By BILL PETERSON
Editor at Large

One doesn’t hear a lot of campaigning either way about the Hays CISD bond issue on the ballot for May 10.

The days of controversial school bond elections appear to have gone the way of attached tax increases. The present bond under consideration calls for $86.7 million with no increase in the tax rate.

Evidently, school officials are extremely confident the bond will pass. Monday night, the school board approved construction documents by SHW Group for the district’s fifth middle school, which will be located near Hemphill Elementary School. The school is included in the May 10 election.

By approving the documents now, the school district can start construction in June, a month after the bond election. Thus, the new middle school can open in 2009.

“Given the enrollment numbers at Wallace, Dahlstrom and Chapa Middle Schools, this is something we need to do,” Hays CISD Superintendent Kirk London said.

Meanwhile, enrollment in Hays CISD hovers around 13,000 students with school district Chief Financial Officer Carter Scherff reporting a figure of 12,980 as of Monday.

RELATED IN THE MERCURY:

• Rose to trustees: School finance is back in play | April 22, 2008
• Once more, crowding cramps Hays elementaries | August 29, 2008
• Hays CISD sets up middle school for economically disadvantaged | November 19, 2008
• Bilingual student surge forces more changes at Hays CISD | September 8, 2008
• Upgraded bond rating saves Hays CISD on debt | July 15, 2008