gates is a school administrator decision, so the Board President would ask the Superintendent to address the issue.
See you at the next board meeting!
Willie Tenorio, Hays CISD Board of Trustees
Proposed Middle School #6 Location
Here’s the scoop on the $59.1 million bond election that passed in May of this year.
At the August 28th Board meeting, we will vote on the proposed Dacy Lane location, next to the food service/warehouse building. We had another location in the Sunfield development, but we were not able to come to an agreement with them.
In addition, the district has also achieved a cost savings with the bond package. Initial repayment of the bonds was estimated to cost $96,903,823, including principal and interest. However, we were able to sell the bonds with an actual total repayment cost of $89,243,027, – a savings of $7,660,796. Deputy Superintendent Carter Scherff said, ““By moving up the bond’s starting repayment date six months early to February 2015, we reduced interest costs by approximately $900,000. Better than anticipated market rates achieved the additional savings over the life of the bonds.”
The largest project in this bond series is the sixth middle school for Hays CISD. The bond will also allow for improved security at campuses, expanded wireless technology capacity, added Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, renovations of older facilities, and additional school buses.
The proposed tax rate to repay the bonds is expected to stay the same as projected in the bond proposition approved by voters, resulting in a total district tax rate in 2014-2015 for both debt payment and operations of $1.5377 per $100 of assessed property.
The Board of Trustees will vote on the 2014-2015 tax rate at its regular meeting on August 28th.
PTA meeting 4/11/2014
I recently answered questions at the Hemphill PTA meeting. The audience had a lot of questions about the operations and the direction of the district. I am always happy to participate in any meeting. Contact me and I will be there!
Answering questions at the Hemphill PTA meeting
School Board Candidate Forum
Proud to participate in the Hays Educator’s Association/Texas State Teachers Association School Board Candidate forum April 10, 2014. As a candidate for re-election as your District 2 Trustee, I had the opportunity to answer questions from the membership and the audience. In addition, the At-Large candidates also participated. The event took place at the City of Kyle Public Library.
Willie Tenorio at the Hays Educator’s Association/Texas State Teachers Association Candidate Forum
Questions from the audience
Audience at Candidate Forum
Chapa Middle School’s First Parent University
Enjoyed Chapa Middle School’s first ever Parent University tonight! Parents and students came to get informed about upcoming summer high school technology classes, athletics, student clubs, middle school life, and other opportunities. Thank you to the Chapa Staff and PTA for this wonderful event! And special thanks to the PTA for deciding we needed something like this. I appreciate the involvement and dedication of the PTA.
Hemphill Elementary Demonstrates Committment to be Bully Free
A bully free school ensures safety, and a secure place for learning. Hemphill Elementary School is a “No Place for Hate” campus in Hays CISD in Kyle, Texas. This “Bully Free” rap demonstrates our commitment to anti-bullying. Led by fifth grade teacher, Mr. “Vanilla” Price, our students reach out to one another to model respect, become friends, and show everyone that Hemphill Elementary is “Bully Free!”
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