March 2017 Hays County Echo

HAYS COUNTY

ECHO MARCH 2017

Happy 50th Anniversary

HAYS CONSOLIDATED INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT

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HAYS COUNTY

ECHO is published monthly by Barton Publications, Inc 113 W. Center St., Kyle, TX Contents © March 2017.

Publisher Cyndy Slovak–Barton Editor Moses Leos III Graphics Director David White Graphic Designer Christine Thorpe Contributing Writers Moses Leos III Samantha Smith David White Contributing Photographers Moses Leos III Distribution David White Marketing Tracy Mack Jim Darby Pamela Patino For advertising information, please contact our sales department at 512–268–7862.

First Hays Faculty Staff • 1968-1969 Front row (l-r): Lis Davis, Billie Franke, Joann Abernathy, Doris Connally, Carol Gibson; second row (l-r): Joyce Smithey, Marilyn Green, Norma Brittain, Irene Crowell, Linda Schmeltekopf, Kathryn Jordan; third row (l-r): Edwin Abernathy, Gerald Adams, W.R. Mathias, Clarence DeBusk, Bob Childers, Principal Bob Shelton, and Bill Roundtree. Not pictured were: Jim Matlock, Tom Green and Elbert Steele.

In this issue...

Bringing the schools together .............................................................. 3-4

s y a H

Coach Bob Shelton: From the beginning............................................. 6-7

CISD

Produced in cooperation with the Hays School District

page 2 ◆ march | 2017

Hays CISD braces for future growth ....................................................... 8 Dedicated to teaching: Joyce Smithey serves for nearly 50 years ........ 10 What’s in a name? Namesakes of district campuses ....................12-16 Service Directory ..................................................................................... 18

Hays High Cheerleaders, 1969

Bringing the schools together Recollections from Red Simon – first Hays CISD school board president

by Moses Leos III

L

ongtime resident Delvin J. “Red” Simon remembers when the eight miles between what were the Buda and Kyle High campuses wasn’t nearly enough separation.

Sure, Buda and Kyle High students and supporters expressed pleasantries when they passed each other on the street back in the day. When it came time to face off on the football field or a smoke-filled gymnasium, however, all bets were off.

“Buda and Kyle, when they were playing ball, it was like a dog and cat fight,” said Simon, who began serving on the Kyle school board in 1955.

From the founding of both schools in the late 1800s to the early 1960s, the Buda and Kyle school districts, like many rivals, shared a healthy, but respectful, disdain for each other.

Coming together for anything, much less to combine a school district, wasn’t an option.

And then 1967 happened.

After a six-year crusade, the state’s education agency’s push to consolidate the Kyle and Buda school districts, which were struggling financially, hit a fever pitch. Consolidation of Kyle, Buda and Wimberley, which in 1966 began transferring students from San Marcos to Kyle, was an inevitable reality.

Through the course of many meetings, and eventually a referendum, residents agreed to create what is now Hays CISD. Fifty years, 23 campuses and just over 19,000 students later, the idea,

crafted by a brave group of individuals, continues to stand as a monument to the willingness of two communities to come together.

Crafting the district

Simon’s involvement with the old Kyle school board began in 1955 “or something like that.”

Many teachers in the district tried to talk him into becoming a part of it. Simon said he didn’t want to and didn’t feel like he had the time to participate.

“My wife, she said, ‘you’re going to take time,’” Simon said.

Simon was eventually appointed to the Kyle school board and served as president until the creation of Hays CISD. Simon never felt potential consolidation of the Buda and Kyle districts could take place, even as the state’s education agency pushed for it, until an ultimatum from the state got the gears in motion. Simon recalled the state essentially threatened to cut state funding if the districts didn’t band together.

But the fear of Kyle going to San Marcos and Buda to Austin was a prospect that didn’t sit well with educators.

“We decided we could do that,” Simon said.

The Kyle and Buda boards met and decided that consolidation was the only option.

Over the course of several months, a coalition of 21 school board members from Buda, Kyle and Wimberley met HAYS CONSOLIDATION, 4

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filling the positions that come with it, starting with the school board.

Because Kyle had the higher enrollment at the time, state law called for that district’s board to rule.

But in a 2006 account of the district’s origins, Moe and Gene Johnson recalled a “gentlemen’s agreement” that called for the resignation of four Kyle board members.

That allowed for two Buda and two Wimberley board members to join the school board. Johnson wrote that the step of “good faith” helped solidify consolidation.

Johnson, who passed away in 2014, was unanimously selected as the district’s first superintendent.

Joining him as school board members were Simon, Ted Lehman, Tim Harris, Lloyd Hennig, Raymond Czichos, Robert Schneider and Ralph Pfluger.

The board took on the task of filling teaching positions in the district. Simon said they “kind of picked” the teachers they wanted to keep.

“It went real smooth,” Simon said. “The teachers that had to go, they found a job somewhere else and we kept the ones we wanted.”

Building a high school became the next critical phase for board members. Everyone involved wanted the school to be as close to them as possible.

But Simon said he did his homework, and eventually stumbled upon friend Buster Haupt, who was a professor at Texas A&M. Haupt, as it just so happened, had 35 acres located along FM 2770 that he was selling for $500 per acre.

Before bringing it up to

Red Simon poses with photos of his late wife Louise and his family at his home in Kyle. (photo by David White)

HAYS CONSOLIDATION, from 3

and discussed how they were going to consolidate.

“We had a lot of meetings and burned a lot of midnight oil,” Simon said.

The proverbial elephant in the room, however, was convincing the public it was a good idea. Many were skeptical such a feat could be accomplished.

“We were mad at folks because they were for consolidation and my friends and I were saying, ‘I’d rather go to San Marcos than go to school with Buda,’” said Jane Kirkham, who in an interview with Simon reflected on her experience.

Over time, the mood

changed regarding consolidation. The overall consensus was to avoid splitting up the area.

On May 6, 1967, the district put the consolidation idea up for a vote.

It passed with flying colors in all three communities.

“We didn’t think Buda and Kyle people would ever vote to consolidate,” said Simon, who later added, “but we got it done and it could not have been any better.”

Putting the district in place

Of course, with a new school district comes the prospect of

the board, Simon talked with Haupt about the land. He went to the board with his assessment and said he felt the land would be “satisfactory.”

He then convinced the board to drive out to the property to view it. The board ultimately “made the decision right then and there.”

Paying $500 per acre in the late-1960s, however, featured blowback unlike any other.

Simon said many disapproved of the district purchasing the land, especially when Haupt was selling other parcels for $100 to $200 per acre.

“Some of the old-timers were saying, ‘what in the world are you doing giving $500 per acre?,’” Simon said. “This was a special need and place and we saw it.”

Yes, the public got after Simon and the board for the purchase “pretty bad.” Simon maintains the price is a “bargain today.”

The Hays CISD board paid $500,000 for the school, which was completed in 1968.

“I don’t think we could have found a better location,” Simon said.

One critical component was naming the new high school campus after Jack C. Hays, who

was a Texas Ranger. After taking it to the Buda and Kyle student body, the board settled on the Rebel mascot, as Hays was seen to have a rebellious attitude.

Fifty years later, Simon marvels at the rapid growth of the district.

Hays High’s first graduating class in 1971 had less than 200 students. In 2016, Hays CISD graduated over 1,100 seniors.

With time comes change. In 1986, Wimberley split off from Hays CISD to create its own new district.

The rapid growth led to the construction of multiple middle and elementary schools.

In 2004, Hays CISD opened Lehman High to accommodate the growth.

A third high school is now in the works.

But Simon, who served on the Hays CISD board until 1971, never imagined just how big the consolidated district could become.

“Never thought it would get this big and have 22 or 23 elementary and middle schools and two high schools, and talk about a third one,” Simon said.

“Everybody wants to move to Kyle and Buda. The school (district) brought a lot of people to start with.”

PrePlanning • aftercare Program • cremation • traditional ServiceS • new Building

Do you get it?

McCormick Middle School grand opening memorializes namesake.

– Page 3B

– Page 4A

Hays Free Press ©Barton Publications, Inc.

Vol. 120 • No. 21

Serving Buda, Kyle and Northeast Hays County, TX • 75¢

Tax cuts on the way for Kyle?

Storm water utility fee could cover employee costs

BY MOSES LEOS III

news@haysfreepress.com

Call 512-268-7862 or email paper@haysfreepress.com to start getting your paper today.

PHOTOS BY MOSES LEOS III

Give a bark for Buda’s new dog park!

A little wet weather didn’t stop Buda resident Julie Renfro and a furry four-legged friend from enjoying a tender moment atop a structure at Buda’s new dog park, which officially opened to the public on Saturday. See more photos on page 1C.

$237 million county bond up for vote in November

BY MOSES LEOS III

news@haysfreepress.com

Hays County voters will decide this November on whether they’ll support a bond initiative that, if approved, would improve the county public safety facilities, including the jail, along with area infrastructure.

During the course of a marathon 11-hour meeting, Hays County Commissioners Tuesday crafted a $237.8 million bond initiative, voting 5-0 to place on the November ballot.

Within Hays County’s bond package is $106.4 million that would go toward improving public

$106.4 million would go toward expansion of the Hays County Jail, along with a 911 communications facility.

any future growth (for the jail),” Ingalsbe said.

Pct. 4 Commissioner Ray Whisenant said the bond allows the county to provide a facility that is “safe for people operating it and are being detained by it.”

But commissioners spent hours whittling down their wish list for potential road improvement projects to be included in the bond.

The end result saw commissioners approve $131.4 million of their $326 million preliminary project list within the referendum. That includes an $11.8 million realignment of FM 150 West from Yarrington Road to Arroyo Ranch Road.

A one-penny property tax rate reduction could be on the horizon for Kyle residents as the city continues discussion on the proposed fiscal year 2017 budget.

The reduction could be one of several items the city plans to enact, which could include the creation of a storm water utility fee, within its estimated $79.2 million budget for the coming year.

Kyle Mayor Todd Webster said the onecent decrease was created after the city added its storm drainage and flood risk mitigation fee into the budget.

The fee, which is a $3 per month charge for residential and commercial properties, would generate

enough revenue so that the storm water utility could fund “a number of employees,” Webster said.

In turn, City Manager Scott Sellers moved several employees, who had been funded by general fund monies, to the storm water utility.

Webster said Sellers used the cost savings to cut the property tax rate by a penny.

Webster said the stormwater fee is needed, as it would go toward mitigating flood and drainage issues across the city.

But he added if council nixes the fee, the city’s property tax rate would remain at last year’s rate of .5848 per $100 valuation.

“If we don’t learn from last Halloween’s flood, shame on us,”

KYLE BUDGET, 6A

Buda looks at housing

BY SAMANTHA SMITH

news@haysfreepress.com

Buda is taking steps to potentially offer more options when it comes to housing as it rolled out its Housing Action Plan citizen survey on the city’s website earlier this month.

Buda Planning Director Chance Sparks said the catalyst for the council’s approval of a Housing Action Plan came after the city received some low income housing tax credits (LIHTC) for projects that never were able to get off the ground.

“The uncompleted projects prompted the conversation for the Housing Action Plan, so we (Buda) could determine if we were getting what we wanted with the types of housing being built,” Sparks said.

Buda’s survey consists of 23 questions ranging from asking residents’ age, where they currently live in Buda, how much they earn, how much they currently pay in mortgage or rent payments and what they want to see in Buda as far as housing options go.

According to Sparks, the rapid growth in the area caused the need for the citizen survey to determine what the residents of Buda want to see in their community.

He said the survey would

“We want to make it possible for a person who wants to live in Buda their whole life to be able to afford it, no matter what their income level.”

What Kyle is proposing in Fiscal Year 2017 budget Proposed property tax rate for 2017 Maintence and operations (M&O) Interest and Sinking (I&S)

Current property tax rate for 2016 Maintenace and Operations (M&O) Interest and Sinking

$.5748 per $100 valuation

$.2206 $.3542

$.5848

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$.2306 $.3542

More numbers: • $79.5 million – Kyle’s proposed budget for 2016 • 80.5 million – Kyle’s adopted budget in 2015 • $2.13 billion – 2016 certifi ed estimated valuation (subject to change) • $1.98 billion – 2015 certifi ed assessed valuation • 12% – sales tax revenue increase assumed in FY 2017 based on current collections • 18.9% – sales tax revenue increase assumed in FY 2016 • $7.39 million – projected sales tax revenue for FY 2017 • $37 million – proposed budget for proposed FY 2017 Capital Improvements Program

Kyle Budget: Will tax rate go down?

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we at some point have to say these are things that are needed to make this jail work,” Hays County Pct. 1 Commissioner Debbie Ingalsbe said. She added the county’s decision to go forward with Option B for the bond allows for future expansion and avoids the issue of the jail being full on day one.

“It would be irresponsible for us to consider a bond that doesn’t address

COMING UP Back 2 School Bash

On Aug. 19, the city of Kyle will host a viewing of Pixar’s Inside Out at Lake Kyle. Movies begin after sunset.

Bring your lawn chairs, blankets and snacks for a fun, familyfriendly evening.

Join Kyle ER this Saturday from 5-8 p.m. for the Back 2 School Bash benefiting Hope & Love 4 Kids at Kyle ER. Enjoy a day filled with bounce houses, food, games, door prizes and more. Bring school supplies and help make sure every student in Hays CISD starts the school year off right.

The event is free to the public.

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Texas Pie wins Quest for Texas Best.

– Page 1D

INDEX

Movie at Lake Kyle: Inside Out

Kyle Honeybee Festival This Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sustainacycle at 409 W. Center Stree will host this free event celebrating honeybees. Enjoy a day of live demonstrations, talks on urban beekeeping, honey tasting, refreshments and more.

News …………… 1-6A Opinions …………… 3A Sports …………… 1-2B Education ……… 3-4B Community …… 1-6C

Best Bets ………… 4C Business ………… 1D Service Directory..... 2-3D Classifieds ………… ...2D Public Notices ………2D

–Chance Sparks, Buda Planning Director

act as a guidebook for developers and affordable housing projects to refer to when deciding what housing structures to erect in Buda.

“Part of the idea of this plan is that when we get approached by these types of projects, we actually have something that we can point them towards,” Sparks said.

The Housing Action Plan came with the stipulation of having a citizen advisory committee, that would assess the housing needs of current and future Buda residents from all sides of the market, including young adults, retirees,

©Barton

Hays Free Vol. 120

• No.

HOUSING OPTIONS, 4A

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on the Tax cutsKyle? for fee could way water utility

costs Storm that employee revenue soutility cover enough water storm

the fund “a number LEOS III Webster could

BY MOSES of employees,” said.

City Managmoved In turn, property who Sellers er Scott employees,by A one-penny could reduction for several funded to tax ratethe horizonthe city had beenfund monies, as be on on general water utility.

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news@haysfreepress.com

for Buda’s

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possible rail line investigating TxDOT high-speed High-speed rail option new rail option high-speed cross-state completely for The true

BY SAMANTHA

SMITH

news@haysfreepress.com

BY SAMANTHA

COMING at Movie Lake Kyle: Out of Inside

city 19, the On Aug. host a viewing Kyle will Inside Out of Pixar’sKyle. Movies at Lakeafter sunset. chairs, begin your lawn Bring and snacks blankets familyfor a fun,evening. friendly

UP

SMITH

news@haysfreepress.com

citizen If the for TxDOT’s feedback study is feasibilitythe propositiverail line could posed different one have three

require would to be constructed only that rail lines train cars

each Area segments,a different Capital high-speed Planning adopting As the segments rail option.

Metropolitan (CAMPO) travel at speeds from 165 to tracks, The threea northern the Lone of Organization rail existing earlier to oust consist from Okla220 mph. and use high-speed voted Programconcept Dallas/ segment City to central the or a true Star Rail met in a homa to rail TxDOT give line option. this month,a high-speed Fort Worth, from DFWthe Texas article, Aug. 10 to of a conto The different and of creating rail in segment consist would Austin a chance station study San Antonio, section options rail that passenger to left the the public tracks; the initial rail line southernmost ventional Antonio hasn’t at existing review proposed from San to a report utilize would travelmiles just yet. approxiTexas. of the south According trains of 70 to 90 the Texas that measures 850 miles. of Transspeeds A secondary

by KXAN, to TxDOT, mately per hour. a Department (TxDOT) According study RAIL, 4A released develportation the feasibility on HIGH-SPEED feasibility Rail Division that could on the concentrated rail line a rail study and oping Amtrak-style of a high-speed Oklahoma be either between to the Texas.

According

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PHOTOS

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BUDA BUSINESS SHOWCASE Saturday, 8am-4pm, at Cabela’s or email paper@haysfreepress.com

who steps is taking person live offer more Buda to it comes to potentially wants their when rolled as it options Action in Buda to to housing on Housing life survey out its earlier whole to Plan citizen website the city’s Dibe able no this month.

Planning it, Sparks Buda afford Chance for rector catalyst what approval said the matter the council’s Action city their income of a Housing after the inPlan camesome low credtax level.” received housing projects for Sparks, come to Director –Chance its (LIHTC)were able Planning Buda that never the ground. get off uncompleted the the survey “The prompted He said a guidefor the so nity. act as projects would developers Plan, for conversation housing Action deterbook to when Housing could and affordable getting to refer we (Buda) projects what housing if we were with in mine bedeciding to erect we wanted what of housing said. structures of the types Sparks Buda. of the idea ing built,”survey consists “Part is that when ranging by Buda’s this plan approached residents’ of 23 questions we gettypes of projects, askingthey curfrom how have somethese Buda, age, where can point live in we actually how that we rently they earn, thing towards,” Sparks much they currentlyrent them or much mortgage said. Housing Action pay in and what The with the a in payments to see Plan came of having as housing comthey want stipulation as far asadvisory Buda go. citizen that wouldneeds to Sparks, options mittee, housing in the According growthneed sess the and future the the rapid of current 4A survey area caused OPTIONS, citizen what the for the HOUSING want to determine of Buda commuresidents in their to see

Kyle Honeybee Festival from Saturday

Back 2 School Bash this Kyle ER

Join 2 School Saturday from 5-8 p.m.

Back for the at Kyle Bash benefiting Hope 4 Kids & Love houses, ER. Enjoy a day filled prizes with bounce door games, school food, Bring make and more.and help in supplies studentthe sure every starts CISD Hays year off right.the to school is free The event public.

This to 4 p.m., at 9 a.m.

Sustainacycle Center 409 W.will host Stree event this free celebrating Enjoy honeybees. of live a day demonstrations, urban talks on beekeeping, tasting,and honey refreshments more.

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comment due to the city’s meet and confer agreement with the police department.

While Kyle isn’t proposing a water or wastewater increase in the FY 17 budget, Webster discussed the possibility of increasing water rates to accommodate future infrastructure from the Hays Caldwell Public Utility Agency.

Kyle would have to pay a $55 million share in debt in the future to pay for the HCPUA’s 45-mile pipeline project. Webster estimated a $21- to $25-increase in water rates for Kyle citizens, with the city potentially beginning to contemplate a rate structure in the future.

Webster said no decision has been made on the possibility of increasing water rates and he wanted it to be an “active discussion.”

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safety facilities. The cost would go toward a colocated facility that would house a $62.4 million expansion of the Hays County Jail, along with $44.4 million for a 911 communications facility.

Brenda Jenkins, a represenative with ECM, said colocating the two facilities allowed for a more cost effective design.

“Even though we really would have liked to have seen the number lower…

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sue general obligation or certificate of obligation bonds to cover the cost.

“We’re taking all of these additional capacity issues and getting money up front and having to piecemeal this house-byhouse,” Webster said.

Kyle’s budget also calls for a $4 million reduction in the city’s debt. Refinancing previous bonds, along with not adding any new obligations led to the reduction, Webster said.

One additional component that could be added to Kyle’s budget could be a possible pay increase for Kyle Police officers, which was requested in a letter to council by the Kyle Police Employee’s Assocation (KPEA) in order to maintain parity with other jurisdictions, Webster said.

Webster was unable to provide an in-depth

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Kyle is also planning to schedule out payments of the proposed expansion of its wastewater treatment plant, which is projected to cost $17 million.

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Webster said. “It’s the right thing to do from a policy standpoint.”

Roughly $37 million would go toward the city’s Capital Improvement Projects this fiscal year.

Included in that cost are the final four of Kyle’s 2013 Road Bond projects, along with over $10 million in wastewater line improvements across the city.

Kyle is also planning to schedule out payments of the proposed expansion of its wastewater treatment plant, which is projected to cost $17 million.

Webster believes the city’s new development would bring in enough revenue this fiscal year to cover the expansion, which would see the plant increase capacity from 3 to 4.5 million gallons per day.

The city is anticipating $8 million from five new developments, including the Anthem Development near Mountain City, the Crosswinds Municipal Utility District, and a proposed Walton Development.

Webster said the city’s goal is to “get things paid for with private sector dollars” without the need to borrow.

Should an agreement not be finalized with all parties, Webster said the city may be forced to is-

On Saturday August 20, 2016, local Buda businesses will be showcasing their products and services at Cabela’s. This business showcase is open to the public and free of charge, door prizes and giveaways hourly. Come on out and support your Buda Area Chamber of Commerce and local businesses.

INDEX

NEW SCHOOL

ESD9?

Hays County residents to vote on catch-all Emergency Service District.

HaysFreePress.com

Hays Free Press • August 17, 2016

Page 6A

AUGUST 17, 2016

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One critical component was naming the new high school campus after Jack C. Hays, who was a Texas Ranger. After taking it to the Buda and Kyle student body, the board settled on the Rebel mascot, as Hays was seen to have a rebellious attitude.

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Feeding Rebels for almost 50 years Some of the Hays school district’s first cooks included (l-r) Helen Alcala, founder and namesake of Helen’s Casa Alde, Thelma Chambers and Myrtle Odell. (photo from the Rebel yearbook, 1968)

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Coach Bob Shelton: From the beginning

BY MOSES LEOS III

B

efore having a stadium named after him and earning a spot in the Texas High School Football Coaches Hall of Honor, Bob Shelton was front and center to the old BudaKyle rivalry.

Shelton, who for four years was the Buda Bulldogs head football coach, said Kyle was the basketball power, while Buda was a football town.

And while there was much “consternation” by adults when the towns sought to consolidate, Shelton remembers how quickly the students banded together.

Shelton said he was given the choice of working as a basketball coach or the football coach and athletic director after consolidation occurred.

“Football was my first love as a coach anyway, but I played basketball a lot, and felt like I could do a good job in either area,” Shelton said.

Once at the helm, Shelton began to set his coaching staff, which consisted of four coaches from Buda and Kyle.

Sports that were offered were football, boys basketball and volleyball.

Shelton said he went to the school board to institute girls basketball.

“Girls basketball pretty soon was our main girls program,” he said.

With the consolidation came a change in opponents as well.

Prior to consolidation, both Kyle and Buda played in the University Interscholastic League’s Class B classification.

After 1968, the Hays school, later named Hays High, played at the 2A level. Opponents included Randolph and San Antonio Cole.

But Shelton said the teams approached the classification with the “attitude that we were going to do well.”

The big problem, however, was getting enough players to participate.

page 6 ◆ march | 2017

The big problem, however, was getting enough players to participate. Shelton said only 28 students were on the football team the first year after consolidation.

Above, Bob Shelton poses for a photo after being selected as coach of the year

by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine in 2010. (photo

by Mary Stone) Left, Bob Shelton, coaches his Rebels on the sidelines in 1969. (photo from The Rebel yearbook, 1969)

Take a moment for yourself and

Read

*No wi-fi required

A reminder from the

(photo from The Rebel yearbook, 1969)

Shelton said only 28 students were on the football team the first year after consolidation.

Location was also a problem, as the sports programs split playing fields and courts at both schools before Hays High, and a subsequent football field, was built in 1969.

“We tried to play a junior varsity schedule and varsity schedule with 28 kids. That was hard to do,” Shelton said.

A constant was the students’ willingness to get along, even as many of their parents were frustrated at consolidation. Shelton said he

remembers “good things” about the first football practice, which featured senior players from Buda and a handful of juniors from Kyle.

Hays went 4-5-1 that first year and played Randolph for the district title.

It wasn’t until the UIL playoff system expanded in 1982 when Rebel football first made the playoffs.

“We had a lot of kids and a lot of good people. Consolidation is not going to be successful unless you have a lot of good people,” Shelton said. “We were fortunate and we had a lot of good people in the community.”

Hays Free Press Hays County’s source for local news since 1903

Call (512) 268-7862 or email paper@haysfreepress.com to start receiving your local newspaper every week.

Subscriptions start at only $32.

www.HaysFreePress.com page 7

Hays CISD braces for future growth

BY SAMANTHA SMITH

F

ifty years ago, the newly formed Hays Consolidated Independent School district, which at the time featured the combined cities of Wimberley, Kyle and Buda, had 1,100 students.

Fast forward half a century and the number has grown exponentially.

With a population of 19,260 students, Tim Savoy, Hays CISD public information officer, believes the future for the district is bright, even as population figures continues to expand.

“In 50 years, we project to have 41,700 students at Hays CISD,” Savoy said.

Savoy said more campuses will have to be built to accommodate for the influx of growth in the future.

He projects an additional 22 to 25 campuses to be added to Hays CISD in the next 50 years. However, he didn’t rule out distance learning students attending virtual Hays CISD classes.

“If traditional education continues

with technology there are a lot more opportunities for classes to meet virtually,” Savoy said.

He added that a May 2017 bond initiative, which will be on the ballot as two propositions, could help to “set the stage for the next 50 years” in terms of progression, if approved by voters.

Savoy said that school buildings and practices today were instituted during the industrial revolution and modeled after factories and factory workers.

“Classrooms have desks in neat rows like the lines of assembly line workers, schools use bells to signal when classes are over, like a bell for a factory worker signals breaks, and we move students up in levels in batches like factory workers instead of testing the individual potential of each child,” Savoy said.

Savoy said current Superintendent Michael McKie brought his vision of a school system that “takes the current structure of school and makes it work for the information age.”

“We don’t have as many limitations as we did 50 years ago,” Savoy said,

“Teachers used to give the information to the students, but with the internet the students don’t need teachers to give them information, but teach them how to use and navigate it,” Savoy said.

Savoy described the future of Hays CISD to include more Career and Technology Education (CTE) courses, which help students prepare for a career by learning a skill or trade, as well as redefining the traditional school day.

“There will be more ways for students to learn,” Savoy said, “School will no longer be an 8 (a.m.) to 4 (p.m.) thing, it will be a 24-hour experience in learning.”

According to Savoy, technology has torn down barriers to education, and with the help of McKie and the district, its students will thrive in the information age.

“We (Hays CISD) have to help the students of the future navigate and use the information already available to them in order for them to solve problems and create new things,” Savoy said.

“We don’t have as many limitations as we did 50 years ago ... Teachers used to give the information to the students, but with the internet the students don’t need teachers to give them information, but teach them how to use and navigate it.”

–Tim Savoy, Hays CISD public information officer

WHAT’S GOING ON IN YOUR COMMUNITY? Bond Election Updates | City Council Shenanigans | Rebel and Lobo Sports | Local Community Events | New Business Developments

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Hays Free Press.

Call (512) 268-7862 or email paper@haysfreepress.com to start receiving your local news every week.

Subscriptions start at only $32. www.HaysFreePress.com

page 8 ◆ march | 2017

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page 9

Dedicated to teaching...

Hays educator has been with school district since the beginning

by David White

W

hen long-time Hays teacher Joyce Smithey grew up in Halletsville she wanted to be a nurse. She went to Victoria Junior College, before studying at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. After a year there, she decided nursing wasn’t what she wanted to do, so she switched her degree to Biology and finished her teacher certification at then Southwest Texas State College with a minor in Chemistry.

“I’ve had no regrets ever since,” Smithey said.

In 1967, when Smithey came to the Hays School District, the Buda and Kyle campuses were still separate.

She taught Science and Chemistry to students at the Buda campus which consisted of 7th through 12th graders. “I was THE science teacher back then,” she added.

In 1968, the two school bodies consolidated at the Kyle campus, which is now Kyle Elementary. It wasn’t until 1969 that the entire student body moved to the location where Hays High School is now and had about 150 to 200 students, according to Smithey’s recollection.

But today’s campus is much different than the campus built in the late 1960s.

“There is nothing here from the original campus, basically, besides that gym right there,” she said.

When asked what the biggest changes were in her fifty years of teaching, Smithey talked about the changing technology. “It (technology) has already passed me up,” she says. “Kids were raised with that stuff

page 10 u march | 2017

while us oldies, we never had it, so whatever we learned technology-wise, we learned ourselves.”

Smithey says she doesn’t even have a computer at home, and doesn’t feel the need since there are plenty at school. “It’s a waste of time. I have a lot of yard work,” she added. And she still has a flip phone as opposed to a smart phone. “To tell you the truth, I hate cell phones. They are a hinderance,” Smithey said.

“Whoever opened the door and made it okay to use cell phones… well, they are not being used for what they were intended for.”

Another trend Smithey noted over the years is the return to vocational education. “Back in the day, we had homemaking, ranching and what have you.

Now take a look at the CATE (Career and Technology Education) Building over there.” Smithey boasted about the district’s lengthy vocational programs from everything to cosmetology, to medical, to the culinary arts. “We have students ready to step into a vocation.” She says “the school district is responding to what’s needed out there in society.”

Smithey had a lot of students who have gone on to be doctors, nurses and attorneys and such.

“And of course, back then they thought I was the hardest teacher there was in the science department, especially when I taught anatomy and physiology. I made them take a lot of notes.

And you’d be surprised at how many of them come back and say, ‘man, I’m glad you made me take all those notes…

We’ve had a good crop of kids come through here.”

Above, is Joyce Smithey during her early years of teaching in the Hays School district.(photo from The Rebel yearbook, 1973).

Right, nearly 50 years later, Smithey poses with some equipment in the Joyce Smithey Science Annex that was dedicated to her in 1995 for her near 30 years of service to the school back then. (photo

by David White)

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What’s in a name?

Buda Elementary

Blanco Vista Elementary Blanco Vista, which opened in 2008, is named for its location in relationship to the Blanco River which is almost in view from the campus.

The first building on the site where Buda Elementary now stands, was built in 1885.

In 1908, a larger school was needed, so the building was sold and moved across the railroad tracks. A new two-story building was built on the site, with the first graduating class of six students receiving their diploma in 1910.

In the early 1900s, ladies of the community picked cotton to buy the land at the bottom of the hill for a football field. This field, known as Trimble Field, served as Buda’s football field until the schools consolidated. The lower campus was built in 1981. In January of 1928, the Buda High School building burned. A new school was built on the site, preserving the arch and the inside walls of the old school.

In 1967, Kyle, Buda, and Wimberley consolidated their schools with one high school, and Buda High School became Buda Elementary.

Camino Real Elementary Camino Real, which opened in 2008 also, is named after the Camino Real which lies roughly on the path of the “King’s Highway.”

page 12 u march | 2017

Carpenter Hill Elementary

Hemphill Elementary

Among the earliest settlers in the areas west of today’s Buda was W.H.H. Carpenter, who in 1855 bought the properCyrus Milton Carpenter and ty that, Charlotte Agitha Carpenter because of the family’s occupation on the high ground, came to be known as Carpenter Hill. Indians still roamed the area when the Carpenters settled just a few stones’ throws from where the current school is. Carpenter had taught earlier in his life and neighboring settlers briefly employed him at what was known as the Belleville School one mile north of Buda. Most prominent among the second generation of the family there was W.H.H. Carpenter’s son, Cyrus Milton Carpenter. Twenty years of age as the Civil War broke out, he was among the many Hays County boys who volunteered for the Confederacy. He was turned down for service due to a medical condition.

Elm Grove Elementary Elm Grove was established in 1876 as the first statesupported public school in the area.

It was the largest school in the county at the time with 63 pupils.

Fuentes Elementary Fuentes Elementary is named after the late Susie Fuentes, who worked at Kyle Elementary for 27 years and was an active member of the community. She also worked at Marbridge Ranch, a private home for mentally challenged adults, for 16 years.

The community of Hemphill, seven miles northeast of San Marcos was established about 1900 and named for its location on the William Hemphill land patent. The Hemphill school was consolidated with that of Kyle in 1945. The community no longer exists.

Tobias Elementary Rosalio Tobias, namesake of Tobias Elementary, was an advocate for education and the community for more than twenty years. Tobias served in the U.S. Army and graduated from Southwest Texas State University in 1973. In 1983, he became the first elected Latino school board member on the Hays Consolidated ISD school board, served as school board president from 1988-1993 and opened the Rosalio Tobias Learning Resource Center at Kyle Elementary School in 1997. Tobias was awarded the Texas Association for Bilingual Education’s Honoree Award for Community Advocacy in 2000 and presented the Texas State Board of Education “Hero for Children Award” in 2001.

Kyle High School in the mid 1940s

Kyle Elementary Kyle Elementary campus is located on two city blocks just north of Center Street in downtown Kyle, Texas, and consists of an eclectic mix of buildings. The “Main Building” which houses the administrative offices, nurse’s clinic, and several classrooms was once Kyle High School before Kyle, Buda, and Wimberley consolidated to create Hays Consolidated Independent School District.

Negley Elementary Laura Burleson Negley was the great-granddaughter of Edward Burleson and Lucy Kyle Burleson (sister of town-founder Fergus Kyle).

Her father, Albert Sydney Burleson, was an eight-term member of the U.S. House of Representatives and Postmaster General in President Woodrow Wilson’s Cabinet. Laura and her husband maintained a home on Mountain City Ranch, the area now known as Plum Creek, and they and their son William have contributed to the community throughout the years. In 1928, at the age of 38, Laura became the first woman from Bexar County elected to the Texas Legislature, one of only a handful of women statewide to serve in the Legislature at that time. Following her term in the Legislature, Laura and her sisters endowed a professorship at the University of Texas Law School and scholarships at Phillips Exeter Academy to honor her two lost sons.

Pfluger Elementary In 1967, Ralph Pfluger was tabbed to become one of the founding members of the new Hays Consolidated Independent School District after serving on the board of trustees of the Buda School district. He was elected school board president after Red Simon and served in that capacity until 1974, then was re-elected in 2004 and served until 2010. However, his service doesn’t end with the school board. An advocate of the 40 Developmental Assets, Pfluger also mentored at-risk students at Tom Green Elementary School.

Science Hall in 1907

Science Hall Elementary Established in 1876 with 30 pupils near the site of this new school, Science Hall’s teachers were Mrs. Willie A. Andrews and Prof. Pyle. Mrs. Andrews later established a private boarding school for girls at her home, naming it Science Hall Home Institute. She operated this school for several years for girls all over Texas. Science Hall is the name of a community that existed on the east side of what is now IH35 from the late 19th century until the 1920s. During the prosperous days, the community had a cotton gin, a general store, a blacksmith shop, churches, and a school. The school there was founded by Mrs. Willie Andrews, who also served as one of the first teachers. The school district was dissolved in 1926 and the territory divided between Kyle and Buda.

Tom Green Elementary Buda-ite Tom Green ran a cafe with his wife Margaret in downtown Buda and taught agriculture at Buda High and Hays High. Green also taught veterans classes in an old milk station after World War II. The Greens, a family of educators, donated the land that had been Green’s boyhood home for the new school in 1985.

page 13

Simon Middle School

Dahlstrom Middle School Barton Middle School R.C. “Bob" Barton Sr. was a teacher, superintendent, and sometimes janitor, football coach and volunteer bus driver in lean times. He had served in the United States Cavalry and worked as a cowboy, but he also held a masters in economics from the University of Texas and did post-graduate work at Columbia University. He served as a principal in the Kyle school district, and on the Buda school board. He maintained a love of ranching, operating the Coyote Ranch near where Oak Forrest subdivision is today. His son, Bob Barton, Jr., bought the Kyle News while in college on the GI Bill, the newspaper that evolved into what is today the Hays Free Press. A childhood friend and early partner in the paper was William “Mo” Johnson, who later became the Hays school district’s first superintendent.

Dahlstrom Middle School is named for Eric and Dodie Dahlstrom, who moved to the family property off FM 1626 in 1933 with their two children, Jack and Betty. Eric raised livestock for a living and also did some farming. He was a trustee of the Elm Grove School for a number of years before Elm Grove consolidated with Buda. He was then a trustee and school board member of the Buda School for many years after the annexation of Elm Grove. The Dahlstrom family joined the Buda Methodist Church in 1941. Eric Dahlstrom was a steward at the Buda church for many years.The family ranch now lies in a nature conservatorship, for the preservation of nature and water quality in the region. Members of the Dahlstrom family still live on the family ranch.

Simon Middle School, which opened in 2009, is named for Delvin John “Red” Simon, a 12-year board member of the Kyle Independent School district, which later merged with the Buda and Wimberley school districts to form Hays CISD in 1967. Simon was appointed to fill a Kyle ISD board vacancy in 1955 and then served as the first Hays CISD board president. By state law, the board of the largest school district in the consolidation became the school board for the new consolidated district. However, at the historic first Hays school board meeting, four Kyle trustees resigned, so they could be replaced by two trustees each from Buda and Wimberley. Then, Simon was unanimously elected to lead the new district’s board.

He served as the Hays CISD board president until 1972, when he chose not to run for re-election. Simon also opened Red Simon Ford in 1963 and spent 63 years in the local car business before selling his San Marcos dealership to Chris Griffith.

Wallace Middle

Armando Chapa Middle School During the 30 years Armando Chapa worked for Hays CISD, he served as principal of Hays Middle School and Kyle Middle School, and Barton Junior High/ Middle School, and as a counselor at Barton for 11 years.

page 14 u march | 2017

McCormick Middle School Dr. T.C. McCormick Jr., a long-time Buda resident, has served as the mayor of Buda and as a Trustee on the School Board. Dr. McCormick brought more than 2,000 babies into the world. He has served on numerous boards and committees to enhance the educational process between parents and educators. He was instrumental in the integration of schools in Hays and Austin school districts.

In 1999, Hays CISD converted Kyle Intermediate School into Laura Belle Wallace Middle School. Wallace began her teaching career in San Marcos in 1903 and worked for the former Kyle Independent School District for over 26 years. Overall, she spent over a halfcentury educating the youth of central Texas until her death in 1983 at the age of 99. Wallace is said to have attended nearly all sporting events, and spent several years coaching girls' baseball.

Wallace also served the Kyle community by serving as Treasurer of the Kyle Methodist church for 45 years and as the manager of the Kyle Cemetery for over 50 years. Hays County named Wallace Outstanding Citizen of the Year in 1972 for her public works and community involvement.

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Hays High School John Coffee (Jack) Hays, Texas Ranger and Mexican War officer, is not only the namesake of Hays High School and Hays CISD, but also Hays County itself. As an officer, Hays' rangers earned a reputation for individuality and a noticeable lack of military discipline. Hays and his Rangers were involved in important actions at Plum Creek, Salado, Enchanted Rock, and the “Woll Invasion” of 1842, among others.

He was among the first to use the 1844 Navy Colt Paterson five-shot revolver, making suggestions for improvements to it that led to the Colt revolver becoming one of the guns that helped win the West. After the Mexican War, Hays pioneered trails around the Southwest, including California and Texas, and received an appointment from the federal government as Indian agent for the Gila River country. In addition, he was elected sheriff of San Francisco County in 1850, appointed United States surveyor general for California in 1853, became one of the founders of the city of Oakland, and ran successful enterprises in real estate and ranching. Senator Edward Burleson introduced legislation that on March 1, 1848, created the county named in Hays’ honor from part of Travis County.

Lehman High School Lehman High School opened its doors in August 2004 and was named after the family of Ted Lehman, Hays CISD School Board President from 19671979, who donated the parcel of land where the school is located. Ted Lehman dedicated his life to education and farming.

He worked on three area school boards within Hays County, was part of his rich farmland that is now the site of Lehman High School.

Live Oak Academy High In 1855, the community built its first school, Live Oak Academy, with a professor Gibson as the first teacher, followed by John Edgar. The satellite communities of Elm Grove and Science Hall, near the sites of the recently constructed schools by the same names, also had schools and small commercial centers.

SCIENCE

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EDUCATION

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RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Drought stage declarations, well construction standards, permitting, long-term groundwater resource planning

Groundwater is a shared resource.

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Learn more: www.bseacd.org page 16 u march | 2017

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AUTOMOTIVE AMM Collision Center

Three great locations!

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Central Garage, LLC

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20 Hwy. 290 West, Dripping Springs 512-894-4114 or 512-858-4252

COMPUTER SERVICE Hays Technical Services

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Did your kids or employees leave your computer useless? mike@haystech.com

page 18 ◆ march | 2017

DIRT Rick-Rob Trucking

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Specializing in country driveways.

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GLASS SERVICE Berry Glass Company

Commercial and Residential Contract glazing, storefronts, insulated glass, furniture tops, tempered glass and mirrors. Framed & frameless tub & shower enclosure.

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LANDSCAPING/LAWN CARE Daniel Stone & Landscaping Supplies

We deliver. Grass: St. Augustine, Buffalo, Bermuda, Tifway. Chopped rock, patio rock, flagstone, drystack, gravel, river rock, mulch, sand and loam. 12015 Hwy 290 W, Cedar Valley, Austin. 512-288-8488.

LEGAL SERVICES

PLUMBING Prince Plumbing Company Residential repair, remodeling, water heaters, sewer maintenance, slab & gas leak repair. 20 years experience, family owned and operated.

512–312–0710

POOL SERVICE G&S Pool and Spa Service Serving South Austin, Dripping Springs, Driftwood, Kyle and Buda since 1994. 512–326–4695 www.gspoolspa.com

High Tide Pool Service Over 10 years cleaning and maintaining pools. Drain & cleans pressure washing, full service repairs, replastering. Free estimates, call Keith Miller at (512) 965-3465.

REMODELING Tri–County Construction Let us make your dreams a reality!

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LOCKSMITH AALCO Locksmiths

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PAINTING The Handyman Can

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ROOFING Area Roofing Company

Serving Hays County. Residential & Commercial. Free estimates.

Insurance claims welcome. Ron Johnson, owner. 512–312–5050

SEPTIC SERVICES All American Wastewater Solutions, LLC

Septic problems... Let us help!

Locally serving our community since 1982. Septic repair and installation specialist, septic tank pumping and servicing, aerobic system servicing and more. Commercial and residential. www.allsepticcheck.com, 512–282–3889.

Sellman Enterprises, Inc.

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TREE SERVICES Lees Trees

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Woody’s Tree and Stone Landscape Installations Stone patios, outdoor kitchens, trellises, arbors, drainage solutions, retaining walls, metal edging, gardens, tree service and much more.

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Serving your community since 1999

W

hen Beth Smith took her oath of office in 1999, she began following through with her campaign promises, one of which was to “help ensure the safety of our citizens.�

Since 2001, Beth Smith has organized Hays CISD Shattered Dreams, a program aimed at preventing students from drinking and driving or getting into a vehicle with an impaired driver. The program alternates between Hays and Lehman high schools every three years – the students catch it as a freshman and again as seniors.

We will never know how many lives the presentations have actually saved, but even one is worth it.

Interested in being a sponsor for Shattered Dreams? Send an email to shattereddreamshayscisd@yahoo.com page 19

The Original Supply The OriginalCedar Cedar Supply

Established inin1968; Cedar Supply over 45 Established 1968; Cedar Supply Inc. hasInc. over has 45 years of experience.

With three locations throughout Texas years of experience. With three locations throughwe can supply the highest quality Western Red Cedar to out Texas we can and supply the highest Texas, Oklahoma parts of Arkansas and quality Louisiana.

Cedar Supply sells to both retail and wholesale customers.

Western Red Cedar to Texas, Oklahoma and parts Offering all shapes and sizes of cedar from custom timbers of Arkansas and Louisiana.

Supply sells to to shakes and shingles; no projectCedar is too large or too small. professional cedar specialist can help you find the both Our retail and wholesale customers.

Offering all right materials for any indoor or outdoor wood project. shapes and sizes of cedar from custom timbers to shakes and shingles; no project is too large or too small. Our professional cedar specialist can help you find the right materials for any indoor or outdoor wood project.

Cedar Decking Cedar Siding Cedar Decking Cedar Pergolas Cedar Lattice Cedar Siding Cedar Fencing Cedar Split PostPergolas & Rail Fencing Shakes Shingles Cedar& Lattice Rough Dimension & Timbers Cedar Fencing Textured Trim Boards Split Post & Rail Fencing Brackets, Corbels & Rafter Tails Pattern Stock Sha Shakes & Shingles Wood Stain - Ready Seal

Rough Dimension & Timbers Textured Trim Boards Brackets, Corbels & Rafter Tails Pattern Stock Wood Stain - Ready Seal

Kyle, Texas

23400 I-35 South Kyle, TX 78640 Local: 512-268-2811 Toll Free: 800-252-3352 Fax: 512-268-0162

Open To The Public!

cedarsupply.net We Deliver page 20 â—† march | 2017

Kyle, Texas

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