Hallettsville ISD bond 2024

Early voting in the Hallettsville ISD bond election begins with district voters having to decide on three propositions that include district-wide safety and security, Junior High renovations and expansions and athletic facilities’ upgrades.

“It’s been 10 years since we had a bond passed in Hallettsville ISD,” superintendant Dr. Jo Ann Bludau said. “We’ve taken the time to carefully consider all options and identify the needs of the students we serve that this bond proposal helps address.”

The district is asking voters to consider a $39.37 million package in three propositions.

Prop A – District-wide Safety/Security ($1,800,000)

Safety and security was a top priority for the district and board when considering the 2024 bond proposal.

Hallettsville ISD continues its commitment to keep its students and staff in safe learning environments.

The Texas legislature provided schools with additional funding for safety and security that was earmarked for specific purposes and averages $10 per student and $15,000 per campus. The district’s safety and security needs have been calculated to be $190 per student.

Proposition A covers items not funded by the state including: For all campuses:

• Controlled access on interior doors.

• Security camera system upgrades.

• Vape and gunshot detectors.

• Emergency generators and backup batteries.

The last safety and security renovations in the district included installation of protective film on glass doors and windows in key locations and was designed to make forced entry more difficult and time consuming. The district also replaced the outdated door access control system on the main exterior doors, which allows quick access for emergency personnel.

Prop B – Junior High Renovations/Expansions ($9,325,000)

The Hallettsville Jr. High,originally Stevens-Mayo School, was built in 1957, over 67 years ago.

Currently there are 350 students and staff members who use the facilities on a daily basis.

Some of the original fixtures are still in use today and the campus is in need of more classrooms and other renovations.

Proposition B calls for:

• Seven additional classrooms, including a Science lab, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) lab and an Art room.

• Physical Education/Mini-gym expansion and renovations including new dressing rooms for Physical Education and athletics.

• Electrical and plumbing upgrades.

• HVAC upgrades.

Due to the lack of space, some science classes are held in classrooms that do not have accommodating labs.

The current STEAM lab is stored on a cart in the library and does not have a designated area for lab activities.

The proposition calls for expansion and renovations to the PE mini-gym as well as new dressing room for PE and athletics.

The PE gym is not climate controlled and does not have a weight room.

Currently, athletes are bussed to the high school for weight workouts and cuts into not only practice, but also instructional time.

Prop C – Athletic Facility Upgrades ($28,245,000)

Proposition C calls for a new gym and multipurpose facility and renovations to the baseball/softball complex.

The new gym/multipurpose facility would be constructed beside the Hallettsville Brahma Memorial Stadium and include:

• Boys’ and girls’ locker rooms.

• Weight room.

• Basketball court with retractable bleachers.

• Locker space and showers for girls and boys.

• Dressing areas for visiting teams.

• Dressing areas for referees and officials.

• Training room and medical equipment.

• Coaches offices.

Regarding the baseball/softball complex:

• Player and officials locker rooms.

• New concession stand and restrooms.

• Turf installation softball field and baseball outfield.

According to the video displayed on the school district’s website, Hallettsville High School athletics are at a competition disadvantage during volleyball season because of the lack of competition courts compared to nearby districts.

Regarding studies in the findings of District 25-AAA schools, Palacios has six gyms, while Columbus has five, Industrial and Yoakum four each and Edna, Tidehaven and Rice with three. Hallettsville has two.

In other proponents for building the new gym facility the current gym built 26 years ago and the old gym, built in 1950, was demolished a few years back, and left the high school with one gym on the campus. The other gym is located on the Junior High campus.

Currently, there is not enough locker space for girls and boys and the locker rooms do not have enough showers to meet the capacity of the girls and boys programs. There are three showers in both the girls and boys locker rooms.

Coaches offices are displaced in portable buildings across the parking lot of the high school gym, which leads to safety concerns.

The gym does not have dressing areas for visiting teams and currently a visiting boys team dresses in the girls locker room, while for girls games, the visiting girls team dresses in the boys locker room.

The athletic training room is small for accommodating treatment for athletes and often times the treatment takes place in the hallways of the gym.

Regarding Proposition C and the baseball/softball complex, the current locker rooms were re-purposed from the old football locker rooms and do not provide enough space for the current softball and baseball teams. There is also no dressing area for the umpires.

Due to natural grass fields requiring time, labor, chemicals and water each year, the proposition calls for an artificial turf to be placed on the softball field and the outfield of the baseball field. Installation of these fields will decrease maintenance time and cost as well as make the field more accessible even in inclement weather. The video reports that HISD uses approximately 3,739 gallons of water per year.

The bond would also fund construction of a new concession stand and restrooms, which would replace the current facility that was constructed 20-plus years ago.

Financial Impact:

The district is asking voters to consider a $39.37 million package in three propositions.

When voting on the propositions, voters will have the option to vote on each proposition separately.

If all three propositions pass, the Bond 2024 will increase the district taxes $10.75 per month on the average home in the Hallettsville ISD valued at $205,308.

If only Prop A passes, homeowners would see a four cent increase per month. If only Prop B passes, homeowners would see a $2.38. If only Prop C passes, homeowners would see a $7.88 increase per month.

Bludau said Texas school districts do not receive state funding for renovating or building new schools. She said instead districts must receive funds through school bond elections.

“Since 2019, state law requires all bond propositions for any school district to have the phrase ‘THIS IS A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE’ on all ballot language for bond propositions,” Bludau said. “Homeowners, age 65 and older who have filed and received the Over 65 exemption will not see an increase over their frozen dollar amount.”

Voting Location/Hours:

Early voting will begin Monday, April 22 and run through April 26 as well as Monday and Tuesday, April 29 and 30.

Voters can vote early from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Lavaca County Annex Building located at 412 N. Texana St. Election is Saturday, May 4 at the Annex Building with polls open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

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For more information concerning the bond consult the HISD website at hisdbrahmas.org.

You can also view a nine and a half minute video at www.hisdbrahmas. org/bond2024