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Debate over new Hays CISD high school location

Hays residents are preparing for an upcoming vote to decide the future of a third high school for Hays Consolidated Independent School District.

Hays residents are preparing for an upcoming vote to decide the future of a third high school for Hays Consolidated Independent School District.

The district is first voting on the location of the school before deciding whether or not the school will be built.

"I think it's important that all voices are heard for this issue because it's going to affect everyone in Buda," said Laura Mellett who lives in Buda and has two young children in the district.

Officials are between two options for a third high school, a northwest and northeast choice. The northwest choice is next Carpenter Hill Elementary School in Buda, and the northeast option along Turnersville Road- right outside the county limits.

Mellett says she has concerns for the Turnersville location.

"Just about who's going to be providing services to the site, and how much those service are going to cost. As a county taxpayer, I think people want to know that their money is being spent in Hays County," Mellett said.

Tami Schroeder, Hays CISD High School #3 site selection committe member, issued a statement about who would provide services to each school.

"Our children’s safety is of paramount concern so access to emergency services was added to the site selection criteria at the committee’s first meeting on November 19, 2015. At the time of establishing this criteria, the committee was unaware that one of the properties under consideration is located in Travis County. Upon learning that one of the sites being considered is in Travis County and the subsequent receipt of Buda Fire Chief Clay Huckaby’s comments, presented to the committee on February 9, 2016, this raised multi-jurisdictional questions involving fire, police, and EMS. This discovery led to additional questions to ensure our students’ safety regarding which county would respond and are those response times adequate with the consideration of our children’s well-being in case of an emergency. These questions still remain and are under close scrutiny by the committee as we determine whether the Northeast site in Travis County or the Northwest site in Hays County is in the best interest of our children. In emergency situations involving our children, I personally believe we should prepare for the “when” and not “if” something happens and that is a risk I am uncomfortable in taking with longer emergency personnel response times to a particular location. I look forward to receiving answers to these very important questions."

Since the northeast location is in Travis County, Austin-Travis EMS and Travis County Fire would respond to any emergency at the school.

"Unfortunately, the way the county line is right just north of Buda, the area is protected by Travis County ESD #11 and Austin-Travis County EMS," said Buda Fire/EMS chief Clay Huckaby.

Huckaby said it would take his unit 1:14 to respond to a potential emergency at the northwest location. He estimates it will take about 5:44 for Travis County firefighters to respond to the northeast location and 11 minutes 18 seconds for Austin/Travis County EMS crews to respond.

In a statement, district spokesman Tim Savoy said the committee is leaning towards the northeast location- but welcomes input.

"The Hays High School Site Selection Committee will host its third public forum Saturday, February 27, 2016, at 10:00 a.m. at Tom Green Elementary School Cafeteria. People who are interested in the process are also welcome to visit www.hayscisd.net/hs3 to learn about the work of the site selection committee and view the latest updates and information about the process.

Selection of a location for a third high school is a community decision. The district is pleased that citizens are voicing concerns and raising issues. This is the best time to provide input on the site selection. There are a number of factors the committee is considering including transportation infrastructure and access to emergency services.

The committee has narrowed the original four possible locations to two – a northeast and a northwest location. In order to provide full transparency, the committee has announced it is leaning toward recommending the northeast location, but is not ready to make a decision. The committee wants to continue vetting concerns and listening to addition input from the community. The process is still very fluid and could result in a decision either way.

The committee will make a recommendation to the Board of Trustees as early as March 2016. The Board could vote to approve a location at that time. Ultimately, the final decision whether or not to build a third high school rests with the community. The district anticipates the project to be part of a May 2017 bond election and believes the location of the high school is an important piece of information for voters to know when making a decision."

He stresses voters will make the decision on whether or not to build a high school, not the district.

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