The district welcomed more than 19,000 students for the first time in its 50­ year history in August. On the 10th day of school, the official student population was 19,125. That number is expected to continue to grow throughout the school year and is projected to reach 19,600 this academic calendar. The 2016­ – 2017 school year is also projected to be the last school year that Hays CISD will be below 20,000 students.

Several hundred parents participated in the district’s annual first day of school fun photo sharing campaign. Check out some of the faces of the district’s students in the photo albums section of the Hays CISD Facebook page.
 
 
Hays CISD Turns 50!

Written with excerpts and information from Betty Harrison

The 2016 – ­2017 school year is the 50th anniversary of the formation of the Hays Consolidated Independent School District. As early as the 1930s, discussions began regarding the need for rural Hays County schools to consolidate in order to operate more efficiently and to provide expanded opportunities for students, especially at the high school level. It wasn’t until 1967 that the idea became a reality with the merger of the Kyle, Buda, and Wimberley school districts. The election was held on May 6, 1967, and the proposal for consolidation passed overwhelmingly in all three districts.

On May 12, 1967, the Kyle school board opened their meeting as trustees of Kyle Independent School District and closed their meeting as the newly organized Board of Trustees of Hays Consolidated Independent School District. Watch for more tributes to the 50th anniversary throughout the year.
 
 
Architecture Firm Selected for High School #3

Following a design competition, the Board voted in August to name Stantec as the architect for the design and completion of the district’s third high school. The design competition required: submission of sample site plans? the firm’s agreement to accept the district’s payment schedule? and a tour of one high school facility designed by each firm.

In March, the Board approved the site selection committee’s recommendation for building high school #3 on land the district currently owns on RR 967 next to Carpenter Hill Elementary School. Voters must approve the construction of a third high school in a bond that will likely occur in May 2017. The Board is expected to empanel a district growth impact committee this fall to recommend a 2017 bond initiative.

Read more about the site selection process for high school #3.
 
 
Board Adopts 2016­ – 2017 Budget

The Board of Trustees adopted a general operating budget in August of $152,812,924 for the 2016-­2017 school year, which is about $11 million more than the previous school year and includes an additional campus ­ McCormick Middle School. The budget is based on a projected district enrollment of 19,552 students.

Key highlights of the 2016 – ­2017 budget include pay raises for teachers, nurses, librarians, and other district employees to remain competitive in Central Texas. The budget also includes expanded curriculum and instruction services? additional teachers and staff members for growth, new lunchroom monitor positions, and funding for a new district website to be launched in the near future.

The Board also adopted the 2016 – ­2017 with no increase from the previous year. The current Hays CISD tax rate is $1.04 per $100 of taxable value for the maintenance and operations portion of the rate and an interest and sinking (I&S) tax rate of $0.4977 per $100 of taxable value.

See the full budget presentation online.
 

The Superintendent’s Report

 
Beginning this school year, Superintendent Mike McKie (pictured at right) will present a superintendent’s report at each Board meeting. In August, he highlighted:

• The Hays CISD Finance Department’s receipt of a preliminary superior rating from the school Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST) FIRST ensures that Texas public schools are held accountable for the quality of their financial management “Superior” is the highest rating a district can receive and Hays has done so every year since the program’s first inception.

• The Hays CISD Office of School Leadership’s campus leadership legacy initiative Exceptional  Leaders  Influencing  Teacher  Excellence  (ELITE)  is a program that prepares educational leaders for the role of principal. Future Leaders Impacting Today’s Education (FLITE) prepares educational leaders for the role of assistant principal.

• The selection of Hays CISD to participate in the College Board Digital Assessment pilot program This means 75 seniors from each of the district’s high schools will take a new online SAT ­ Scholastic Aptitude Test. Because the district has been selected for this program, every senior in the district this year will be able to take the standard pencil and paper version of the SAT for free. Each senior will also be given access to the online Khan Academy to participate in an official preparation course to take the

Follow Superintendent McKie on Twitter.
 
 
Board and Superintendent to Set Goals

At a special meeting in August, the Board met with the superintendent and executive leadership in the district to review and set goals for the 2016­2017 school year. The final set of goals for the current school year will be on the Board’s September agenda for approval. The current goals, which will be updated and modified for the next year, are to: make student­centered decisions, recruit and retain a highly qualified and diverse staff, use data to improve learning and teaching, foster a culture of continuous improvement, and to improve collaboration between students, parents, staff, and the community.
 
 
New Principals Welcomed

The Board recognized five new principals to the district at the August business meeting. Chief Human Resources Officer Elaine Howard introduced the new campus leaders. They are (in order of the photograph): Sarah Hodges, Wallace Middle School? Denisha Jackson­Presley, Lehman High School? Debbie Brown, Carpenter Hill Elementary School?Kathy Noack, Pfluger Elementary School? and Sean Fox, Blanco Vista Elementary School. Superintendent Mike McKie is at far left and Howard is at far right.

This year’s new principal class included a mix of people who are both from Hays and recruited outside of the district, as well as principals who have experience in that role and people new to the position. Hays CISD considers principals as the academic leaders on their campuses. In addition, they must oversee all of the day­-to-­day operations at the campuses.
 
 
Board Salutes Rob White & Weather Guidance

The Board recognized Rob White (pictured with Superintendent Mike McKie and Trustee Willie Tenorio) from Weather Guidance at its business meeting in August. Trustee Willie Tenorio made the presentation on behalf of the Board. “I am happy to publicly thank Mr. White and Weather Guidance on behalf of our Board and the entire school district,” he said.

When severe weather threatens, it is very concerning for parents and staff members. Hays CISD enjoys access through Weather Guidance to fast and accurate weather information. The safety of the district’s more than 20­thousand students and employees depends upon making correct decisions regarding weather delays, cancellations, and emergency sheltering.

Weather Guidance is local and provides their expertise to Hays CISD for free.

Weather Guidance does not rely on computer derived weather forecasts. Instead, their highly trained staff combines years of experience as well as the latest meteorological technology to provide detailed, site specific and highly customized weather information, forecasts, and storm warnings for us. And, they are just a phone call away at any hour of the day or night. Hays CISD is tremendously grateful for Mr. White and his company.
 
 
Board Set to Engage Community in New Strategic Plan
 
At a workshop in August, the Board heard a presentation about the process to create a new Hays CISD strategic plan. The current 5­year strategic plan that was launched in 2011 expires this year. As part of the process, the district will host summits with the community and the Board will name a design committee. Look for more information in September about the summits if you wish to participate.
 
 
Con Mi Madre to Offer College & Career Readiness

The Board approved an agreement between Hays Consolidated ISD and Con Mi Madre to provide college and career readiness services within the district to a select group of mothers and daughters. The program will serve as a pilot in the district at Simon and McCormick middle schools. It will serve between 10 and 15 student and mother partners at each campus. The district cost is $15,000 for the first year. The Board directed the district administration to identify possible grant funding to continue the program past year one. Services provided by the program  include: tutoring, mentoring, mother/daughters meetings, recruiting, field trips, and a summer conference.

See the Con Mi Madre presentation online.
 
 
Freeport Exemption Being Considered

In August, the Board continued discussion and consideration regarding offering a freeport tax exemption. The Board heard a second presentation on the matter from the Greater San Marcos Partnership. The Board is expected to vote on elements of the tax exemption in the coming months.

View the freeport presentation online.
 
 
Additional Item Roundup

The Board approved a number of general purchased and renewed a number of standard agreements and contracts for the start of a new school year.

Student enrollment in Hays CISD at the time of publication is: 19,125 

Board Briefs is a publication of the Hays CISD Public Information Office: Tim Savoy, Public Information Officer? Angie Mendez, Director of Community Relations? Linda Rosebrock, Webmaster? Christina Courson, Communication Specialist (Customer Service)? Jim Cullen, District Photographer? Esther Leal, Admin. Assistant